This was supposed to be a sensation of its time -- the return of the I SPY tv duo, Culp and Cosby. Culp directed this, is first and only feature film. The look is medium-low budget, using Los Angeles downbeat noir locations in the over-lit television visual style common in the early 70s. There's plenty of thoughtful details to add flavor, but if you don't watch closely, you'll miss most of it, because it's intentionally played so quietly. You'll barely notice the almost complete lack of musical soundtrack, except for punctuating the action scenes.
You won't miss anything by missing this. But you won't regret it either. It's not wasted time. It's just not a special time. At least they didn't play it for gags. Not any gags, whatsoever. At least there was that. There is a little different twist -- a sports coliseum scene that's shot differently than we usually see in movies like this. That's Culp trying to show what he's got. Most beginning directors who were known as actors, try to do that.
Oh yeah, Bill Hickman plays in it, and not primarily as a stunt driver like he was in BULLITT and THE FRENCH CONNECTION.
You won't miss anything by missing this. But you won't regret it either. It's not wasted time. It's just not a special time. At least they didn't play it for gags. Not any gags, whatsoever. At least there was that. There is a little different twist -- a sports coliseum scene that's shot differently than we usually see in movies like this. That's Culp trying to show what he's got. Most beginning directors who were known as actors, try to do that.
Oh yeah, Bill Hickman plays in it, and not primarily as a stunt driver like he was in BULLITT and THE FRENCH CONNECTION.