BRIGHT BULB SCREENINGS, Free Screening Series @ The Rotunda (4014 Walnut, Philly)
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THE SEVEN-PER-CENT SOLUTION (1976, dir. Herbert Ross, 113 min., UK/US)
LET'S GET HARRY (1986, dir. Alan Smithee aka Stuart Rosenberg. 106 min. U.S.)
LET'S GET HARRY (1986, dir. Alan Smithee aka Stuart Rosenberg. 106 min. U.S.)
Bright Bulb brings you a double-feature spotlighting the work of Oscar-winning actor Robert Duvall, who passed away February 15th of this year.
In THE SEVEN-PERCENT SOLUTION, Dr. Watson (Duvall) sees that his friend Sherlock Holmes (Nicol Williamson) has descended into a delusional state as a result of his cocaine addiction. With the help of Dr. Sigmund Freud (Alan Arkin), Sherlock hopes to uncover the mystery at the roots of his addiction. Unraveling the mystery of Holmes' mind sends the detective and Watson on a treacherous journey across Istanbul and Budapest, ultimately leading to Holmes longtime nemesis, Professor Moriarty (Lawrence Olivier).
Nicholas Meyer, is the screenwriter known for writing and directing STAR TREK: THE WRATH OF KHAN and 1979's TIME AFTER TIME, a similar historical figure match-up with H.G. Welles meeting Jack the Ripper. Here Meyer adapts his best-selling 1974 novel of the same name with direction by Herbert Ross (PLAY IT AGAIN SAM, PENNIES FROM HEAVEN). Vanessa Redgrave, Joel Grey, Charles Gray and Samantha Egger fill out the cast. SEVEN-PERCENT is beautifully shot by Oswald Morris, whose credits include Kubrick's LOLITA and THE GREAT MUPPET CAPER.
The film was a hit with critics and audiences with The New York Times' Vincent Canby calling it "nothing less than the most exhilarating entertainment of the film year to date" and singling out Duvall for special praise;
“The particular revelation of "The Seven-Per-Cent Solution" is Robert Duvall, one of America's best actors, who plays the English Dr. Watson with such wit and control that it's difficult to believe he's ever played an American with equal conviction. It's a very funny performance, and very important to the overall shape and cohesion of the film.”
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Although Duvall won the Best Actor Oscar for 1983's TENDER MERCIES, he wasn't so fussy that he wouldn't throw down for a crazy action film like 1986's LET'S GET HARRY. Although made for Sony's quirky Tri-Star Pictures wing, this Reagan-era jungle film shares the same sort of goofball macho energy as your typical Cannon films action-adventure flick, elevated by Stuart Rosenberg's direction, Duvall's fully-committed performance and eccentric touches that point back to the original story by cinematic madman Sam Fuller.
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Although Duvall won the Best Actor Oscar for 1983's TENDER MERCIES, he wasn't so fussy that he wouldn't throw down for a crazy action film like 1986's LET'S GET HARRY. Although made for Sony's quirky Tri-Star Pictures wing, this Reagan-era jungle film shares the same sort of goofball macho energy as your typical Cannon films action-adventure flick, elevated by Stuart Rosenberg's direction, Duvall's fully-committed performance and eccentric touches that point back to the original story by cinematic madman Sam Fuller.
Harry (Mark Harmon) is in Columbia installing water pipelines when he finds himself kidnapped by a drug kingpin. Harry's plumber brother rounds up his factory-working buddies to fly down to Columbia and do what the government can't get done. Knowing that they're over their heads, they hire the mercenary Shrike (Duvall) to train them into jungle guerrillas capable of springing the desperate Harry.
Harry's rescuers are portrayed by a batch of actors familiar to fans of '80s cinema: Michael Schoeffling (Molly Ringward's dreamboy Jake from SIXTEEN CANDLES), Thomas F. Wilson (Biff from BACK TO THE FUTURE), Rick Rossovich (“Slider” from TOP GUN), fresh of his appearance on MIAMI VICE, Glenn Frey from the country rocking band The Eagles and game for any madness, Gary Busey. Oscar-winner Ben Johnson played Harry's father and the music is from Brad Fiedel, famous for the score at THE TERMINATOR.
When ST. ELSEWHERE's Mark Harmon was pronounced a People Magazine's “Sexiest Man Alive” the producers asked director Rosenberg to beef up his role. When producers shot and edited in extra scenes with Harmon without Rosenberg's participation he removed his name, changing the credit to directors guild's famous pseudonym “Alan Smithee.” Given a small theatrical release LET'S GET HARRY found a much larger audience on home video and cable TV.
“This forgotten 80s action film is better than it has any right to be.”
- Travis Mills, Running Wild Films
- Travis Mills, Running Wild Films
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