Hennessy

Rod Steiger is "Hennessy" in this 1975 drama also starring Lee Remick, Trevor Howard, Richard Johnson and Eric Porter.

Hennessy is an explosives expert living in Belfast who no longer believes in violence, even to the point of refusing to supply the IRA with explosives. He soon reverts to his former opinions when his beloved wife and child are killed in crossfire between the British army and rioters.

From that point on, his agenda is his own, and he heads for London with the idea of blowing up the whole of Parliament when the Queen and her family come to address the body.

Hennessy seeks out the widow (Remick) of an IRA agent and hits her up for a place to stay while he steals gelignite, practices impersonating a member of Parliament he has zeroed in on and arranges to have the bomb made.

Both the IRA and the British Special Branch are on to him, and both want him stopped - the IRA because it realizes what the backlash will mean.

Given recent times, this drama takes on a timeliness it did not have when it was first released and probably got lost among the plethora of international espionage films.

Rod Steiger is always a surprise, as he could overact with the best of them (The Big Knife) or underplay beautifully, as he does here. His Hennessy is dead inside and quietly determined to achieve his goal via an intricate plot.

Beautiful Lee Remick is wasted star power here but lovely nonetheless as a lonely widow who has already lost someone to the cause and wants nothing to do with it.

Richard Johnson is terrifying as Hollis, a rogue member of the Special Branch who doesn't care who he beats to a pulp and whose property he destroys to get the information he needs.

Trevor Howard, as his boss, gives his role a measured dignity and coolheadedness - and with Hollis on his team, he needs it.

All in all, very absorbing.

A fun little reworking of THE DAY OF THE JACKAL, not on par with that classic film but pretty good in its own right. Rod Steiger is well cast as an IRA sympathiser who goes off the deep end when his wife and daughter are killed by a British soldier and decides to recreate Guy Fawkes' crimes in the modern day. A taut pace and gritty realism throughout means that this one builds to a strong suspense climax cleverly incorporating real-life footage of the queen.

Back in 1975, when this controversial political thriller was released, critics were quick to call it "implausible", "unbelievable" and "far-fetched". But since then, the western world has had a few wake-up calls. The 9/11 terrorist attacks; the Madrid bombings; hunt-campaigners breaking into Parliament and hurling powder pellets onto the Prime Minister; the suicide bombings on the London Underground.... to name but a few. In retrospect, Hennessy may have been made at a time when the top-brass of Britsh and American governments and armies thought themselves invulnerable, but looking at it from a modern perspective this is a chillingly possible tale. It is not even slightly far-fetched or implausible.... this is a genuinely unsettling, suspenseful and thought-provoking thriller.

Northern Irish explosive expert Niall Hennessy (Rod Steiger) lives a peaceful life in Belfast with his wife and daughter. He has IRA contacts, including the dangerous and wanted Tobin (Eric Porter), but Hennessy repeatedly refuses to get involved in their violent activities, even refusing to provide them with small amounts of gelignite. However, one day during a street riot the British Army inadvertently open fire on the rioters, and in the confusion Hennessy's wife and child are killed. Distraught, Hennessy heads for London with the aim of revisiting his loss on the English capital. His unthinkable plot is to blow up the Royal Family and the members of parliament in the House of Peers. Fearing a backlash and an influx of extra soldiers in Belfast, Tobin sets out to stop Hennessy. Also, Special Branch detective Inspector Hollis (Richard Johnson - who also came up with the film's story) races against time to prevent Hennessy's explosive scheme.

As in The Day Of The Jackal, the audience knows from the outset that Hennessy's horrifying plot is doomed to fail.... but also like The Day Of The Jackal, this film still generates terrific excitement. Hennessy, as essayed by the excellent Rod Steiger (in one of his most subtle, least hammy roles), is a very sympathetic figure and it is only because his revenge plot is so terrible that we do not want him to succeed. Hollis, the cop out to stop him, is very convincingly played by Richard Johnson, and there are further notable performances from Lee Remick as the widow of a one-time IRA saboteur and Trevor Howard as Hollis's over-confident, under-cautious superior. Director Don Sharp, whose films are usually mediocre at best, is in uncommonly good form, serving up a thriller of considerable tension and topicality. In today's vulnerable society, films of this kind remind us of the perilous position we're in at the mercy of embittered extremists.... and Hennessy is one of the best of its type.

Nice flick in the flavor of the 70's thrillers with habitual combination of pursuits , stirring action , displaying sizzling scenes in London locations and colorful characters . Stars Hennessy (Rod Steiger) , an Irishman who believes in peace and family life , but who has had connections to the I. R. A led by Tobin (Eric Porter) . After his family is killed, and he plots vengeance by committing an important assassination and and a brutal massacre . As Henessy setting out to blow up the Houses of Parliament and to assassinate Queen Elizabeth II. Along the way , a Police Inspector (Richard Johnson) and his helper (Peter Egan) carrying out a suspenseful investigation to track him down . It began on the 1st of November . Its object - to find Niall Hennesy , a gentle , peaceful man who had been push too far and who carries in his right vest pocket the power to destroy a nation. The day he has chosen to act is the 5th of November . Most Intensive Manhunt Ever Mounted!

This is a thrilling movie about a family man who finds himself embarking on a criminal spree , containing moving sequences , intrigue , tension and sightseeing locations from London . This is an interesting thriller lavishly produced by Peter Snell and Samuel Z. Arkoff from American International and intriguing script by John Gay based on a story by Richard Johnson himself who plays efficiently an obstinate cop , too . It's full of action , tense , high intrigue , nail-biting chases , beautifully filmed and being very entertaining. From the beginning to the end the unstoppable tension and suspense is continuous. In the wake of The Day of Jackal by Fred Zinneman , including a breathtaking and overwhelming ending whose sequences are the movie's best . The runtime of the film is appropriate , 105 minutes approx. It is neither tiring , nor dull , but thrilling . Terrific performance by Rod Steiger as stubborn and cunning murderer . All-star-cast formed by prestigious secondary actors , mostly Britishmen . The top-notch support cast are as follows : Richard Johnson , Eric Porter , Lee Remick , John Shrapnel, Trevor Howard , Peter Egan , John Hallan , theatrical movie debut of Sir Patrick Stewart and look fot the little girl Patsy Kensit as Hennessy's daughter .

It packs adequate and atmospheric photography by Ernest Steward , reflecting spectacularly the noisy London streets , parks , monuments and sightseeing .As well as rousing and exciting musical score by John Scott .The motion picture , well produced by Peter Snell, was professionally directed by Don Sharp. He was a good British craftsman who directed all kinds of genres, thrillers , adventures , suspense , Fantasy , Sci-Fi , Terror , such as : "The Kiss of the Vampir , The Face of Fumanchu, The Brides of Fumanchu, Rocket to the Moon , Psychomania , Callan , Hennessy , The Four Feathers , The Thirty-Nine Steps, Bear Island , Secrets of the Phantoms Caverns" . Rating : 6.5/10. Acceptable and decent action movie . The picture will appeal to thriller buffs and Rod Steiger fans .

My father-in-law, Les Hammond, did the sound on this film, and I remember at the time him telling me that he did not think this film would be released on general release because the authorities thought it would be looked upon as some sort of bible for terrorism. We went to see it a long time after it's release, and I'm pleased to say that it was an eye opener. The storyline was good, the acting was excellent (the accents were difficult but you can't have everything). I'm a great fan of Rod Stiger and he did not let anyone down in this film. Les Hammond is still in rude health and will be celebrating his 100th birthday on 6th June 2008.