A terrorist demands a huge ransom in exchange for information on how to disarm the seven bombs he has planted aboard a trans-Atlantic cruise ship. Inspired by real events.
Direction
Lester's documentary-style chaos, no hero shots
Acting
Harris and Holm's interrogation chess match
Editing
Cross-cutting that weaponizes waiting
Director
Richard Lester
Richard Harris
Lt. Cmdr. Anthony Fallon
Omar Sharif
Captain Alex Brunel
David Hemmings
Charlie Braddock
Anthony Hopkins
Supt. John McCleod
Shirley Knight
Barbara Banister
Ian Holm
Nicholas Porter
Clifton James
Corrigan
Roy Kinnear
Social Director Curtain
Caroline Mortimer
Susan McCleod
Mark Burns
Hollingworth
John Stride
Hughes
Freddie Jones
Sidney Buckland
Julian Glover
Cmdr. Marder
Jack Watson
Chief Engineer Malicent
Roshan Seth
Azad
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Shot during the actual IRA bombing campaigns; British audiences felt this in their bones. The film's refusal to explain the terrorist's motives was deliberate and controversial.
Richard Lester fired the original composer mid-production and had John Barry rush a replacement score in 48 hours. You can hear the panic in the brass.
GB
