The Hostage Tower: Difference between revisions

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| cinematography = [[Jean Boffety]]
| cinematography = [[Jean Boffety]]
| editing = [[Ronald J. Fagan]]
| editing = [[Ronald J. Fagan]]
|studio=Jerry Leider Productions
| distributor = [[CBS]]<br />[[Embassy Home Entertainment]]
| distributor = [[CBS]]<br />[[Embassy Home Entertainment]]
| released = {{Film date|1980|05|13}}
| released = {{Film date|1980|05|13}}
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==Plot==
==Plot==
Criminal mastermind Mr Smith ([[Keir Dullea]]) is being pursued by Malcolm Philpott ([[Douglas Fairbanks Jr.]]), the head of an international peace organisation. Smith draws together a team for a heist including weapons expert Graham and thieves Sabrina and Calrence.
Criminal mastermind Mr Smith ([[Keir Dullea]]) is being pursued by Malcolm Philpott ([[Douglas Fairbanks Jr.]]), the head of an international peace organisation.
Smith draws together a team for a heist including weapons expert Mike Graham (ex-CIA) and thieves Sabrina and Clarence. Sabrina and Clarence secretly work for Philpott.


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.
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.
Line 28: Line 31:


==Cast==
==Cast==
*[[Peter Fonda]] ... Mike Graham
*[[Peter Fonda]] as Mike Graham
*[[Douglas Fairbanks Jr.]] ... Malcolm Philpott
*[[Douglas Fairbanks Jr.]] as Malcolm Philpott
*[[Maud Adams]] ... Sabrina Carver
*[[Maud Adams]] as Sabrina Carver
*[[Billy Dee Williams]] ... Clarence Whitlock
*[[Billy Dee Williams]] as Clarence Whitlock
*[[Keir Dullea]] ... Mr Smith
*[[Keir Dullea]] as Mr Smith
*[[Britt Ekland]] ... Leah
*[[Britt Ekland]] as Leah
*[[Rachel Roberts (actress)|Rachel Roberts]] ... Sonya Kolchinski
*[[Rachel Roberts (actress)|Rachel Roberts]] as Sonya Kolchinski
*[[Celia Johnson]] ... Mrs Wheeler
*[[Celia Johnson]] as Mrs Wheeler


==Production==
==Production==
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Fontana Books expressed interest in publishing a novelised version of the story. MacLean was busy writing ''[[Athabasca (novel)|Athabasca]]'' so John Denis did the job. The results were well received and Denis then did a novelisation of ''Air Force One is Down''.<ref name="book"/>
Fontana Books expressed interest in publishing a novelised version of the story. MacLean was busy writing ''[[Athabasca (novel)|Athabasca]]'' so John Denis did the job. The results were well received and Denis then did a novelisation of ''Air Force One is Down''.<ref name="book"/>


⚫
[[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]]''.
==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.
⚫
* [[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]]''.


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>
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>
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The ''Los Angeles Times'' called it "a preposterous but rather charming piece of escapism."<ref>THE TUBE TONIGHT: ESCAPE VIA 'HOSTAGE TOWER'
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>
Brown, James. Los Angeles Times 13 May 1980: h6. </ref>
==Follow Up==
⚫
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.

A mini series based on ''[[Air Force One is Down]]'' came out in 2012.

==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}

Revision as of 02:18, 15 March 2020

The Hostage Tower
Directed byClaudio Guzmán
Written byRobert Carrington
Produced byBurt Nodella
executive
Jerry Leider
Peter Snell
StarringPeter Fonda
Douglas Fairbanks Jr.
CinematographyJean Boffety
Edited byRonald J. Fagan
Music byJohn Scott
Production
company
Jerry Leider Productions
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 story by Alistair MacLean. There was a book based on MacLean's story by John Denis which was 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.

Smith draws together a team for a heist including weapons expert Mike Graham (ex-CIA) and thieves Sabrina and Clarence. Sabrina and Clarence secretly work for Philpott.

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 producers Peter Snell and Jerry Leider.

In 1977 Leider and Snell suggested MacLean write some story ideas for a series. The author prepared eight outlines which dealt with the activities of a crime fighting group, the United Nations Anti-Crime Organization (UNACO).[3]

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 requested the Eiffel Tower be changed to the Statue of Liberty but MacLean refused, feeling the tower was essential, and CBS ultimately agreed.[1]

Filming took twelve weeks starting in October 1979.[1] The entire film was shot in Paris with three weeks shooting on the tower itself.[4] Filming dates were arranged so the Tower scenes were shot during the slow season.[1]

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 during the shoot. "But this one has a quality team and a sense of sharing that is really creative."[2]

Fontana Books expressed interest in publishing a novelised version of the story. MacLean was busy writing Athabasca so John Denis did the job. The results were well received and Denis then did a novelisation of Air Force One is Down.[3]

Britt Ekland and Maud Adams were previously seen together as Bond girls in The Man with the Golden Gun.

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.[5]

Reception

The Los Angeles Times called it "a preposterous but rather charming piece of escapism."[6]

Follow Up

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, 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.

A mini series based on Air Force One is Down came out in 2012.

References

  1. ^ a b c d 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. ^ a b Denis, John (1980). "Introduction by Alistair MacLean". The Hostage Tower. Ballantine Books. p. 1.
  4. ^ 'The Hostage Tower' Begins Production Work in France Los Angeles Times 15 Nov 1979: g33.
  5. ^ Roberts, Rachel; Walker, Alexander (1984). No bells on Sunday : the Rachel Roberts journals. Harper & Row. p. 164.
  6. ^ THE TUBE TONIGHT: ESCAPE VIA 'HOSTAGE TOWER' Brown, James. Los Angeles Times 13 May 1980: h6.
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