In first minutes main hero, Barney Caine explained why is rude - he was pulled in case at Sunday, while spent his time with his son. Like other detective was happy to do it ... Just first in list of nonsense, bad dialog. Dead body count raises. and barely recognizable Marlon Brando appears. I thought that I seen all his movies, but this one I missed over decades. I guess with reason - probably weakest his movie. And he looks awful, although that's perfect for role. First 50 minutes were pretty messy. Things gone better with part in Germany, EU. Martha Keller was best part of movie, and I dare to say that some movie with her character as main character would be much more interesting and realistic. Because all this oil like fuel from coal thing was just forced. Yes, during WWII Germany was forced to solve somehow fuel problem for war machinery. But that was not normal situation, and they did not care about price of that process. Pretty much nonsense that 35-40 years later nobody couldn't discover it again. Or even some better way. But main stupidity is that we need gas for cars from domestic sources. What about electric power ? That was in in those years too. But whole thing would be less bad if Barney listened to what John Gielgud's character said him. He failed in that, in bad script way. Authors of movie failed in making main character likeable, at beginning. What was the point of all it ? To feed conspiracy theorists ? Ending was a bit of funny. Main villain solved it all from chair, wit couple moves, one phone call and very short negotiation. Greatness of Marlon Brando is that he played even it well.

Near the end of WWII, the Nazis hope to trade a truck load of secret documents for amnesty with the Americans. General Helmut Kladen (Richard Lynch) is tasked to bring the truck to the Americans at the Swiss borders. Years later, LAPD Barney Caine (George C. Scott) is investigating the murder of Tom Neeley. Neeley was the Major who intercepted the Nazi truck. With his last effort, he writes 'Gene' with his blood. Titan Oil chairman Adam Steiffel (Marlon Brando) becomes part of the investigation but he has powerful influences. Caine goes to Germany to investigate an old secret operation codenamed Genesis which he suspects is connected to the case. He uncovers a Nazis formula for making gasoline from coal which oil interests are willing to kill to bury.This thing is slower than molasses. Director John G. Avildsen is very hit and miss. This is definitely a miss. The investigation is a grind. It reminds me of TV police procedurals of that era. George C. Scott is the only driving force in the movie. He is pushing this through only by his will power. Marlon Brando looks old and fat. He's fine as a villain and it's nice to see him. The movie isn't asking much from him.The premise is compelling and would make a good thriller. The movie is just too slow for too long. It desperately needs more action and much better pace. It's good to see two acting icons but I wish they had a better movie to act in. I have to comment on the Nazi strip club. I don't like it not because it's controversial, but because it looks so cheesy. Like the movie, it needed better style to make something more compelling.

There are decent moments as George C. Scott investigates the death of his cop friend, who was involved with a "formula" that has to do with… well that's revealed in the second half of the film, which gets weighed down by too many conversations with characters being killed off right after revealing the secrets that carry Scott from one person to the next.The main problem is the lack of situations between the dialog – more chatter than the necessary suspense which would make our protagonist seem in real danger. Marlon Brando plays a stateside oil tycoon, and while it's fun watching him on screen – as he continuously purses his lips and revels in a shady persona – he's doing an obvious performance.Once in Germany, where Scott becomes drenched in a Nazi secret (teased in the prologue with Richard Lynch), he meets a brooding, sexy Martha Keller, perhaps the most fleshed-out character. But fans of Film Noir will see her deception way before love-struck Scott does.Director John G. Advilsen strays from his colorfully creative styling of JOE and SAVE THE TIGER, and his latter, more popular flicks like ROCKY and THE KARATE KID that make you want to win at all costs. This lacked either color or stamina, and leads to a dull conclusion where all those conversations, some of which are genuinely intriguing, seem a waste of time.For More Reviews: http://cultfilmfreakreviews.blogspot.com

What happened? The film had all the earmarks for success: two of the generation's greatest actors (Scott and Brando); a subject that is topical, even to this day; an international co-star that had made an impressive appearance years earlier in another political thriller, the film adaptation of Thomas Harris's "Black Sunday; and a director that had been responsible for two critically praised films ("Rocky" and "Save the Tiger").Unfortunately the screenplay, penned by novel author Steve Shagan, just fell as flat as filling one's gas tank with water: no get up and go. There were no thrills in what should have had many; there were no chills, in what should have had more action. Even the two stars seems as though they were just drawing a paycheck, and possibly a free trip to Europe, where most of the film was made.Even Bill Conti, who had written one of movie's most memorable melodies ("The Theme from 'Rocky'"), composed a score that was as exciting as listening to radio static.The film's sole saving grace is the appearance of perennial heavy Richard Lynch as a former Nazi general with information about the sought-after formula.Sadly, the movie just doesn't click with this viewer.