The Passage (1979)
Release Date: Mar 1, 1979 Wide
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Average Rating: 3/5
User Ratings: 76
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Movie Info
Director J. Lee Thompson directed this World War II adventure drama from a script by author Bruce Nicolaysen who adapted the screenplay from his novel The Perilous Passage. Anthony Quinn stars as a brave Basque mountaineer who is hired by the American military to guide Professor Bergsson (James Mason) and his family over the dangerous Pyrenees. Together the two men struggle to ensure the group's survival and elude Von Berkow a crazed Nazi played by Malcolm MacDowell. ~ Matthew Tobey, Rovi
Mar 1, 1979 Wide
Cast
-
Anthony Quinn
Basque -
James Mason
Prof. John Bergson -
Malcolm McDowell
Capt. Von Berkow -
Patricia Neal
Ariel Bergson -
Kay Lenz
Leah Bergson -
Christopher Lee
Head Gypsy -
Marcel Bozzuffi
Perea -
Paul Clemens
Paul Bergson -
Rose Alba
Madame -
Neville Jason
Lt. Reincke -
Robert Rhys
Son of the Gypsy -
Jim Broadbent
German Soldier -
Peter Arne
French Guide -
Frederick Jaeger
German Major -
Terence Maidment
German Sentry -
Michel Lonsdale
Alain Renoudot -
-
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All Critics (4) | Top Critics (2) | Fresh (2) | Rotten (0) | DVD (1)
A lurid, exciting World War II chase thriller with Malcolm McDowell chewing the scenery as a sadistic Nazi.
Would not nearly be as watchable without McDowell relishing his role as [a] fanatical German officer
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*SPOILERS*
It wasn't half as gruesome as I had expected based on all that hype. Maybe it was the cracktasticness of Malcolm's character that made people so averse to this film? There were plenty of films around in the 70's that depicted the Nazis in a sadistic and sexual manner ? Ilsa She-Wolf of the SS ('74), Salon Kitty ('76), The Night Porter ('74) and a whole bunch of different kinds of Camps ? but not necessarily as big jokesters, which is what Von Berkow is. Sadistic, yes, but in a facetious way. Or maybe it was the snow, like James Mason said? But having to watch people being surrounded by cold, damp snow half of the film isn't enough to give it an R rating, now is it? There are only about three somewhat disturbing scenes and one really sad one, but that's it. A Clockwork Orange ('71) and Caligula ('79) are way worse.
Moving on... The Passage doesn't have much of a plot. I don't know whether reading the book first helps at all, as I haven't had the pleasure(?) of doing so. A Basque shepherd is hired by the French Resistance to transport Some Very Important Professor and his family from Toulouse across the Pyrenees to safety before the SS get to them. A bunch of running around, hiding, and interrogating people ensues. And, well, that's about it. If it weren't for Malcolm, this film would hardly be worth a watch. But thanks to his brilliant mind, it's not really all that bad.