Le piège infernal

This is a minor lost classic of a British gangster film done in the same vein as The Sweeney, Get Carter and The Long Good Friday. It proves that it doesn't have to be American to be authentic and realistic. In fact it's the film's gritty locations which add weight to the storyline. Former Detective Inspector Naboth, now a struggling private eye who live s in the bottle is called upon when his ex-wife is kidnapped. Stacey Keach is Jim Naboth who is called upon by ex-wifes new lover Edward Fox who is blackmailed into taking part in a bank heist. Look out for the scene when Stacey Keach is wearing nothing but a shoe to cover up his manhood after being forced to hand over all his clothes to villain boss "Irish Jack" who is a sadistic thug, except when it comes to his own daughter whom he dotes upon. Another controversial scene is when Jill(Carol White) who is the ex wife of Stacey Keach is forced to do a strip in front of the gangsters who are holding her captive. She is even made to choose what music she wants to strip to for their entertainment.

Freddie Starr is excellent as "Teddy" who is a wet nurse to Stacey Keach and does his best to keep him away from the bottle and seedy pubs. The 1970's feel to this film reaches a dramatic climax towards the end when the robbery actually takes place and theres a few twists and turns in store.

Early film from Michael Apted (2000 Bond film, The world is not enough, 7up series for TV, etc.) Stacey Keach gives a wonderfully seedy performance playing against type as an English, alcoholic ex-policeman searching for a kidnapped child. Watch out for English comic Freddie Starr in a straight role as Keach's friend and saviour. Filmed in London during the heatwave summer of 1976, most people of my age who were children at the time would remember London like this. The film uses great locations- The Thames, the Underground, tatty 1970s pubs, etc. The opening scene in the Underground station and the climax of the film are particularly good. Keach plays the seemingly hopeless alcoholic with great dignity. The film has a slick pace, an atmospheric twangy 1970s soundtrack, great action scenes and a familiar cast. It may be hard to find this film, it is often tucked away on TV in the middle of the night for some reason, but I would recommend it to all crime/gangster film fans.

English Director Michael Apted has received a good bit of attention for a few films over the years, most notably Coal Miner's Daughter, Gorky Park and Gorilla's In The Mist. He's also directed a number of TV episodes of many well known shows. Of all of the films I've seen of his, two of them stand out to me as quite underrated or underappreciated generally. This one which is actually so underseen it seems, and 1992's Thunderheart with Sam Shepard, Graham Greene and Val Kilmer. I definitely recommend checking them both out if you like crime drama.

7.5/10.

This is a cracker of a movie. There are good performances all round, and some stylish direction from former documentary film-maker Michael Apted. Watch out for some shaky camera work in some scenes. He later on gave us Gorillas in the Mist, among many others. The main surprise in this, is how great Freddie Starr performs in his only film role. And it was certainly an inspired piece of casting-whoever is responsible, I take my hat off to you. Though it looks low budget, there are quite a few top weight actors in it, even by 1970s standards such as Edward Fox, and the late David Hemmings. Sheila White, the poor cow of the '60s does a fine job as the kidnapped wife of Fox's character.

It's not hard to see why Stacy Keach is so good as a man fighting substance abuse. He later on had his own troubles when he was caught entering the UK with drugs in 1984. Some years before, he portrayed a low grade boxer in Fat City with a young Jeff Bridges.

This was made in the '70s, it's quite violent and rough around the edges. You have been warned. Enjoy it anyway.

Tough, hard hitting British thriller about an ex Scotland yard man, played very convincingly by Stacy Keach, now trying to keep from becoming a confirmed alcoholic. He finds his old skills are needed again when his wife is kidnapped. The cast are excellent, and they, along with the no holds barred script make this one of the best thrillers of the 70's