SCORCERER distributed by UNIVERSAL and PARAMOUNT. (1977). The big problem was that both studios didn't believe in their own product. They shared distribution and opened the film one month after "Star Wars."
According to box office reports. The movie grabbed $14 million world-wide against a budget of $22 million. $5 million was nabbed in U.S. theaters. It was quickly pulled from theaters.
William Freidkin also had to switch his production crew mid-stream. That made the production budget rise. Critics say that the other problem was the film title, "Scorcerer." What is that about? Will there be a devil? (Freidkin directed "The Exorcist").
The story is simple. Several outcast criminals are hired to drive a cargo of dynamite which leaks nitroglycerin.
Critics and fans consider this a remake of the 1953 picture, "Wages of Fear." It's based on a French novel. Freidkin believed that he didn't film a remake. He said so about this production.
"Scorcerer" was forgotten until the 1978 Oscars. It was nominated for Best Sound (Robert Knudson, Robert Glass, Richard Tyler and Jean-Louis Ducarme). They lost of course to..., "Star Wars."
Since 1977. It has become a large cult classic because of theater revivals. It was released on BluRay in 2017 and was restored by Friedkin himself. It is exciting to watch. Check it out.
What a fine Tribute to William Freidkin who passed at age 87.
(Below) Sneak Previews: Siskel & Ebert - Forgotten Films of the 1970's. Audio is overlayed into scenes of the film "Scorcerer."
No comments:
Post a Comment