Firepower (1979) Associated Film Distribution/Action-Thriller RT: 104 minutes Rated R (language, violence) Director: Michael Winner Screenplay: Bill Kerby, Gerald Wilson and Michael Winner Music: Gato Barbieri Cinematography: Robert Paynter Release date: April 27, 1979 (US) Starring: James Coburn, Sophia Loren, O.J. Simpson, Eli Wallach, Vincent Gardenia, George Grizzard, Fred Stuthman, Billy Barty, Anthony Franciosa, Jake LaMotta, Richard Caldicot, Frank Singuineau, George Touliatos, Hank Garrett, Conrad Roberts, Victor Mature. Box Office: N/A
Rating: *** ½
I was interested to learn that the action-thriller Firepower was originally intended as a vehicle for Charles Bronson who reportedly pulled out after the producers refused to write a role for his wife and frequent co-star Jill Ireland. I don’t know if the picture would have turned out any differently (I doubt it), but it makes a mighty fine B-movie with James Coburn (The Magnificent Seven) in the lead.
In fact, Firepower has one of the coolest movie casts of the 70s. Where else will you see the diminutive Billy Barty (Under the Rainbow) rub elbows with that voluptuous of all Italian beauties Sophia Loren (Marriage Italian Style)? Is that even physically possible? Although I realize he’s since become persona non grata in every circle, it’s still nice to see former NFL star O.J. Simpson in his prime. And I’ve always liked Vincent Gardenia (Death Wish I & II, Moonstruck).
I remember wanting to see Firepower when it hit theaters in April ’79, but it was yet another victim of that insurmountable parental R-rated movie block. I finally saw it on home video in October ’85 when my grandfather (good old Pop Pop Ewing!) picked it out at the local video store. I thought it was a good flick. Filmed primarily in the Caribbean, it has a fair amount of action and intrigue. The storyline may be a bit confusing, but it’s still good solid B-movie entertainment.
Firepower opens with the murder (by mail bomb) of a chemist in his laboratory. It seems he had incriminating information on pharmaceutical company CEO/reclusive billionaire Karl Stegner regarding his culpability in releasing bad drugs. The widow, Adele Tasca (Loren), approaches the FBI with the incriminating file after Stegner’s head of security (Grizzard, Bachelor Party) breaks into her apartment and offers her a deal. She wants revenge against the wealthy criminal for her husband’s murder, so she suggests they hire retired bounty hunter (and former lover) Jerry Fanon (Coburn) to assist them in capturing him.
Nobody has even seen Stegner in more than 30 years and he’s never been photographed so nobody knows what he looks like. He hides out in his super, high-security mansion of the island of Antigua where the US has no jurisdiction and no extradition agreement with the government. In order to get to Fanon, agent Frank Hull (Gardenia) must make a deal with Mob lawyer Sal Hyman (Wallach, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly) to drop all pending charges against him in exchange for him producing Fanon.
Fanon agrees to help bring Stegner to justice and heads off to the island with his old friend/partner in crime Catlett (Simpson, The Naked Gun). From here on in, it’s an intricate game of cat-and-mouse as Fanon and company attempt to find a way to identify Stegner and grab him. It won’t be easy because he’s always heavily guarded in that mansion of his. The closest person to him is his personal physician Dr. Charles Felix (Franciosa, Death Wish II) who’s on 24-hour call due to the billionaire’s heart condition. This all leads to some fairly well-executed, kick-ass action scenes.
I like Firepower for many reasons, chiefly because I dig this kind of 70s action/thriller. Take an all-star cast and put them in an exotic location amongst the rich and beautiful, that’s a winning formula in my book. The saxophone-heavy score by Gato Barbieri greatly enhances the feeling of such a movie.
Another reason I like Firepower is that I’m a fan of director Michael Winner’s work. The late filmmaker is responsible for such titles as Death Wish I, II and III (1974, 1982, 1985), The Mechanic (1972) and The Stone Killer (1973), all starring Charles Bronson. Firepower isn’t a perfect movie by any means. It gets a confusing at times, especially when it comes to Loren’s character. She changes loyalties more than Madonna changes personas. There are a lot of unnecessary characters who do nothing to serve the plot like the Mob boss played by Barty. He shows up for a few scenes and that’s it. And what’s with Victor Mature (Samson and Delilah) at the end? That was just weird. There’s this one plot development concerning Coburn’s character that comes out of nowhere. It happens within the first 20 minutes of the movie, you’ll know it when you see it.
At least Firepower moves at such a fast pace that none of its flaws make much of a difference. It’s an entertaining action-thriller with a cool cast. I mean, who doesn’t like James Coburn, a true old school bad ass! Who doesn’t think that Ms. Loren is gorgeous? She may be approaching 80 as of this writing and still looks phenomenally beautiful. And how can you beat a supporting cast as eclectic as this? Former boxer Jake LaMotta (the subject of 1980’s Raging Bull) as a henchman? How cool is that? The cinematography is especially good for a movie like this.
In short, Firepower is one of the most underappreciated films of the 70s. A true hidden treasure that’s sadly not yet available on DVD*. Isn’t it about time somebody gets on the ball and makes this available to all the action junkies out there? Let’s get cracking, people!
* = Firepower came out on DVD in 2015.
