Power Play (1978 film)
Power Play is a 1978 British-Canadian thriller film starring Peter O'Toole and David Hemmings, based on the 1968 non-fiction strategy book Coup d'État: A Practical Handbook by Edward N. Luttwak.[2]
| Power Play | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Martyn Burke[1] |
| Produced by | Bob Cooper (IV) Ronald I. Cohen Christopher Dalton[1] |
| Written by | Edward N. Luttwak Martyn Burke[1] |
| Starring | Peter O'Toole David Hemmings Donald Pleasence |
| Music by | Ken Thorne |
| Cinematography | Ousama Rawi |
| Edited by | John Victor-Smith |
| Distributed by | Rank Film Distributors[1] |
Release date |
|
Running time | 102 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom Canada |
| Language | English |
The film was also known as Coup d'Etat.[3] It was released on DVD in 2005 by New Star Video under the title A State of Shock.
Plot
A small group of military officers frustrated by the corruption of a fictional contemporary European government decide that they must overthrow the current administration. But the coup's leader worries that there is a spy in their group.
Colonel Narriman (David Hemmings), an idealistic and soon-to-retire army officer, becomes sickened by the government's use of extra-judicial killing and torture to suppress the terrorism that their incompetence and corruption has fostered. He decides that for the good of the country he must attempt to overthrow the regime and end the chaos.
Worried about infiltration by agents of the hated internal security chief Blair (Donald Pleasence), he emphasises operational security, as he knows he can expect no mercy if caught, while he builds the coup one important recruit at a time. A key such person is Colonel Zeller (Peter O'Toole), whose armoured brigade is seen as vital for capturing the capital city quickly.
The final part of the film is the actual conduct of the coup attempt with exciting twists and surprises.
Cast
- Peter O'Toole – Colonel Zeller
- David Hemmings – Colonel Narriman
- Donald Pleasence – Blair
- Barry Morse – Jean Rousseau
- George Touliatos – Barrientos
- Harvey Atkin – Anwar
- August Schellenberg – Minh
- Chuck Shamata – Hillsman
Production
A UK-Canada co-production filmed in Canada and West Germany, Power Play includes scenes shot at the University of Toronto's University College quadrangle and hallways. Portions were also filmed at Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Borden, and at CFB Toronto in Downsview. The Canadian Armed Forces also provided aircraft, armoured fighting vehicles, other vehicles, and soldiers for the filming.
During the preparation for the coup, Colonels Narriman and Zeller are seen riding in some of Colonel Zeller's tanks in an army manoeuvre area. These tanks are decrepit-looking Centurions with 20 pounder guns. When these same tanks are seen during the coup attempt travelling in typical European countryside they are in better shape and armed with 105mm cannon. This reflects filming in the CFB Borden training area in Ontario, Canada (decrepit tanks) and in West Germany with the Royal Canadian Dragoons (105mm tanks).
The flag of the film's unnamed republic, "a generic country with no specific geography or culture" was green, yellow and black.
It was one of the first films financed under Canadian tax concessions.[4]
Reception
The film won Best Screenplay at the Canadian Film Awards.[5]
Notes
- "Power Play (1978)". movies.yahoo.com. Retrieved 5 September 2006.
- POWER PLAY Monthly Film Bulletin; London Vol. 45, Iss. 528, (Jan 1, 1978): 179.
- Hard sell as important as bikinis at Cannes Martin, Robert. The Globe and Mail 17 Mar 1978: P.15.
- Canadian calls the shots at U.S. cable giant Toronto Star 16 Nov 1988: B9.
- Unseen Silent Partner sweeps film awards Scott, Jay. The Globe and Mail 22 Sep 1978: P.14.