The Formula( 1980)

TV-MAThrillerMysteryCrime

55%

User
Score

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.

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
Ike Eisenmann
Tony
Marshall Thompson
Geologist #1
Dieter Schidor
Assassin
Werner Kreindl
Schellenberg
Jan Niklas
Gestapo Captain
Wolfgang Preiss
Franz Tauber
Calvin Jung
Sgt. Yosuta
Alan North
Nolan
David Byrd
Obermann
Ferdy Mayne
Siebold
Gerard Murphy
Chauffeur
Francisco Prado
Mendosa
Louis Basile
Vince Rizzo
Ric Mancini
Printman
Weston Gavin
U.S. Army Captain
Craig T. Nelson
Geologist #2
Herb Voland
Geologist #3
Diane Tyler
Telex Operator
Nathan Roberts
Reporter

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Review 1Discussion

A review by Wuchak

Written by Wuchak on Sun Jul 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 ...