Rotten
Laborious
Tom Milne, Time Out
The Formula
Big Oil. Big Money. Big Mystery. Everyone’s out to make a killing.
1980 · 1h 57m · R
Crime, Mystery, Thriller
Directed by
John G. Avildsen
Overview
While investigating the death of a friend and fellow cop, Los Angeles police officer Barney Caine stumbles across evidence that Nazis created a synthetic alternative to gasoline during World War II. This revelation has the potential to end the established global oil industry, making the formula a very valuable and dangerous piece of information. Eventually, Caine must contend with oil tycoon Adam Steiffel, who clearly has his own agenda regarding the formula.
Director and cast
- John G. Avildsen Director
- George C. Scott as Lt. Barney Caine LAPD
- Marlon Brando as Adam Steiffel, Chairman Titan Oil
- Marthe Keller as Lisa Spangler
- John Gielgud as Dr. Abraham Esau, Director Reich Energy
- G.D. Spradlin as Arthur Clements
- Beatrice Straight as Kay Neeley
- Richard Lynch Cast
- John van Dreelen Cast
- Robin Clarke Cast
Critics on Rotten Tomatoes
Top critics, in their words
30%
Tomatometer
Rotten
its completely muddled plot is a disaster: There can be no joy in unraveling a plot that is a mystery even to itself.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
Rotten
The murder scene is littered with so many red herrings it might as well be a delicatessen.
Janet Maslin, New York Times
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