I'm sure I read in Tony Richardson's book 'Long Distance Runner' that he likes on location sound. Well the sound is certainly atmospheric, but sometimes the dialogue audio loses out, which isn't right. I also read that he was unhappy with the ending and reshot it, with Vilmos Zsigmond on camera. I thought it worked, esta muy bueno. Though what life Jack Nicholson's character then has I've no idea. I'm not sure he can carry on working for the corrupt and murderous police force.
It was written by Richardson (uncredited) with Deric Washburn (went in different directions), David Freeman (fell out with director, claimed the script was 'shit') and Walon Green (rewrites). Producer Ned Tanen "was weary of the project until he heard the magic name [Nicholson]; then the script which a few days ago had been the worst ever became 'great' in an instant." ('Long Distance Runner' Tony Richardson.)
Good camera POV from car stuff, much local colour and untranslated Spanish, loved the moment one of the bad guys accidentally blows his own head off! And Jack's way of putting out the barbeque! Relationship with young mother Elpidia Carrillo is sweet. Jack's wife Valerie Perrine is a nightmare.
Good cast includes Harvey Keitel, Warren Oates, Shannon Wilcox.
Quite surprised to see that one of the production companies was RKO Studios! So RKO hadn't actually gone bust in the late fifties, just stopped producing films. It started again as co-producer in the eighties (Cat People was another of theirs) but to not much success.
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