Marathon Man (1976)

Director:

John Schlesinger

Writers:

William Goldman (screenplay)
William Goldman (novel)

Release Date:

8 October 1976 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

Plot:

A graduate history student is unwittingly caught in the middle of an international conspiracy involving stolen diamonds, an exiled Nazi war criminal, and a rogue government agent.

Plot Keywords:

Holocaust Survivor | Jewish Americans | Oil Of Cloves | Dental Instruments | Historian

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 3 wins & 9 nominations

Cast

Dustin Hoffman	...	Thomas 'Babe' Levy
Laurence Olivier	...	Dr. Christian Szell
Roy Scheider	...	Henry 'Doc' Levy
William Devane	...	Peter Janeway
Marthe Keller	...	Elsa Opel
Fritz Weaver	...	Professor Biesenthal
Richard Bright	...	Karl
Marc Lawrence	...	Erhard
Allen Joseph	...	Babe's Father
Tito Goya	...	Melendez
Ben Dova	...	Klaus Szell
Lou Gilbert	...	Rosenbaum
Jacques Marin	...	LeClerc
James Wing Woo	...	Chen
Nicole Deslauriers	...	Nicole

Runtime:

125 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | French | German | Spanish

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo | Mono

Certification:

Singapore:M18 | Brazil:14 | Iceland:16 | UK:X (original rating) | Sweden:15 | Australia:M | Finland:K-15 (re-rating) (2003) (uncut version) | Finland:K-16 (1988) (cut version) | France:-16 | Ireland:18 | Italy:VM18 | Netherlands:16 | Norway:15 | Norway:16 (1977) | Spain:18 | UK:18 | USA:R | West Germany:16

Filming Locations:

47th Street, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Gelderse Maatschappij N.V.

Trivia:

On the last day of shooting, Laurence Olivier visited Dustin Hoffman at his home, bringing with him the Complete Works of William Shakespeare as a gift. He then proceeded to read scenes from several of the plays, much to Hoffman's delight. The actor credits the story about his conflict with Olivier to general malice on writer William Goldman's part, who didn't take kindly to the fact that Hoffman had persuaded director John Schlesinger to change the ending of Goldman's book.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: At the beginning of the film, the radio announcer notes "unusually" high temperatures, and the owner of the Impala is angry that his a/c does not work. However, he is wearing a sweater, which would suggest a cooler day. Also, the man who is guiding the fuel oil truck into the street before the crash is wearing heavy jacket, which would also suggest a much cooler day. It is later reported that this was Yom Kippur, which occurs at the beginning of fall, when a hot day is still very possible in New York City.

Quotes:

Janeway: I don't think he knows anything. And I think he knows too much.
Christian Szell: You can afford to think what you wish. I can't.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Año de la garrapata, El (2004)

Soundtrack:

Le Tram

Atmospheric and exciting.

Though loose ends abound in this sensational thriller, it is simply too well acted and directed for this to really matter. Marathon Man never really tells us exactly what is going on. Probably because our main character could not possibly understand everything he is being put through. In a matter of a few days, we see Dustin Hoffman transform from a mousy graduate student, to a hardened, resourceful, and even dangerous man. All of it over a bank deposit box full of diamonds.

As in Straw Dogs, we see Dustin Hoffman pushed to the limit. This time he has a fugitive Nazi, his henchmen, and a shadowy US government agency breathing down his neck. The Nazi (Olivier) has come out of hiding to claim a cache of diamonds stolen from the Jews at Auschwitz. He fears that the government agency, who also knows about the diamonds, is trying to steal them from him. Roy Scheider, who plays Hoffman's brother, literally gets a little too close to the situation and is disposed of by the old Nazi. He stumbles back to Hoffman's apartment before he dies. But did he tell Hoffman anything about the diamonds before he died? That's a question that the Nazi, with the use of some nasty dental equipment, would like an answer to.

The second hour of the film sees Hoffman being chased around and tortured for information he simply cannot provide. For all he knew, his brother was in the oil business. He knows nothing of this terrible old man drilling holes into his teeth and repeatedly asking, "is it safe?". Through his resistance to pain, his endurance as a runner, and his hardening resolve, Hoffman is able to turn the tables on his captives and escape. One escape after another only seems to draw him into greater danger, however.

Hoffman is truly outstanding as Thomas Levy. The true method actor, Hoffman can project any emotion needed times ten. "Larry" Olivier, as he liked to be called, is cold, evil, but also weakening in his old age. His paranoia is wonderfully on display as he walks through a Jewish neighborhood and seemingly every eye is on him. Through his ears, we can also hear the people making deals and arguing about prices, which would re-enforce many negative stereotypes this character would certainly have about Jews.

Roy Scheider isn't in too much of the film, and that's a shame. He is such a likable actor! William Devane is wonderfully sleazy as the leader of the shadowy government agency that only seems to make things worse at every turn for our hero. Marthe Keller's role seems a little tacked-on, but she does pretty well with it.

The photography of New York City is harsh and dingy. Perfect for the tone of the scenes set there. The pacing is exceptional, and the conclusion somewhat surprising. Definitely satisfactory.

You'll never look at a trip to the dentist's office the same way again! 9 of 10 stars.

The Hound.