8mm Forum: Black Sunday (1976) film review

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Posted by John Capazzo (Member # 157) on January 24, 2015, 12:25 PM:

Super Bowl Sunday is approaching here in The States, and there is no better film to review than BLACK SUNDAY; 1976. Marketing films distributed this in 1978 in a super 8 color sound 400'; 3x400', and the entire feature. Director: John Frankenheimer. An engrossing, credible script by Ernest Lehman, Kenneth Ross and Ivan Moffat. I would have imagined William Goldman to be first choice-however, he wasn't. Great cast with Robert Shaw as David Kabakov- the Israeli Commando; Colonel Landers (played by Bruce Dern) as a disgruntled American Vietnam Veteran and Dahlia iLad (Marthe Keller) as the international terrorist.

What I am reviewing below is the 3x400' version- and it's excellently edited. I've spliced it on a 1200' reel for more convenience and watching it once on a GS 1200 and several times on an HD further enhances the viewing experience.

The film begins with a raid from Shaw's unit to a rented villa home near Los Angeles, CA, where Dahlia's "Black September" group is finalizing the next terror, murderous attack somewhere in the USA. All are attacked during the raid, and killed by Shaw's group except Dhalia and her superior in Black September, Fasil (played by an unknown Bekhim Fehimu) who escape and remain alive. Next, Kabakov and his colleague, Robert Moshevsky (portrayed by Steven Keats) are invited to speak to Federal Agents in Washington D.C. The Agent assigned to the case is Sam Corley (Fritz Weaver) who has a major role in this 3 part film. Kabacov's crew has found recorded tape during the raid and is played to the officials. The tape was to be given to officials and the media AFTER the next attack; but fortunately the tape is confiscated by Kabacov's crew. Dahlia's voice is the culprit: warning Americans about the next attack unless the U.S. government ceases giving arms money to Israel and neglecting less fortunate countries in the middle east. Next, we know of illicit delivery of plastic explosives used for the attack, entering a harbor in California. The next morning, the captain on the boat is questioned by the F.B.I. The captain seems to convince F.B.I that he knows nothing of explosives; but Kabacov and Moshevsky knows he is lying and was paid off. During that evening, Kabakov and moshevsky sneak in the captains quarters and threaten him. The Captain is killed by an explosion in his ship quarters by the calculating and cunning Col. Landers; lest of succumbing to the feds. He is killed before any information is given. Kabacov is slightly injured during the explosion and is hospitalized. Dahlia knows where Kabakov is hospitalized and is dressed up as a night nurse who almost gains entry to his room to poison him, but is stopped by Moshevsky. Moshevsky is killed in an elevator by Dhalia. Landers and Dahlia are working on concealing explosives in a small boat; which will be mounted under the Good Year blimp during the Super Bowl. Next we have some leads on who Dahlia and Fasil are; and where she is hiding: Miami where the Super Bowl is held during this football season. Fasil is seen entering his hotel room and takes a young girl as hostage. After a shoot out in the streets on South Beach, she is unharmed and survives; Fasil is shot in the ocean. Dalhia is on her way to the stadium grounds with the boat attached to her trailer. She has press pass to enter the stadium as a special unit crew assigned to the game. Col Landers is not scheduled to fly the blimp; and the initial pilot who is to fly it, is murdered in his hotel room. Now we know who is going to attack, and what the attack will be caused by explosives in the blimp. The boat is mounted; the initial crew is killed; all television equipment is destroyed; lest too much excessive weight on the blimp. The actual game played between the Dallas Cowboys and Pittsburgh Steelers is intertwined in the script; since they were Super Bowl teams in Jan., 1976. Now it's Dahlia and Landers flying the blimp and on their way to the stadium to set it off as they hover over--but not without Shaw and Corley in hot pursuit in a helicopter. I'll stop here!

John Frankenheimer did an outstanding job with this film; and a score by John Williams that couldn't be more intense.

The print I have still has retained almost all of it's color; considering how many 3x400 I've seen has turned. The print is not as sharp as I'd like; but to me, great color supersedes a soft print. I haven't seen this in 3x400 often; probably due to poor sales when released. I've seen several 400' over the years; but with too many subplots in this film, the 15 minute version doesn't do justice. A great action film with credible dialogue and some character development. I'll bring it with me at the next Cinesea. Enjoy!

John

Posted by Douglas Meltzer (Member # 28) on January 27, 2015, 07:19 PM:

John,

Thank you for the excellent review of one of my favorite films. I have all three Marketing versions of Black Sunday and the color has held up fairly well on each one. That ending always get my heart racing!

Doug

Posted by John Capazzo (Member # 157) on January 27, 2015, 11:37 PM:

Glad you enjoyed, Doug. I agree: the ending is still thrilling!

Posted by Vincent Zabbia (Member # 2453) on January 30, 2015, 08:08 AM:

What I would like to know: Was the blimp deflated?

Posted by John Capazzo (Member # 157) on January 30, 2015, 08:40 AM:

Vincenzo: that's still under investigation...

Posted by David Skillern (Member # 607) on February 01, 2015, 10:02 AM:

I've got the 400ft version of this print - which is ok - colour and sound still very good - but I'd love the full feature - so I'm on the look out.

Posted by John Capazzo (Member # 157) on February 01, 2015, 10:09 PM:

David, I knew of one person within the last two years who had the feature and it turned. Hopefully one you find in the future won't be.

Posted by James N. Savage 3 (Member # 83) on February 05, 2015, 07:21 AM:

John- Thanks for the great review!

I have always wanted to know how this 3 x 400 digest was edited. Sometimes the editors at Marketing got it right, and sounds like the case on this one.

I'm gonna try to make the April Cinesea, so I'll look forward to viewing this!

James.

Posted by John Capazzo (Member # 157) on March 31, 2015, 12:41 AM:

David, I've met two collectors within the past seven or eight years who had the feature, and both completely turned.

Posted by David Skillern (Member # 607) on April 04, 2015, 11:45 AM:

Thanks John,

I see that Barry from Independent 8 has a copy of the 3x400ft marketing release on his current lists - I will see if he's still got it next month.

David

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