THE BOYS FROM BRAZIL (1978) - ♦♦♦

Directed by - Franklin J. Schaffner

Written by - Heywood Gould (based on a novel by Ira Levin)

Starring - Gregory Peck, Laurence Olivier, James Mason, Lilli Palmer

" THE BOYS FROM BRAZIL is a film based on a novel by IRA LEVIN by the same name, with the quite ludicrous plot of an ageing Nazi hunter who stumbles upon plans to resurrect the Third Reich by breeding a new race of Hitlers. 

Strangely enough, despite the storyline's eccentricities, director FRANKLIN J. SCHAFFNER decides to focus on an atmpsphere of paranoia rather than more openly use a satirical edge. This approach probably lessens the impact the film could have had, but at least shows some sort of a cohesive vision that prevents it from getting completely out of hand, despite clearly running out of steam in the third act. 

The film is probably more worthy of note for being the only film to star both GREGORY PECK and LAURENCE OLIVIER, with the added bonus of the ever-suave JAMES MASON thrown in the mix for good measures. But both men seem rather uninterested in the excercise, and perhaps to maintain a level of interest try to outdo each other's performances in a way that is a little distracting. 

THE BOYS FROM BRAZIL is of some interest, perhaps even as a representative of the genetic thriller subgenre. But overall, it is bound to disappoint more than it should have."

Thriller, UK/USA