The Killer Elite [Blu-ray]

Director: Sam Peckinpah Sam Peckinpah

Overview

This second-string Sam Peckinpah action film features James Caan as ex-CIA agent Mike Locken, who has retired due to injuries received at the hands of his ex-partner George Hansen (Robert Duvall). But Mike is lured out of retirement to protect Yuen Chung (Mako), an Asian political leader. There's a contract out on Yuen Chung's life -- and the killer assigned to rub out Yuen Chung is none other than Mike's former partner, George Hansen. The confrontation between the two leads to a showdown on a decaying naval vessel between Mike's forces and a group of ninja warriors.

Product Details

Release Date:	06/07/2022
UPC:	0618952711440
Original Release:	1975
Source:	Ronin Flix
Language:	English
Time:	2:04:00

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

James Caan	Mike Locken
Robert Duvall	George Hansen
Arthur Hill	Cap Collis
Gig Young	Weyburn,Mac
MAKO	Yuen Chung
Bo Hopkins	Miller
Helmut Dantine	Vorodny
Tom Clancy	O'Leary
Kate Heflin	Amy
Tiana	Tommie Chung
James Wing Woo	Tao Yi
George Kee Cheung	Bruce,Bruce
Simon Tam	Jimmy Fung
Rick Alemany	Ben Otake
Hank Hamilton	Hank
Walter Kelley	Walter
Billy J. Scott	Eddie
Johnnie Burrell	Donnie
Matthew Peckinpah	Kid
Sondra Blake	Josephine
Vanessa Marcil	Mike Locken
Tiana Alexandra	Tommie
Carole Mallory	Rita
Victor Sen Yung	Wei Chi
Tak Kubota	Negato Toku
Tommy Bush	Sam the Mechanic
Eddy Donno	Fake Officer
Kim Kahana	Association Guard
Gary Combs	Security Policeman
Uschi Digard	Actor
Danny Inosanto	Actor
Jerry Fielding	Composer

Technical Credits

Marc Norman

Stirling Silliphant

Sam Peckinpah	Director
Martin Baum	Producer
Helmut Dantine	Executive Producer,Producer
Whitey Hughes	Stunts
Arthur Lewis	Producer
Marc Norman	Screenwriter
Stirling Silliphant	Screenwriter
Richard Portman	Sound Effects,Sound/Sound Designer
Charles M. Wilborn	Sound Effects,Sound/Sound Designer
Sass Bedig	Special Effects
Joel Freeman	Producer

Editorial Reviews

This 1975 action opus lacks the inspiration and precise storytelling of Peckinpah classics like The Getaway and The Wild Bunch, but still has plenty to offer action fans. The main problem with The Killer Elite is Stirling Silliphant's script, which drags after an interesting setup and never finds the right balance between action and the blackly comic satire of the genre it attempts to achieve. Despite these key flaws, The Killer Elite will still appeal to action buffs for a few reasons, the first is the impressive performances of its cast. Robert Duvall delivers a supremely icy performance as the mercenary Hansen and James Caan's work as Locken makes every painful step of his rehabilitation believable. There is also some colorful supporting work from Bo Hopkins and Burt Young as a pair of eccentric assassins whom Caan enlists to help him in his revenge. The Killer Elite also benefits from Sam Peckinpah's golden touch with action set pieces. Highlights include the bombing that takes place under the opening titles and the meticulously edited fight finale aboard a set of abandoned war ships. In short, The Killer Elite is not top-flight Peckinpah, but delivers enough action and quirky characterizations to make it worthwhile for anyone interested in this director's work.

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