The Hostage Tower: Difference between revisions

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| released = {{Film date|1980|05|13}}
| released = {{Film date|1980|05|13}}
| runtime = 105 minutes
| runtime = 105 minutes
| budget = $4 million<ref name="new"/>
| budget = $4 million<ref name="new"/> or $5 million<ref name="doug"/>
| country = United States
| country = United States
| language = [[English language|English]]
| language = [[English language|English]]
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In the early 1970s, a series of films based on MacLean novels had not performed well at the American box office, including ''[[When Eight Bells Toll (film)|When Eight Bells Toll]]'', ''[[Puppet on a Chain (film)|Puppet on a Chain]]'' and ''[[Fear Is the Key (film)|Fear Is the Key]]''. MacLean decided to focus on American television, collaborating with producer [[Peter Snell (producer)|Peter Snell]].
In the early 1970s, a series of films based on MacLean novels had not performed well at the American box office, including ''[[When Eight Bells Toll (film)|When Eight Bells Toll]]'', ''[[Puppet on a Chain (film)|Puppet on a Chain]]'' and ''[[Fear Is the Key (film)|Fear Is the Key]]''. MacLean decided to focus on American television, collaborating with producer [[Peter Snell (producer)|Peter Snell]].


He wrote a 120 page novella called ''[[Air Force One is Down]]'' about top executives of various oil companies travelling in Air Force One when it is hijacked. The idea was turned down by NBC. MacLean then pitched a number of new ideas to networks, each with a 25-30 page treatment. ''The Hostage Tower'' was approved by CBS. The network did request the Eiffel Tower be changed to the Statue of Liberty but MacLean refused, feeling the tower was essential. Filming took six weeks starting in October 1979.<ref name="new">Alistair MacLean's Eiffel Tower Drama
He wrote a 120 page novella called ''[[Air Force One is Down]]'' about top executives of various oil companies travelling in Air Force One when it is hijacked. The idea was turned down by NBC. MacLean then pitched a number of new ideas to networks, each with a 25-30 page treatment. ''The Hostage Tower'' was approved by CBS. The network did request the Eiffel Tower be changed to the Statue of Liberty but MacLean refused, feeling the tower was essential.<ref name="new"/>
⚫
By DAVID LEWIN. New York Times 11 May 1980: D37.</ref>


Filming took six weeks starting in October 1979.<ref name="new">Alistair MacLean's Eiffel Tower Drama
By DAVID LEWIN. New York Times 11 May 1980: D37.</ref> The entire film was shot in Paris with three weeks shooting on the tower.<ref>'The Hostage Tower' Begins Production Work in France
Los Angeles Times 15 Nov 1979: g33. </ref>

The film marked Douglas Fairbanks Jnr's return to screen acting after a long absence, although he had regularly appeared on stage. I've been away so long that nothing feels tempting," he said. "But this one has a quality team and a sense of sharing that is really creative."<ref name="doug">Ex-Swashbuckler Before TV Cameras: SWASHBUCKLER SWASHBUCKLER
Hall, William. Los Angeles Times 4 Jan 1980: e14. </ref>
==Trivia==
==Trivia==
* The roles of Mike Graham and Sabrina Carver are later reprised by [[Pierce Brosnan]] and [[Alexandra Paul]] in TV adaptations of ''[[Death Train]]'' and ''[[Night Watch (1995 film)|Night Watch]]'', both [[UNACO]] novels written for the screen. Death Train also featured [[Clarke Peters]] taking over as C. W. Whitlock and [[Patrick Stewart]] as Malcolm Philpott.
* The roles of Mike Graham and Sabrina Carver are later reprised by [[Pierce Brosnan]] and [[Alexandra Paul]] in TV adaptations of ''[[Death Train]]'' and ''[[Night Watch (1995 film)|Night Watch]]'', both [[UNACO]] novels written for the screen. Death Train also featured [[Clarke Peters]] taking over as C. W. Whitlock and [[Patrick Stewart]] as Malcolm Philpott.
* [[Britt Ekland]] and [[Maud Adams]] were previously seen together as [[James Bond (character)|Bond]] girls in ''[[The Man with the Golden Gun (film)|The Man with the Golden Gun]]''.
* [[Britt Ekland]] and [[Maud Adams]] were previously seen together as [[James Bond (character)|Bond]] girls in ''[[The Man with the Golden Gun (film)|The Man with the Golden Gun]]''.
* '''''The Hostage Tower''''' was one of Douglas Fairbanks Jr.'s final films.
* The movie was filmed entirely in [[Paris]], [[France]].
* The film was released on [[VHS]] and [[Laserdisc]] but is currently out of print.


Rachel Roberts was in a great deal of personal turmoil during filming and was worried she would be able to perform. She got through the film with minimal trouble. However she committed suicide not long after filming.<ref>{{cite book|page=164|title=No bells on Sunday : the Rachel Roberts journals|last1=Roberts|first1= Rachel|last2=Walker|first2= Alexander|year=1984 |publisher=Harper & Row }}</ref>
==Reception==
The ''Los Angeles Times'' called it "a preposterous but rather charming piece of escapism."<ref>THE TUBE TONIGHT: ESCAPE VIA 'HOSTAGE TOWER'
⚫
Brown, James. Los Angeles Times 13 May 1980: h6. </ref>
==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}

Revision as of 13:18, 14 March 2020

The Hostage Tower
Directed byClaudio Guzmán
Written byRobert Carrington
John Denis
Produced byBurt Nodella
Jerry Leider, Peter Snell (Executive Producers)
StarringPeter Fonda
Douglas Fairbanks Jr.
CinematographyJean Boffety
Edited byRonald J. Fagan
Music byJohn Scott
Distributed byCBS
Embassy Home Entertainment
Release date
  • May 13, 1980 (1980-05-13)
Running time
105 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$4 million[1] or $5 million[2]

The Hostage Tower is a 1980 American spy and thriller telemovie starring Peter Fonda and Douglas Fairbanks Jr., and directed by Claudio Guzmán, well known for his work in sitcoms. It is based on a book of the same name by John Denis, based on an idea by Alistair MacLean. The book was written deliberately for television adaptation. It is the first in the series of UNACO books.

Plot

Criminal mastermind Mr Smith (Keir Dullea) is being pursued by Malcolm Philpott (Douglas Fairbanks Jr.), the head of an international peace organisation. When Mr Smith captures the Eiffel Tower and kidnaps the mother of the President of the United States (Celia Johnson), Philpott must enlist the help of spies to take him down.

Mr Smith demands a ransom of $30 million without which he will blow up the tower and the President's mother. He has protected the tower from infiltration by stealing four high-power lasers which will shoot anyone entering who is not equipped with a protective device.

Cast

Production

In the early 1970s, a series of films based on MacLean novels had not performed well at the American box office, including When Eight Bells Toll, Puppet on a Chain and Fear Is the Key. MacLean decided to focus on American television, collaborating with producer Peter Snell.

He wrote a 120 page novella called Air Force One is Down about top executives of various oil companies travelling in Air Force One when it is hijacked. The idea was turned down by NBC. MacLean then pitched a number of new ideas to networks, each with a 25-30 page treatment. The Hostage Tower was approved by CBS. The network did request the Eiffel Tower be changed to the Statue of Liberty but MacLean refused, feeling the tower was essential.[1]

Filming took six weeks starting in October 1979.[1] The entire film was shot in Paris with three weeks shooting on the tower.[3]

The film marked Douglas Fairbanks Jnr's return to screen acting after a long absence, although he had regularly appeared on stage. I've been away so long that nothing feels tempting," he said. "But this one has a quality team and a sense of sharing that is really creative."[2]

Trivia

Rachel Roberts was in a great deal of personal turmoil during filming and was worried she would be able to perform. She got through the film with minimal trouble. However she committed suicide not long after filming.[4]

Reception

The Los Angeles Times called it "a preposterous but rather charming piece of escapism."[5]

References

  1. ^ a b c Alistair MacLean's Eiffel Tower Drama By DAVID LEWIN. New York Times 11 May 1980: D37.
  2. ^ a b Ex-Swashbuckler Before TV Cameras: SWASHBUCKLER SWASHBUCKLER Hall, William. Los Angeles Times 4 Jan 1980: e14.
  3. ^ 'The Hostage Tower' Begins Production Work in France Los Angeles Times 15 Nov 1979: g33.
  4. ^ Roberts, Rachel; Walker, Alexander (1984). No bells on Sunday : the Rachel Roberts journals. Harper & Row. p. 164.
  5. ^ THE TUBE TONIGHT: ESCAPE VIA 'HOSTAGE TOWER' Brown, James. Los Angeles Times 13 May 1980: h6.
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