Brass Target
Encyclopedia
Brass Target is a 1978 American war film
, based on the novel The Algonquin Project by Frederick Nolan
and directed by John Hough. It stars John Cassavetes
, Robert Vaughn
, George Kennedy
, Patrick McGoohan
and Max von Sydow
.
The film revolves around the actual historical event of Gen. George S. Patton
's fatal automobile crash. It suggests it was not an accident but a conspiracy.
be transported to Frankfurt
. But before the shipment arrives in the city the train is robbed and its US Army MP guards are killed in a tunnel using poisoned gas.
It's then revealed that a group of corrupt American officers, led by a colonel (played by Vaughn), are behind the crime. The investigation, started by Patton, initially leads to OSS
Major Joe DeLuca (played by Cassavetes). It seems the robbers used his plan from one of his wartime operations to steal the gold.
This prompts DeLuca to start his own investigation. His first stop is to see his old wartime commander, Colonel Mike McCauley (played by McGoohan), who is now living in a requisitioned German Castle.
Meanwhile, as the investigation gets closer, the corrupt American officers hire Webber, a professional assassin
, (played by Von Sydow) to kill Patton in the hope of halting the inquiry.
Soon DeLuca meets Mara, a former girlfriend (played by Loren), who can help him find the culprits. But before they can do that they find out that Webber is on their trail and also planning to kill Patton. The pair now have to race against time across war-ravaged Europe to save the general and catch the villainous officers.
, Bavaria, Germany
and Switzerland
.
had not started but relations with the Russians are shown to be already frosty. There are displaced persons camps, refugees and POWs as well as the remnants of war, such as bombed out buildings and destroyed armoured vehicles and equipment. Despite the attention to detail, the premise of the film is no more than groundless speculation - General Patton died due to spinal injuries sustained as a result of an automotive accident, which an official military investigation agreed with.
War film
War films are a film genre concerned with warfare, usually about naval, air or land battles, sometimes focusing instead on prisoners of war, covert operations, military training or other related subjects. At times war films focus on daily military or civilian life in wartime without depicting battles...
, based on the novel The Algonquin Project by Frederick Nolan
Frederick Nolan
Frederick William Nolan is an English editor and writer, mostly known as Frederick Nolan, but also using the pen names Donald Severn, Daniel Rockfern, Christine McGuire and Frederick H. Christian....
and directed by John Hough. It stars John Cassavetes
John Cassavetes
John Nicholas Cassavetes was an American actor, screenwriter and filmmaker. He acted in many Hollywood films, notably Rosemary's Baby and The Dirty Dozen...
, Robert Vaughn
Robert Vaughn
Robert Francis Vaughn, , is an American actor noted for stage, film and television work. His best known roles include the suave spy Napoleon Solo in the 1960s television series The Man from U.N.C.L.E., wealthy detective Harry Rule in the 1970s television series The Protectors, Albert Stroller in...
, George Kennedy
George Kennedy
George Harris Kennedy, Jr. is an American actor who has appeared in over 200 film and television productions. He is perhaps most familiar as the convict Dragline in Cool Hand Luke , airline troubleshooter Joe Patroni in the Airport series of disaster movies from the 1970s and...
, Patrick McGoohan
Patrick McGoohan
Patrick Joseph McGoohan was an American-born actor, raised in Ireland and England, with an extensive stage and film career, most notably in the 1960s television series Danger Man , and The Prisoner, which he co-created...
and Max von Sydow
Max von Sydow
Max von Sydow is a Swedish actor. He has also held French citizenship since 2002. He has starred in many films and had supporting roles in dozens more...
.
The film revolves around the actual historical event of Gen. George S. Patton
George S. Patton
George Smith Patton, Jr. was a United States Army officer best known for his leadership while commanding corps and armies as a general during World War II. He was also well known for his eccentricity and controversial outspokenness.Patton was commissioned in the U.S. Army after his graduation from...
's fatal automobile crash. It suggests it was not an accident but a conspiracy.
Plot
The story opens in Europe days after VE Day. General Patton (played by Kennedy), orders that gold reserves held by the former ReichsbankReichsbank
The Reichsbank was the central bank of Germany from 1876 until 1945. It was founded on 1 January 1876 . The Reichsbank was a privately owned central bank of Prussia, under close control by the Reich government. Its first president was Hermann von Dechend...
be transported to Frankfurt
Frankfurt
Frankfurt am Main , commonly known simply as Frankfurt, is the largest city in the German state of Hesse and the fifth-largest city in Germany, with a 2010 population of 688,249. The urban area had an estimated population of 2,300,000 in 2010...
. But before the shipment arrives in the city the train is robbed and its US Army MP guards are killed in a tunnel using poisoned gas.
It's then revealed that a group of corrupt American officers, led by a colonel (played by Vaughn), are behind the crime. The investigation, started by Patton, initially leads to OSS
Office of Strategic Services
The Office of Strategic Services was a United States intelligence agency formed during World War II. It was the wartime intelligence agency, and it was a predecessor of the Central Intelligence Agency...
Major Joe DeLuca (played by Cassavetes). It seems the robbers used his plan from one of his wartime operations to steal the gold.
This prompts DeLuca to start his own investigation. His first stop is to see his old wartime commander, Colonel Mike McCauley (played by McGoohan), who is now living in a requisitioned German Castle.
Meanwhile, as the investigation gets closer, the corrupt American officers hire Webber, a professional assassin
Assassination
To carry out an assassination is "to murder by a sudden and/or secret attack, often for political reasons." Alternatively, assassination may be defined as "the act of deliberately killing someone, especially a public figure, usually for hire or for political reasons."An assassination may be...
, (played by Von Sydow) to kill Patton in the hope of halting the inquiry.
Soon DeLuca meets Mara, a former girlfriend (played by Loren), who can help him find the culprits. But before they can do that they find out that Webber is on their trail and also planning to kill Patton. The pair now have to race against time across war-ravaged Europe to save the general and catch the villainous officers.
Filming locations
The film was shot on location in MunichMunich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
, Bavaria, Germany
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
and Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
.
Production Notes
The film, despite a lukewarm reception on release, is noted for its attention to historical detail in an early Post-War Europe. The Cold WarCold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
had not started but relations with the Russians are shown to be already frosty. There are displaced persons camps, refugees and POWs as well as the remnants of war, such as bombed out buildings and destroyed armoured vehicles and equipment. Despite the attention to detail, the premise of the film is no more than groundless speculation - General Patton died due to spinal injuries sustained as a result of an automotive accident, which an official military investigation agreed with.