The Formula

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The Formula (1980)

R 12/19/1980 (US) Thriller, Mystery, Crime 1h 57m

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Big Oil. Big Money. Big Mystery. Everyone’s out to make a killing.

Overview

While investigating the death of a friend and fellow cop, Los Angeles police officer Barney Caine stumbles across evidence that Nazis created a synthetic alternative to gasoline during World War II. This revelation has the potential to end the established global oil industry, making the formula a very valuable and dangerous piece of information. Eventually, Caine must contend with oil tycoon Adam Steiffel, who clearly has his own agenda regarding the formula.

Steve Shagan

Novel, Screenplay
John G. Avildsen

Director

Top Billed Cast

George C. Scott

Barney Caine
Marlon Brando

Adam Steiffel
Marthe Keller

Lisa
John Gielgud

Dr. Abraham Esau
G. D. Spradlin

Arthur Clements
Beatrice Straight

Kay Neeley
Richard Lynch

General Helmut Kladen / Frank Tedesco
John van Dreelen

Hans Lehman
Robin Clarke

Major Tom Neeley
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A review by Wuchak

60%

Written by Wuchak on July 18, 2021

Odd, talky, convoluted, but worthwhile

Released in 1980, "The Formula" is a star-studded crime/thriller about a Los Angeles detective (George C. Scott) who investigates the murder of his friend, a retired cop, which leads to Germany and a Nazi formula for synthetic fuel that big oil naturally wants to suppress at all costs. Marlon Brando plays a shady oil tycoon but only appears for roughly 17 minutes of the almost 2-hour runtime.

The film is top-of-the-line as far as cast, location, cinematography and score go. It starts off like a Dirty Harry flick substituting Scott for Eastwood... read the rest.

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