Movielogr

Sorcerer (1977)

Directed by William Friedkin

Thriller | Adventure | Drama

Most recently watched by sensoria, schofizzy, seanCduregger, noahphex, archstanton43, krazykat

Overview

Four men from different parts of the globe, all hiding from their pasts in the same remote South American town, agree to risk their lives transporting several cases of dynamite (which is so old that it is dripping unstable nitroglycerin) across dangerous jungle terrain.

Rated PG | Length 121 minutes

Actors

Roy Scheider | Bruno Cremer | Francisco Rabal | Amidou | Ramon Bieri | Peter Capell | Karl John | Friedrich von Ledebur | Chico Martínez | Joe Spinell | Rosario Almontes | Richard Holley | Anne-Marie Deschodt | Jean-Luc Bideau | Jacques François | André Falcon | Gerard Murphy | Desmond Crofton | Henry Diamond | Ray Dittrich | Frank Gio | Randy Jurgensen | Cosmo 'Gus' Allegretti

Viewing History (seen 1 time)

Date ViewedDeviceFormatSourceRating
04/14/2013Movie ScreenFilmTheater8.5 stars
 

Viewing Notes

Final and most anticipated screening of the Chicago Critics Film Festival… and the one film that I had to see. It’s a big screen bucket list film. Just incredible to view esp. with a gorgeous 35mm print. Bonus was having William Friedkin there for a special signing of his new book, introduce the film and provide an insightful and beautiful Q&A afterward.

Most startling news was when he said this would be the last screening of this print. It’s headed to Los Angeles for a 4K digital restoration that will tour next year followed by a blu-ray release. Terribly sad to hear this firsthand and I can only hope this print will not retired.

As for the film what more needs to be said? I only had fragments of it from viewing it as a child on HBO. And I don’t think I ever watched it completely but only caught bits of it (it was too boring to me, I think) but the bridge sequence is unforgettable and stuck with me all these years. So intense to watch this in the theater. Like edge of seat intense. My thought as I watched this movie is that this really is Friedkin’s Apocalypse Now or Fitzcarraldo. Took him two years to complete and that’s not a surprise. They really don’t make ‘em like this anymore.

To hear more about the making of this film after the viewing made it all the more special. To meet Mr. Friedkin was the icing on the cake. Such a warm and wonderful man. Funny, heartfelt discussion about his life and film. Then to end the evening with a Siskel & Ebert clip where Ebert opines that Sorcerer is an underrated gem from the 1970s was perfect.

Great film, great man, great evening. Thank you, CCFF.

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