Madman

1978
1h 35m

IMDb RATING

YOUR RATING

While trying to escape from the Soviet Union, a Soviet Jewish man is locked in a mental institution, where he gets brutally tortured for several years. After his release, he's able to defect... Read allWhile trying to escape from the Soviet Union, a Soviet Jewish man is locked in a mental institution, where he gets brutally tortured for several years. After his release, he's able to defect to Israel, and gets the chance to join the Israeli Army, even though he's not in good con... Read allWhile trying to escape from the Soviet Union, a Soviet Jewish man is locked in a mental institution, where he gets brutally tortured for several years. After his release, he's able to defect to Israel, and gets the chance to join the Israeli Army, even though he's not in good condition to fight. His next plan is to seek revenge against the Russians, but first he needs... Read all

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

5.2/10

165

YOUR RATING

2User reviews

See production info at IMDbPro

Photos4

Top cast16

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Michael Beck

Boris Abramovich

Alan Feinstein

Stan Gould

F. Murray Abraham

Marco Cohen

Sigourney Weaver

Gale

Esther Zewko

Jeanette

Hana Laslo

Shosh

Shimon Barr

Sergeant Landau

Michael Warshaviak

Medic
(as Miki Warshaviak)

Misha Asherov

Major Saul

Zachi Noy

Supply Man

Zvi Borodo

Mess Sergeant
(as Borodo)

Abraham Celektar

Policeman

Arieh Elias

Mizrahi
(as Aryeh Elias)

Claudia Amm

Vid Hardt

Supply Sergeant
(voice)
(as David Lauren)

Michael Schneider

Director
- Dan Cohen
Writer
- Dan Cohen
All cast & crew
Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

User reviews2

5.2165

Featured reviews

9ranchgal01

I loved this movie

I really enjoyed this movie, I think Michael Beck does some of his best work here-this is the performance that got him the part of Swan in The Warriors. His portrayal of bruised and damaged Boris Abromvitch is sometimes almost hard to watch, but I couldn't stop watching either. But it is his interaction with the rest of the cast and their reaction to his determination and commitment to his cause that makes this movie great. You want him to heal up and be normal by the end of the movie, when you find out how damaged he is, and when everyone else finds out, and their reactions and rethinking of their own situations, and what matters in their lives--What becomes important. F Murray Abrahams is great as the almost stereotypical "hip" guy, who befriends Boris, and I thought this was a really good drama to watch. I am so glad I found this one.

10jbell-2

Interesting, if at least for young stars

I am a huge fan of Sigourney Weaver, I have been since the 4th grade when I saw Alien. I've seen all her movies and own them all too, on VHS and all available DVD formats. Well, Madman is about what I expected. It's not much to watch and Sigourney's part is not all that big. None of the plot seems to fit and I have no idea what was going on, but Weaver looks great. This was right after Annie Hall and right before Alien, so I guess she got a chance to get her feet wet. If you like F. Murray Abraham or Sigourney, it'd be the only reason to watch or own.

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Trivia
While this film was a low-budget Israeli-filmed drama that did not become a box office hit on its release in 1978, it has a legacy of launching several major Hollywood careers. This started when Walter Hill watched the movie because he wanted to see if her performance in this film (after she'd emerged on film radar for her work in "Annie Hall") was good enough for her be cast in the role of Ellen Ripley in the upcoming film ALIEN. While watching the film, Hill became very impressed with Michael Beck's work as the lead, and decided to make him the lead in another project that was about to starting filming: THE WARRIORS. And while F. Murray Abraham wasn't part of those projects, he also was noticed by producers and talent agents from his work in "Madman" and that moved his career forward greatly (he would win an Oscar for "Amadeus" only 5 years after filming his role here).