Caravan to Vaccarès

It's a shame that such a lame plot should be hung on such picturesque locations, with some documentary style reportage shoved in for extra length. A shorter film may have held the tension a little more, and a more charismatic lead may not have mangled his lines so much. The female lead also, was not allowed to do enough resulting in a pretty but boring affair. It builds towards the end but the lead actor's own redemption is too little too late and should have been revealed earlier in the film. Not awful, just a pity. Unexciting but nice enough to grace TV schedules of the early hours.

In France, Neil Bowman (David Birney) picks up British photographer Lila (Charlotte Rampling). They get invited to dinner with a French duke who hires them to accompany a scientist to New York. They are pursued by kidnappers who really want the scientist.

Charlotte Rampling is one of the great beauties of cinematic history. There is also plenty of beautiful European locations in this film. It's too bad that it has all been wasted in the boring action thriller. They try quite a bit of action, but I wouldn't call any of it thrilling. Mostly, this is boring and I find myself more interested in the locations.

Despite the fact that it has enough action. But the whole action is around the character "who has to get to the USA" (Zuger) and is repetitive from beginning to end. Something totally crazy, we will never know why Ferenc The Killer (Serge Marquand) had to shoot that man in the car in the first two minutes of the film. Charlotte Rampling is young and beautiful but her role is as if she is not even in the film. 3 very good actors, Françoise Brion, Marcel Bozzuffi and Michel Lonsdale, are wasted in a banal story with many flaws. Watch for Graham Hill, the great racing pilot, as the helicopter pilot at the end!

American Neil Bowman is traveling through France when he meets British photographer Lila. They are hired by French land owner Duc de Croyter to escort a Hungarian scientist to New York. But they soon realize that the job is not a cushy number, and have to deal with a gang of kidnappers who will stop at nothing to get their hands on the scientist.

One of my favourite Alistair Maclean novels is turned into a flat and dull cinematic affair, lacking the excitement, the suspense and thrills that Maclean is renowned for, however there are some bright spots such as the scenery of Provence, the culture, the aerial shots, and some exciting action scenes especially the bullfighting scene at the end. It's just a shame the film overall lacks that spark, not very engaging, and dull. I normally like David Birney and he looks the part but his character isn't too likeable and he smirks most of the time. It's a shame that this doesn't match up with the exciting book. The problem is that the filmmakers deviated significantly from the book, which had a great plot and was tailor made for the big screen, and settled for what now is on film. A big faux pas on their part.

It's not exactly encouraging at the outset; plot development, dialogue, and scene writing alike all feel very thin, and one simply has to accept it at face value or immediately give up outright. David Birney spends a lot of scenes looking like a deer in the headlights, and some supporting cast members similarly don't come off well; in fairness, there are no few times when I can only question Geoffrey Reeve's choices as director. I recognize plenty of swell ideas in every regard, which I assume follow from Alistair MacLean's novel, but even the adapted screenplay has issues with narrative flow, nevermind particular instances of editing or sequencing. There is a complete, cohesive story being told, but the simple fact of the matter is that with the way 'Caravan to Vaccarès' is made, sometimes it really doesn't feel like it.

It all looks good, at least. There are many stunts and effects throughout, and they come off well; the filming locations and production design are excellent. The costume design, hair, and makeup are easy on the eyes; Stanley Myers' score isn't anything special, but it's enjoyable, and lends flavor. The narrative is actually fairly compelling, despite its weak cinematic treatment and the extraordinary leaps of faith it often requires as a viewer. Then again, even the heartiest suspension of disbelief can't withstand some of the storytelling decisions made here, and the Just So sensibilities that characterized the writing from the start collide with distinct dubious moments to place significant, low upper limits on one's engagement and entertainment. It would have taken astonishingly little to realize this as a satirical Euro-spy comedy, but no, it's an earnest action-adventure thriller. This poses a problem.

I don't think 'Caravan to Vaccarès' is altogether bad. It is, however, sadly middling, and even its best ideas just don't amount to much of anything. Insofar as it's enjoyable, it's a title one is able to enjoy very passively, without actively watching. There are worse ways to spend one's time, sure, but even if you're a major fan of someone involved, nor is there any specific reason to watch; Charlotte Rampling and Michel Lonsdale are rather wasted. Oh well. Check it out if you want, I won't stop you. Just don't get your hopes up.