The Formula
Production:
- Released 1980 by MGM, color, mono sound, 120 minutes
- Directed by John G. Avildsen
- Written by Steve Shagan, from his 1979 novel
- Produced by Steve Shagan and Ken Swor
- Original music by Bill Conti
- Cinematography by James Crabe
- Film Editing by John Carter
- Production Design by Herman A. Blumenthal
- Set Decoration Lee Poll
- Costume Design by Bill Thomas
- Sound by Al Overton and John Riordan
Cast:
- George C. Scott .... Barney Caine
- Marlon Brando .... Adam Steiffel
- Marthe Keller .... Lisa
- John Gielgud .... Dr. Esau
- G.D. Spradlin .... Clements
- Beatrice Straight .... Kay Neeley
- Richard Lynch .... Kladen/Tedesco
- John Van Dreelen .... Hans Lehman
- Robin Clarke .... Major Neeley
- Ike Eisenmann .... Tony
- Werner Kreindl .... Schellenberg
- Jan Niklas .... Gestapo Captain
- Wolfgang Preiss .... Franz Tauber
- Calvin Jung .... Sgt. Yosuta
- Alan North .... Nolan
- David Byrd .... Obermann
- Ferdy Mayne .... Siebold
- Francisco Prado .... Mendosa
- Louis Basile .... Vince Rizzo
- Weston Gavin .... U.S. Army Captain
- Marshall Thompson .... Geologist #1
- Craig T. Nelson .... Geologist #2
- Herb Voland .... Geologist #3
Notes:
George C. Scott plays a detective in search of the Genesis formula, the secret for synthetic fuel developed by the Germans in World War II. The big oil companies want the formula suppressed because it would allow cheap gasoline to be made from widely available coal. Marlon Brando plays an oil executive who is portrayed as dominating all world cartels, even the Arabs and OPEC, and controlling 70% of the U. S. coal deposits. "It was oil that nourished the American Dream" Brando tells Scott in the concluding scene.
Links:
History Department | Filmnotes | revised 8/30/99 by Schoenherr
