Firepower (film)

Firepower
Firepower
Directed by	Michael Winner
Written by	Bill Kerby; Gerald Wilson; Michael Winner
Produced by	Michael Winner & Alex Meakin
Starring	Sophia Loren; James Coburn; O.J. Simpson; Eli Wallach; Victor Mature; Jake LaMotta
Cinematography	Robert Paynter
Edited by	Michael Winner
Music by	Gato Barbieri
Production; company	ITC Entertainment
Distributed by	Associated Film Distribution
Release date	27 April 1979;
Running time	104 minutes
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English

Firepower is a 1979 British thriller film directed by Michael Winner and starring Sophia Loren, James Coburn, O.J. Simpson and Eli Wallach.^[1] It was the final film in the career of actor Victor Mature.

Synopsis

The FBI hires a former mafia hit man (James Coburn) to track down and bring in a powerful reclusive billionaire suspected of criminal acts for his own benefit. The man also comes into a conflict with a woman (Sophia Loren) tracking down the same crook for revenge reasons.

Cast

Sophia Loren as Adele Tasca
James Coburn as Jerry Fanon/Eddie
O.J. Simpson as Catlett
Eli Wallach as Sal Hyman
Anthony Franciosa as Dr. Charles Felix
George Grizzard as Leo Gelhorn
Vincent Gardenia as Frank Hull
Victor Mature as Harold Everett
Billy Barty as Carbone
Jake LaMotta as Nickel Sam
Hank Garrett as Oscar Bailey
George Touliatos as Karl Stegner

Filming locations

Firepower was filmed in Curaçao, Saint Lucia, Antigua, Brooklyn, New York, Miami, Florida, and Key Largo, Florida. Bridgeport, CT

Production

According to director Michael Winner, producer Lew Grade had fully expected Charles Bronson to co-star with Loren. With much of the pre-production crew already on location in the Caribbean, Grade wanted to shut down the production when Bronson pulled out. Realizing how much money he had already sunk into a film that had not properly secured its star actors, Grade saved face by moving ahead using James Coburn as a replacement for Bronson.^[2]

Victor Mature makes a cameo at the request of director Michael Winner, who wanted someone instantly recognisable for the role of the one of the richest people in the world.^[3] "I worked for eight hours on one scene," he laughed.^[4]

Notes

^ Erickson, Hal. "Firepower". Allmovie. Retrieved 10 November 2012.
^ Winner, Michael (2004). Winner Takes All. Robson Books. pp. 224–225. ISBN 1-86105-840-3.
^ Whatever Happened to Lady Joan? Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) [Los Angeles, Calif] 27 June 1978: f6.
^ No Lions to Slay at Rancho Santa Fe Tedrick, Dan. Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) [Los Angeles, Calif] 29 May 1980: sd_a6

External links

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[1] Erickson, Hal. "Firepower". Allmovie. Retrieved 10 November 2012.

[2] Winner, Michael (2004). Winner Takes All. Robson Books. pp. 224–225. ISBN 1-86105-840-3.

[3] Whatever Happened to Lady Joan? Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) [Los Angeles, Calif] 27 June 1978: f6.

[4] No Lions to Slay at Rancho Santa Fe Tedrick, Dan. Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) [Los Angeles, Calif] 29 May 1980: sd_a6

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