The Passage (1979 film)
| The Passage | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | J. Lee Thompson |
| Produced by |
Maurice Binder Lester Goldsmith John Quested |
| Written by | Bruce Nicolaysen (novel and screenplay) |
| Starring |
Anthony Quinn James Mason Malcolm McDowell Patricia Neal Christopher Lee |
| Music by | Michael J. Lewis |
| Distributed by |
United Artists (USA Theatrical) Hemdale Film Distribution (International) Metro Goldwyn Mayer (Current worldwide distributor) |
Release dates | 1979 |
Running time | 99 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
The Passage is a 1979 British action–war film directed by J. Lee Thompson and starring Anthony Quinn, James Mason, Malcolm McDowell and Patricia Neal. The film is based upon the 1976 novel, Perilous Passage by Bruce Nicolaysen, who also wrote the screenplay for the film.
Plot
During World War II, a Basque farmer (Anthony Quinn) is asked by the French resistance to help a fleeing scientist (James Mason) and his family escape across the Pyrenees Mountains to safety in neutral Spain. On his trail are a group of Germans, led by a sadistic SS officer (Malcolm McDowell).
Cast
- Anthony Quinn as The Basque
- James Mason as Professor Bergson
- Malcolm McDowell as Capt. Von Berkow
- Patricia Neal as Mrs.(Ariel) Bergson
- Kay Lenz as Leah Bergson
- Christopher Lee as The Gypsy
- Michael Lonsdale as Alain Renoudot
- Marcel Bozzuffi as Perea
- Paul Clemens as Paul Bergson
- Peter Arne as Guide
- Neville Jason as Lt. Reinke
- Robert Brown as German Major
- Jim Broadbent as German Soldier (uncredited)
Reviews
As he made this movie in Europe and England, James Mason predicted to co-star Kay Lenz that people do not like movies in snow and this film would bomb miserably after they were finished making it. He was right: the film opened to bad box office worldwide and, in critics' eyes, was a disaster in contrast to J. Lee Thompson's 1961 masterpiece The Guns of Navarone.
From Leonard Maltin's Movie Guide:
"Trashy WW2 story of Basque guide Quinn helping chemist Mason and his family escape over the Pyrenees with Nazi fanatic McDowell in hot pursuit. McDowell's campy performance must be seen to be disbelieved."