IMPASSE

US, 1969, 100 minutes, Colour.
Burt Reynolds, Anne Francis, Jeff Corey, Lyle Bettger.
Directed by Richard Benedict.

Impasse is an enjoyable though routine actioner. It was a star vehicle for Burt Reynolds in his television days before it was thought he would be such a superstar. The rest of the cast consists of veteran Hollywood stars of the '50s with Anne Francis as a somewhat unlikely leading lady. There is a good performance by Jeff Corey as a sinister Australian journalist. The film was made in the Philippines and is an old story of hidden treasure from war times being recovered by a group - with consequent action, chases, betrayals. Entertaining of its kind.

1. An entertaining action film? The style of the '60s? A Burt Reynolds vehicle? Comparisons with others of its kind, television episodes etc.?

2. Location photography in the Philippines? Authentic atmosphere of the cities, Corregidor, sea sequences? The importance of the action sequences, Burt Reynolds doing his own stunts - especially in the long chase? Musical score?

3. The title and the reference to the plan for collecting of the gold? Interest in-the theme - the hero, his contacts, the plan for the recovery of the gold, the execution? Themes of Americans and the war, Americans in the Philippines, greed, betrayal?

4. Burt Reynolds' image as hero? Pat Morrison working in Manila, his shop? His rescuing Jones and keeping him under cover? Contacts with Riley, Draco, Hansen? Gathering them together? Relationship with Margo - and Rile-Y feeling that he was betrayed? The fascination with Bobby Jones? Her girlfriend Penny? The intervention of the Wombat? His henchmen? The long chase sequence - and Burt Reynolds' skill with stunts? The going to the gold, the strategies for getting past the guards, the measuring of the paces, the tunnels etc.? The discovery of the false door? The fights within the group? Deaths? Betrayals? His return to Manila? The relationship with Bobby? A well-portrayed by conventional hero?

5. The portrait of the group ~ Draco and the opening, the encounter with his fat wife, his raucous nature, his going back to the Philippines - and the humour of his old girlfriend being as large as his wife? An action man? The clashes with the other members of the group? Hansen and his surly attitude, prison, greed? Riley and his friendship, the memories of the war, his wife's affair with Morrison? The clash with Hansen?

6. Professor Jones and his health, Morrison's letter to his daughter, his contribution to the plan - after being rescued by Morrison? Bobby as champion tennis player, the visit by Wombat, the rescue of her father, her fascination with Pat Morrison?

7. The character of Penny - the '60s and the Flower Power types, hippie, the cliches of peace and love - and the oddball comedy presence?

8. The action sequences and audience interest and enjoyment? Wombat as shrewd, sinister, his henchmen?

9. The film relying on ordinary themes of macho heroes and their success, romance? The sub-plots of eccentric characters and their clashes?