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IMDbPro

La cible étoilée

Original title: Brass Target
  • 1978
  • PG
  • 1h 51m
IMDb RATING
5.9/10
1.5K
YOUR RATING
Sophia Loren and John Cassavetes in La cible étoilée (1978)
ActionDramaMysteryThrillerWar

In 1945, General Patton sends Germany's confiscated gold reserves to Frankfurt, but the Army train is robbed by plotters who also hire a Swiss hitman to kill the General.In 1945, General Patton sends Germany's confiscated gold reserves to Frankfurt, but the Army train is robbed by plotters who also hire a Swiss hitman to kill the General.In 1945, General Patton sends Germany's confiscated gold reserves to Frankfurt, but the Army train is robbed by plotters who also hire a Swiss hitman to kill the General.

  • Director
    • John Hough
  • Writers
    • Frederick Nolan
    • Alvin Boretz
  • Stars
    • Sophia Loren
    • John Cassavetes
    • Max von Sydow
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    5.9/10
    1.5K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • John Hough
    • Writers
      • Frederick Nolan
      • Alvin Boretz
    • Stars
      • Sophia Loren
      • John Cassavetes
      • Max von Sydow
    • 31User reviews
    • 16Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 nominations total

    Photos61

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    Top cast37

    Edit
    Sophia Loren
    Sophia Loren
    • Mara
    John Cassavetes
    John Cassavetes
    • Maj. Joe De Lucca
    Max von Sydow
    Max von Sydow
    • Shelley Martin Webber
    George Kennedy
    George Kennedy
    • Gen. George S. Patton
    Robert Vaughn
    Robert Vaughn
    • Col. Donald Rogers
    Patrick McGoohan
    Patrick McGoohan
    • Col. Mike McCauley
    Bruce Davison
    Bruce Davison
    • Col. Robert Dawson
    Edward Herrmann
    Edward Herrmann
    • Col. Walter Gilchrist
    Ed Bishop
    Ed Bishop
    • Col. Stewart
    Lee Montague
    Lee Montague
    • Lucky Luciano
    Alan Tilvern
    Alan Tilvern
    • Frank Ferraro
    Hal Galili
    Hal Galili
    • Capt. Levy
    Bernard Horsfall
    Bernard Horsfall
    • Shelley
    John Junkin
    John Junkin
    • Carberry
    Sigfrit Steiner
    Sigfrit Steiner
    • Herr Schroeder
    Reinhold Olszewski
    • Gen. Ostranov
    Robert Cunningham
    • Gen. Stackwood
    • (as Bob Cunningham)
    Heinz Bennent
    Heinz Bennent
    • Kasten
    • Director
      • John Hough
    • Writers
      • Frederick Nolan
      • Alvin Boretz
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews31

    5.91.5K
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    Featured reviews

    6merklekranz

    A puzzle with missing pieces .............

    "Brass Target" is a rather frustrating film. It begins with a real grabber opening, the tunnel robbery of 250 million dollars in gold from a U.S. Army train. What follows is the story of an assassination contracted by the perpetrators on General George S. Patton due to his involvement in the robbery investigation. This does not make a whole lot of sense, since Patton was ordered back to the States in a few days, therefore the urgency to eliminate him seems rather pointless. Although the cast is strong, the screenplay is murky and confusing. Plot contrivances abound, especially a highly improbable code breaking. In the end, the exciting gold robbery is all but forgotten, making the movie rather forgettable as well. - MERK
    5masonfisk

    SILLY YET ENTERTAINING...!

    A 'maybe it happened this way' WWII thriller from the 70's. A consignment of captured German gold is on its way to its new home guarded by American troops when it's robbed prompting a CID officer played John Cassavettes to investigate what happened. Up the ladder of command Patton (George Kennedy) is grilled by the Russians on the theft so he decides to stick his nose in as well prompting the real thieves to hire an assassin (Max Von Sydow) to take care of 'ol Blood & Guts & anyone else who comes close to finding who did the deed. Not very good w/a bevy of talent, namely Sophia Loren, wasted as window dressing as we're more than a few steps ahead of the investigation than than person assigned to investigate.
    4bkoganbing

    Good head start

    Brass Target has as its plot premise the fact that George S. Patton's automobile accident which left him paralyzed with a broken neck that eventually killed him was really an assassination. For the more traditional view I suggest you see Patton: The Last Days which starred the most famous Patton of all George C. Scott.

    250 million dollars in gold bullion from the Third Reich is robbed and the perpetrators are a group of OSS men headed by Robert Vaughn. These guys were doing this sort of stuff during the war and apparently saw no reason that they shouldn't pull one last job with a heist that would certainly insure them a comfortable old age. The problem is that a whole train load of GIs are killed in a tunnel during the heist.

    Which brings in John Cassavetes late of the OSS who was the author of a heist plan that was a dead ringer for what the robbers used. Which gives Cassavetes a good head start in an investigation, but not exactly a smoking gun.

    After George S. Patton played here by George Kennedy is called out by the Russians for his laxity, that's something no one can accuse Patton of. He takes personal charge of the investigation and puts himself in an assassin's cross hairs.

    I think a lot of good players got wasted here in a film that didn't make sense many times. You have to fill in a lot of gaps. Sophia Loren is in the film, top billed in a supporting role that doesn't make any sense. Max Von Sydow is the professional hit man that Vaughn and company hire sight unseen though on strong recommendation. Von Sydow was interesting and clever and is the best one in the film.

    This is one urban legend that truly is a legend. As a film Brass Target is hardly legendary.
    8Spuzzlightyear

    Any movie that casts Robert Vaughn as a scheming gay general gets my vote.

    Fun little 70's "what if?" movies that ties in two unrelated things and tries to connect them, and then tries to invent conspiracy theories. It's like Inglorious Basterds 1970s style. There's a plot out to kill Patton (played rather George-Kennedishly by George Kennedy) and it's up to John Cassevetes and Sophia Loren to stop it! Oh yes, there's a gold theft in there somewhere as well, as well as the story of the assassin too. Somewhat hard to follow, but enjoyable nevertheless. Max Von Sydow is so smarmy and greasy here, he steals the show. OH RIGHT, there's also the amazing Robert Vaughn, playing WAY over type, playing a general with a secret gay boyfriend. So good!
    9SimonJack

    Intrigue, plot twists and superb cast make this a first-rate thriller

    World War II is over, and the Allies set about cleaning up and helping rebuild Europe. The Allies' most famous battle leader, General George S. Patton, continues to alienate the Russians and doesn't like attending to civil formalities of state. So, he gets canned by Eisenhower and is ordered back to the States. But during all this time, some $250 million in Third Reich gold had been discovered and then went missing. Patton launches his own effort to find the thieves and retrieve the gold.

    This story line has all the makings of a good action-thriller, and "Brass Target" doesn't disappoint. It has a solid plot – with much conjecture and fiction built around and woven through the real details of Patton's last months. The script is very good for a cast that delivers. There's just enough intrigue to keep us guessing from one scene to the next, as culprits come to light one by one. But amidst this, the one big theme develops – with the hiring of a top assassin to eliminate Patton. There's much more to this, and part of the intrigue for the viewer is wondering what next step in his plan the assassin will lay out and expose to the audience.

    George Kennedy is excellent as Patton, and Robert Vaughn turns in a first-rate performance in his role. John Cassavetes does justice as the top intelligence officer digging into the theft. Sophia Loren and Patrick McGoohan give very good performances. And the consummate cool and calculating Max von Sydow excels in the type of role he has played before.

    Some comments I've seen about the film are disparaging because of the fictitious plot. But that's precisely what makes it a movie different from the account of Patton's accidental death otherwise. If people don't like fiction in film, they can avoid movies purposely built around fictitious aspects. Come to think of it, they should probably stop watching all movies. But the rest of us can sit back and really enjoy films like this.

    Related interests

    Bruce Willis in Piège de cristal (1988)
    Action
    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama
    Jack Nicholson and Faye Dunaway in Chinatown (1974)
    Mystery
    Cho Yeo-jeong in Parasite (2019)
    Thriller
    Frères d'armes (2001)
    War

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Many of the extras were U.S. Army personnel from the 66th Military Intelligence Group who were serving in Munich, West Germany at the time of the filming. Most of the soldiers on the train at the beginning are active duty MP's who took leave to go on location in the Black Forest to make money as extras.
    • Goofs
      An illuminated "exit" sign in a German Gästehaus in 1945. Highly doubtful.
    • Quotes

      Gen. George S. Patton: The CID is so irresponsible, they couldn't find horseshit in a stable.

    • Connections
      Referenced in Minty Comedic Arts: 10 Things You Didn't Know About Black Hole (2020)

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    FAQ18

    • How long is Brass Target?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 28, 1979 (France)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • West Germany
      • Switzerland
    • Languages
      • English
      • German
      • Russian
    • Also known as
      • Brass Target
    • Filming locations
      • Bavaria Studios, Munich, Bavaria, Germany(Studio)
    • Production company
      • Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $5,011,158
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $354,797
      • Dec 25, 1978
    • Gross worldwide
      • $5,011,158
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 51m(111 min)
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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