Tuesday, June 16, 2020

Sorcerer by John Minahan

(pb; 1977: movie tie-in novel, based on the third film adaptation of Georges Arnaud’s novel The Wages of Fear)

From the back cover

“Only one way out!

“They were exiles, criminals who couldn’t go home again, stuck in a hellhole called Porvenir where tomorrow promised only to be worse than today.

“Then the Corporation that controlled the area offered thema  chance to earn money and escape to a new life. Two ancient trucks full of unstable explosives must be driven through mountains and jungles to a remote oil field to blow out a raging fire.

“Would they drive through guerilla-infested territory with this volatile cargo, risking life itself for another go at living? They would kill for the chance to try.”


Review

Sorcerer, an intense, emotionally and physically gritty movie tie-in work, transcends its genre, making for a grim, covered-in-muck-and-sweat read that is not easily forgotten (like its source novel and resulting films). This is worth owning, even if you know the story─provided you do not possess a knee-jerk, inflexible “all remakes suck” mindset.

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The retitled film (its source material is called The Wages of Fear) that spawned this movie tie-in book was released stateside on June 24, 1977. William Friedkin directed it, from a screenplay by Walon Green.

Roy Scheider played Jackie Scanlon (“Dominguez”). Bruno Cremer played Victor Manzon (“Serrano”). Francisco Rabal played Nilo. Amidou played Kassem (“Martinez”).

Ramon Bieri played Corlette. Peter Capell played Lartigue. Karl John played “Marquez.” Friedrich von Ledebur, billed as Fredrick Ledebur, played “Carlos.” Rosario Almontes played Agrippa. Chíco Martinez, billed as Chico Martinez, played Bobby Del Rios.

Joe Spinell played Spider. 




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