The Hostage Tower
Encyclopedia
The Hostage Tower is a 1980
American spy
and thriller telemovie starring Peter Fonda
and Douglas Fairbanks Jr., and directed by Claudio Guzmán
, well-known for his work in sitcoms. It is based on a book of the same name by John Denis writing as Alistair MacLean
. The book was written deliberately for television adaptation. It is part of a series of UNACO
books.
) is being pursued by Malcolm Philpott (Douglas Fairbanks Jr.), the head of an international peace organisation. When Mr Smith captures the Eiffel Tower
and kidnaps the mother of the President of the United States
(Celia Johnson
), Philpott must enlist the help of spies to take him down.
Mr Smith demands a ransom of $30 million without which he will blow up the tower and the President's mother. He has protected the tower from infiltration by stealing four high-power lasers which will shoot anyone entering who is not equipped with a protective device.
1980 in film
- Events :* May 21 - Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back is released and is the biggest grosser of the year ....
American spy
Spy film
The spy film genre deals with the subject of fictional espionage, either in a realistic way or as a basis for fantasy . Many novels in the spy fiction genre have been adapted as films, including works by John Buchan, John Le Carré, Ian Fleming and Len Deighton...
and thriller telemovie starring Peter Fonda
Peter Fonda
Peter Henry Fonda is an American actor. He is the son of Henry Fonda, brother of Jane Fonda, and father of Bridget and Justin Fonda...
and Douglas Fairbanks Jr., and directed by Claudio Guzmán
Claudio Guzmán
Claudio Guzmán was a Chilean-American television director, producer, art director, and production designer...
, well-known for his work in sitcoms. It is based on a book of the same name by John Denis writing as Alistair MacLean
Alistair MacLean
Alistair Stuart MacLean was a Scottish novelist who wrote popular thrillers or adventure stories, the best known of which are perhaps The Guns of Navarone, Ice Station Zebra and Where Eagles Dare, all three having been made into successful films...
. The book was written deliberately for television adaptation. It is part of a series of UNACO
UNACO
UNACO is a fictional agency within the United Nations created by author Alistair MacLean in a series of movie outlines he developed before his death. These outlines were made into full-length novels by numerous authors, most notably Alastair MacNeill.UNACO uses groups of people to form "strike...
books.
Plot
Criminal mastermind Mr Smith (Keir DulleaKeir Dullea
Keir Dullea is an American actor best known for the character of astronaut David Bowman, whom he portrayed in the 1968 film 2001: A Space Odyssey and in 1984's 2010: The Year We Make Contact...
) is being pursued by Malcolm Philpott (Douglas Fairbanks Jr.), the head of an international peace organisation. When Mr Smith captures the Eiffel Tower
Eiffel Tower
The Eiffel Tower is a puddle iron lattice tower located on the Champ de Mars in Paris. Built in 1889, it has become both a global icon of France and one of the most recognizable structures in the world...
and kidnaps the mother of the President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
(Celia Johnson
Celia Johnson
Dame Celia Elizabeth Johnson DBE was an English actress.She began her stage acting career in 1928, and subsequently achieved success in West End and Broadway productions. She also appeared in several films, including the romantic drama Brief Encounter , for which she received a nomination for the...
), Philpott must enlist the help of spies to take him down.
Mr Smith demands a ransom of $30 million without which he will blow up the tower and the President's mother. He has protected the tower from infiltration by stealing four high-power lasers which will shoot anyone entering who is not equipped with a protective device.
Cast
- Peter FondaPeter FondaPeter Henry Fonda is an American actor. He is the son of Henry Fonda, brother of Jane Fonda, and father of Bridget and Justin Fonda...
... Mike Graham - Douglas Fairbanks Jr. ... Malcolm Philpott
- Maud AdamsMaud AdamsMaud Solveig Christina Wikström , known professionally as Maud Adams, is a Swedish actress, known for her roles as two different Bond girls: in The Man with the Golden Gun , and as the title character in Octopussy .-Early life:Adams was born Maud Solveig Christina Wikström in Luleå, Sweden, the...
... Sabrina Carver - Billy Dee WilliamsBilly Dee WilliamsWilliam December "Billy Dee" Williams, Jr. is an American actor, artist, singer, and writer.-Early life:Williams was born in New York City, New York, the son of Loretta...
... Clarence Whitlock - Keir DulleaKeir DulleaKeir Dullea is an American actor best known for the character of astronaut David Bowman, whom he portrayed in the 1968 film 2001: A Space Odyssey and in 1984's 2010: The Year We Make Contact...
... Mr Smith - Britt EklandBritt EklandBritt-Marie Ekland is a Swedish actress and singer, and a long time resident of the United Kingdom. She is best known for her roles as a Bond girl in The Man with the Golden Gun, and in the British cult horror film The Wicker Man, as well as her marriage to actor Peter Sellers, and her...
... Leah - Rachel Roberts ... Sonya Kolchinski
- Celia JohnsonCelia JohnsonDame Celia Elizabeth Johnson DBE was an English actress.She began her stage acting career in 1928, and subsequently achieved success in West End and Broadway productions. She also appeared in several films, including the romantic drama Brief Encounter , for which she received a nomination for the...
... Mrs Wheeler
Trivia
- The role of Mike Graham is later reprised by Pierce BrosnanPierce BrosnanPierce Brendan Brosnan, OBE is an Irish actor, film producer and environmentalist. After leaving school at 16, Brosnan began training in commercial illustration, but trained at the Drama Centre in London for three years...
in TV adaptations of Death TrainDeath TrainDeath Train, also known as Detonator, is a 1993 made for TV movie, one of Pierce Brosnan's earlier films. It also stars Christopher Lee, Patrick Stewart, Ted Levine and Alexandra Paul...
and Night WatchNight Watch (1995 film)Night Watch is a 1995 American television spy film directed by David Jackson starring Pierce Brosnan and Alexandra Paul. The film, also known as Alistair MacLean's Nightwatch, was shot in Hong Kong....
, both UNACOUNACOUNACO is a fictional agency within the United Nations created by author Alistair MacLean in a series of movie outlines he developed before his death. These outlines were made into full-length novels by numerous authors, most notably Alastair MacNeill.UNACO uses groups of people to form "strike...
novels written for the screen. - Britt EklandBritt EklandBritt-Marie Ekland is a Swedish actress and singer, and a long time resident of the United Kingdom. She is best known for her roles as a Bond girl in The Man with the Golden Gun, and in the British cult horror film The Wicker Man, as well as her marriage to actor Peter Sellers, and her...
and Maud AdamsMaud AdamsMaud Solveig Christina Wikström , known professionally as Maud Adams, is a Swedish actress, known for her roles as two different Bond girls: in The Man with the Golden Gun , and as the title character in Octopussy .-Early life:Adams was born Maud Solveig Christina Wikström in Luleå, Sweden, the...
were previously seen together as BondJames Bond (character)Royal Navy Commander James Bond, CMG, RNVR is a fictional character created by journalist and novelist Ian Fleming in 1953. He is the main protagonist of the James Bond series of novels, films, comics and video games...
groupies in The Man with the Golden GunThe Man with the Golden Gun (film)The Man with the Golden Gun is the ninth spy film in the James Bond series and the second to star Roger Moore as the fictional MI6 agent James Bond...
. - The Hostage Tower was one of Douglas Fairbanks Jr.'s final films.
- The movie was filmed entirely in ParisParisParis is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, FranceFranceThe French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. - The film was released on VHSVHSThe Video Home System is a consumer-level analog recording videocassette standard developed by Victor Company of Japan ....
and LaserdiscLaserdiscLaserDisc was a home video format and the first commercial optical disc storage medium. Initially licensed, sold, and marketed as MCA DiscoVision in North America in 1978, the technology was previously referred to interally as Optical Videodisc System, Reflective Optical Videodisc, Laser Optical...
but is currently out of print.