Power Play (1978 film)
Power Play | |
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Directed by | Martyn Burke[1] |
Written by | Edward N. Luttwak Martyn Burke[1] |
Produced by | Bob Cooper (IV) Ronald I. Cohen Christopher Dalton[1] |
Starring | Peter O'Toole David Hemmings Donald Pleasence |
Cinematography | Ousama Rawi |
Edited by | John Victor-Smith |
Music by | Ken Thorne |
Distributed by | Rank Film Distributors[1] |
Release date |
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Running time | 102 minutes |
Countries | United Kingdom Canada |
Language | English |
Power Play is a 1978 British-Canadian political thriller film starring Peter O'Toole and David Hemmings, based on the 1968 non-fiction strategy book Coup d'État: A Practical Handbook by Edward N. Luttwak.[2] The film was also known as Coup d'Etat.[3] It was released on DVD in 2005 by New Star Video under the title A State of Shock.
Plot
A small group of military officers frustrated by the corruption and brutality of a fictional contemporary European government decide that they must overthrow the current administration. But the coup's leader worries that there is a spy in their group.
Colonel Narriman (Hemmings), an idealistic and soon-to-retire army officer, becomes sickened by the government's use of extra-judicial killing and torture to suppress the terrorist insurgency that their incompetence and corruption has fostered. He decides that for the good of the country he must attempt to overthrow the regime and end the chaos.
Worried about infiltration by agents of the hated internal security chief Blair (Donald Pleasence), he emphasises operational security, as he knows he can expect no mercy if caught, while he builds the coup one important recruit at a time. A key such person is Colonel Zeller (O'Toole), whose armoured brigade is seen as vital for capturing the capital city quickly.
The final part of the film is the actual conduct of the coup attempt with exciting twists and surprises.
Cast
- Peter O'Toole – Colonel Zeller
- David Hemmings – Colonel Narriman
- Donald Pleasence – Blair
- Barry Morse – Jean Rousseau
- George Touliatos – Barrientos
- Harvey Atkin – Anwar
- August Schellenberg – Minh
- Chuck Shamata – Hillsman
- Alberta Watson—Donna
Production
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d5/Flag_of_the_State_of_Shock_%28Power_Play%2C_1978_film%29.png/220px-Flag_of_the_State_of_Shock_%28Power_Play%2C_1978_film%29.png)
The UK-Canada co-production was filmed in Canada and West Germany. Power Play includes scenes shot at the University of Toronto's University College quadrangle and hallways. Portions were also filmed at CFB Borden, CFB Toronto and CFB Lahr in West Germany. The Canadian Armed Forces also provided aircraft, armoured fighting vehicles (including Centurion tanks), and soldiers for the filming.
The flag of the film's unnamed republic, "a generic country with no specific geography or culture", was green, yellow and black.
It was one of the first films financed under Canadian tax concessions.[4]
Reception
The film won the Best Screenplay award at the Canadian Film Awards.[5]
Notes
- ^ a b c d "Power Play (1978)". Yahoo Movies. Retrieved 5 September 2006.
- ^ "Power Play". Monthly Film Bulletin. 5 (528). London: 179. 1 January 1978.
- ^ Martin, Robert (17 March 1978). "Hard sell as important as bikinis at Cannes". The Globe and Mail. p. 15.
- ^ "Canadian calls the shots at U.S. cable giant". Toronto Star. 16 November 1988. p. B9.
- ^ Scott, Jay (22 September 1978). "Unseen Silent Partner sweeps film awards". The Globe and Mail. p. 14.
External links
- 1978 films
- Films based on non-fiction books
- Canadian political thriller films
- Canadian thriller drama films
- British political thriller films
- British thriller drama films
- English-language Canadian films
- Films directed by Martyn Burke
- Films about rebellions
- Films about coups d'état
- 1970s thriller films
- Films with screenplays by Martyn Burke
- Films set in Europe
- Films scored by Ken Thorne
- 1970s English-language films
- Films shot in Toronto
- Films shot in Germany
- 1970s Canadian films
- 1970s British films