GREEN ICE
US, 1981, 98 minutes, Colour.
Ryan O’ Neal, Anne Archer, Omar Sharif, John Larroquette.
Directed by Ernest Day.
Green Ice is a routine robbery thriller. Ryan O’ Neal is an expert sent to Latin America who becomes involved in an emerald robbery. The target is a consortium in Colombia. The film has the advantage of location scenery. However, the material is familiar – but audiences generally enjoy this kind of easy entertainment.
Direction is by Ernest Day, who also directed Waltz Across Texas but was better known as a cinematographer.
1. A popular comedy adventure? the lavish style? hero and heroine? Villain? The world of wealth and jewels? Third world revolution? The world of technology? A caper film? Romance? The popular and perennial ingredients of entertainment? How well done?
2. The colour photography - the use of Mexican locations? The atmosphere of Colombia? The world of emeralds? The affluent life in Latin America? New York? Ryan O' Neal and his romantic style? The comparison and contrast with that of Omar Sharif? The special effects - especially for the caper, with the emphasis on electronics and technology? The balloon sequence? The guerrilla warfare sequences? The musical score and the contribution of the songs, especially during the balloon sequence?
3. The conventions of the crime caper - how well used? The aimless hero and his becoming involved, his outwitting the intelligent villain? The rich heiress as heroine? The smooth and suave villain? connivance? The decision to outwit machinery, technology and villains? The ironic disappearance of the emeralds with the happy ending? Audiences accepting these conventions?
4. The reality and unreality of the world of green ice? Joseph Wiley and his losing his job, wandering Mexico, employed, outwitting machines, involved in violent heroics? Holbrook and her wealth, the link with Meno? Taking up with Wiley? The background of revolutionaries? the robbery and the finale? How authentic did the characters and situations seem?
5. Ryan O' Neal's style as Wiley - driving, the encounter with Holbrook, mistaken identity, trying his hand at dealing in stolen jewels and having to be rescued from the water, employed by Meno, trying to outwit him, in love with Holbrook? The encounter with the plan and its execution? Miguel and the revolutionaries? escape and the loss of the emeralds? The athletic chase and shoot-out? His wiliness in getting the emeralds to New York? A tongue-in-cheek conventional comic hero?
6. Holbrook and her glamour, the encounter with Wiley and her plane? Hotel and high society, Meno? Her engagement? Her breaking off with Meno - the background of her father and Meno's wanting a link with the diamond chain? Her reaction to her sister's death? The visit to Colombia, the ambush with the soldiers? The breaking with Meno and escaping with Wiley? The boat and losing the emeralds? The shoot-out and the happy ending?
7. Omar Sharif as the suave villain - his corrupt background in Europe, diamond dealing, refuge in Latin America, building up the emerald concession, his private troops, his henchmen, the irony of the spy within his ranks, his vanity about his security, the breach in his security, the attack on the guerrillas, the violent chase and his being killed?
8. The background of the rebels - the prologue and the execution? The rebels in the hills and their American background, violence, rescue of Holbrook and Wiley, the bid to steal the emeralds, Miguel's hanging from the building and dying? The financial support of the guerrillas? How real did their cause seem in terms of the style of film?
9. The minor villains: the employees at Meno's building? Kellerman and his ruthlessness? The hired assassins? Jaap and his seeming fidelity and killing Meno?
10. The use of aerial photography, planes, car chases? The special effects for the balloon sequence, Miguel dangling from the building? The boat chase - with the irony of losing the emeralds? The chase on the beach?
11. A conventional blending of romance and adventure? How successful a film within its genre?
