Director J. Lee Thompson delivers a systematic, if quite unpleasant and foolish World War II action thriller with an outstanding cast lead by the hardy Anthony Quinn (who was in Thompson's "The Greek Tycoon" the year before), James Mason, Kay Lenz, Patricia Neal, Michael Lonsdale, Malcolm McDowell and Christopher Lee. Great cast indeed, although everyone looks rather uninterested with the obvious exception of McDowell itchy, overblown performance as a sadistic SS Captain. You can see he is having a ball in the role, from his delivery of the dialogues and his torturous actions. It's "Clockwork Orange" set during WW2, but even the dreary context can't hide his humorous shtick.Anthony Quinn stars as a Basque mountaineer that's hired by the resistance to guide American professor Bergson (James Mason) and his family from France over the dangerous Pyrenees ice-swept mountains into Spain. While at the same time being tracked by the dogged, cold-blooded SS officer Von Berkow.In all well-budgeted "The Passage" can be seen as an interesting failure. It wasn't the rough-and-tumble, old-school war adventure I was expecting. There's so much wrong with it, but for some reason it holds you there. Everything but the kitchen sink has been thrown into it, without any sort of care. The structure is odd, being adapted by Bruce Nicolaysen from his own novel "The Perilous Passage". Continuity seems off at times, as scenes just don't come together on this mission/on-the-run format. It should be epic, but set-pieces come across as individual moments in what are routine situations and the wonderful scenery never really comes into play. Thompson's efforts are workman-like, but indistinguishable. The pace is slow, action is half-hearted (even with its blood spurting, barbaric violence and grand explosions) and the suspense is ragged with McDowell's random craziness making it worth the buzz. From showing his excellent chopping skills when preparing a meal "Chop, Chop, Chop!" revealing his Swastiska jockstrap to Kay Lenz's character before raping her and imitating Hitler by putting a comb above his lip. The tone just feels misguided, but tame and cartoonish nowadays it was crude and uneasy at the time. You can see this being a cult- favourite and this especially could be favourable due to its very strange, tripped-out climatic ending. I was very surprised where it went because of how powerful and ghastly the execution was (face painting anyone?), but to find it actually was only a tease lessen the impact with its multiple versions. The editing was all-over-the-place, and the finale was the tip of that. Better things can be said about the camera-work, where it did flow around the action well enough demonstrating the dark, shadowy realism of the predicament. Visually it was glum."The Passage" might leave you with a bad taste in your mouth, but it's rather transfixing due to McDowell's creepy histrionics that you can't believe what you are seeing.

Not a particularly good WWII yarn, but worthwhile for Anthony Quinn's commanding performance as a bitter sheepherder who is asked by the French Resistance to smuggle scientist James Mason and family across the Pyrenees. Nazi Maclolm McDowell is on their trail. It's violent but hardly exciting with one scene of brutality after another (Mason's daughter is raped by McDowell, an uncooperative Gypsy is set afire). As good as Quinn is, Mason is given little to do. Patricia Neal has almost no dialog as his infirm wife and Kay Lenz is oddly cast as his resourceful daughter. McDowell is outrageous, acting as if he just stepped out of CABARET's Kit Kat club (as one of the dancers!) He's perks up the film, but only to propel it to campy heights. Michael Lonsdale and Christopher Lee appear in small roles. Directed, very blandly, by J. Lee Thompson, who seems to have lost any ability to mount suspense. This from the director of THE GUNS OF NAVARONE and the original CAPE FEAR?

I saw this film years ago and am very disappointed to find that it is not available on VHS or DVD. Strange that any film my Malcolm should be unavailable as so much other dross is.This film is very violent with some humour attached. Not the most cerebral piece of work but neither is 'The Hills Have Eyes' or 'Nightmere on Elm Street' but they are cult movies.If this was released again, I am sure it would get an appreciable following for those with 'Bad Taste' and 'Brain Damage' - even Peter Jackson started with over the top violence & humour!Try and get a copy and see for yourself - don't be put off by these other 'critics'.Mark

This dreadful movie is clearly a candidate for one of the 10 worst movies ever made. It's so bad that it's screamingly funny. McDowell, playing the evil Nazi chasing Mason's multi-accented family, catches up with Kay Lenz in a hotel room and, preparing to anal rape, drops his pants to reveal . . . a jock strap with a swastika on his crotch. This was not intended as a joke! The avalanche scene used offcuts from the avalanche in On Her Majesty's Secret Service. Anthony Quinn as the shepherd who conducts the Mason clan over the Pyrenees is just a pathetic Zorba the Basque. The dialogue is at once stilted and ridiculous and the great cast sleepwalks through their roles. A definite must-not-see. Why did I see it? I did some of the legal work on this uber-turkey back in 1979 and went to the premiere. The impression it left was, regrettably, indelible.