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The 'Human' Factor

  • 1975
  • R
  • 1h 35m
IMDb RATING
5.6/10
812
YOUR RATING
The 'Human' Factor (1975)
DramaThriller

After his family is brutally murdered for an unknown reason, a computer engineer sets out to find those responsible.After his family is brutally murdered for an unknown reason, a computer engineer sets out to find those responsible.After his family is brutally murdered for an unknown reason, a computer engineer sets out to find those responsible.

  • Director
    • Edward Dmytryk
  • Writers
    • Peter Powell
    • Thomas Hunter
  • Stars
    • George Kennedy
    • John Mills
    • Raf Vallone
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    5.6/10
    812
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Edward Dmytryk
    • Writers
      • Peter Powell
      • Thomas Hunter
    • Stars
      • George Kennedy
      • John Mills
      • Raf Vallone
    • 23User reviews
    • 14Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos23

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    Top cast26

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    George Kennedy
    George Kennedy
    • John Kinsdale
    John Mills
    John Mills
    • Mike McAllister
    Raf Vallone
    Raf Vallone
    • Dr. Lupo
    Barry Sullivan
    Barry Sullivan
    • Edmonds
    Rita Tushingham
    Rita Tushingham
    • Janice
    Shane Rimmer
    Shane Rimmer
    • CIA Man
    Thomas Hunter
    Thomas Hunter
    • Taylor
    • (as Tom Hunter)
    Frank Avianca
    • Kamal
    Haydée Politoff
    Haydée Politoff
    • Pidgeon
    Arthur Franz
    Arthur Franz
    • Gen. Fuller
    Fiamma Verges
    • Ann Kinsdale
    Danny Huston
    Danny Huston
    • Mark Kinsdale
    • (as Danny Houston)
    Richard Harrison
    • Jeffrey Kinsdale
    • (as Ricky Harrison)
    Hillary Lief
    • Linda Kinsdale
    Michael Mandeville
    • Phillips
    Mark Lowell
    • Eddy Fonseca
    • (as Robert Lowell)
    Jan Englund
    • Agnes Fonseca
    • (as Jan Lowell)
    Ann Ferguson
    • Mrs. Simpson
    • Director
      • Edward Dmytryk
    • Writers
      • Peter Powell
      • Thomas Hunter
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews23

    5.6812
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    Featured reviews

    7Hey_Sweden

    A decent revenge saga.

    George Kennedy gets to be pretty badass in this routine but entertaining revenge thriller, playing John Kinsdale, an American computer programmer working for NATO in Italy. One night, he comes home from work to find that his whole family has been savagely executed. He's grief-stricken but also determined to mete out bloody vengeance. The people responsible are a left-wing terrorist group whose modus operandi is targeting American families living in Rome.

    The final project for the filmmaker Edward Dmytryk, whose classic credits include "The Caine Mutiny" and "Crossfire", "The 'Human' Factor" still is relevant in some ways, especially for any person who has lost loved ones as a result of a terrorist act. Back then, the plot (concocted by Peter Powell and co-star Thomas Hunter) was somewhat unique for heavy reliance on the technology of the day. The script also heavily relies on viewer acceptance of what the computers in this film are able to accomplish. In 1975, computers were still fairly exotic and mysterious things to some people, and screenwriters could have them figure out any number of things. The computer intelligence here even takes the time to determine what Kinsdales' chances of success are in his mission of vengeance.

    The Italian setting helps quite a bit in the telling of this competently made, and viscerally effective, picture. Kennedy is a classic type of hero who can shoot scores of bad guys without having to reload his gun, who can run the cops a good chase, and who keeps fighting even after being struck by gunfire himself. This is one of his most amusing roles, to be sure.

    Other aspects of value include the Ennio Morricone soundtrack (at times, it bears the faintest resemblance to his "Once Upon a Time in the West" score) and the excellent international cast: Sir John Mills, Raf Vallone, Barry Sullivan, Rita Tushingham, Shane Rimmer, Haydee Politoff, Arthur Franz. Producer Frank Avianca plays the role of the terrorist Kamal; that's a 12 year old Danny Huston (in his film debut) cast as one of Kinsdales' sons.

    The silly and not terribly plausible script never does bother to really explain what the villains hope to accomplish with their killings, but Dmytryk keeps the pace fairly consistent and basically made a watchable enough film for people who love a fun revenge yarn.

    Seven out of 10.
    fresca102

    Impressioning

    When I first saw this movie, I was only 9 years old. The movies idea, losing one's entire family to terrorists, haunted me for years. George Kennedy's strong portrayl of a father who is obsessed about tracking down the killers of his family, can easily be outdone by newer more daring plots. For it's time though, The Human Factor was 'on the edge of your seat' suspense that left you with a weary, empty feeling when the movie was over. Although dated, I feel it can still create an emotional response for someone who looks for more than special effects in a picture. Too bad it is out of print.
    7LeonLouisRicci

    OBSCURE FILM...TERRORIST THREAT PERSONALIZED...EXCITING...GRITTY...OVERLOOKED

    Low-Budget American-Italian Revenge Plot.

    Personalized by an American Computer Programmer Stationed in Italy.

    Last Film From the Celebrated Director Dymytryk Known for "Crossfire" (1947), "Murder My Sweet" (1944), "The Caine Mutiny" (1954), and Others.

    His Hollywood Career became Exiled by the HUAC Witch-Hunt.

    Intense Film, Anchored by a Determined, No-Nonsense George Kennedy.

    After His Family is Executed, a Near-Suicidal Kennedy Regroups and Sets-Out on a Vendetta Against the Terrorist Responsible.

    His Family, as it Turns was a Random Display of Activity to Extort Money and Prisoner Release.

    Killing American Families Until Demands are Met.

    The Computer Organization who Employs the Juggernaut who is Kennedy is Linked to the U. S. Govt and Specifically the Military.

    Gets Help from Friendly Insiders and the Hunt is On.

    Taut, Violent, and Suspenseful Film with a Surprisingly Effective Combination of Brains and Brawn from a Limited Actor.

    Gritty, Far-Fetched, Wild and Primitive Display of 1975 Embryonic Computer Technology.

    Films Date this Sort of Thing Profoundly and is Always an Awkward Attraction.

    A Hidden-Gem Discovery.

    Despite the Stone-Age Distraction of the Computers and the Hubris of its Overseer's Imaginary Capabilities,

    The Film is Definitely...

    Worth a Watch.
    7Coventry

    Disturbing and relevant in 1975, disturbing and relevant in 2015

    "The Human Factor" was made in 1975, which means it's turning 40 years old this year. And yet, the themes and several aspects that feature here are still painfully relevant nowadays as well. I'm writing this user-comment in January 2015, not even two weeks after the cowardly terrorist attack in Paris, France, and still during the aftermath of numerous terror alerts all across Europe. The film centers on American families being the unwary and innocent targets of ruthless Italian left-wing terrorists. Whether for political or religious reasons, embassies and authorities in various countries are still protecting their compatriots that work abroad out of fear for kidnapping or murder. It's truly sad to see that the world hasn't changed one bit and that humanity is still as selfish and extreme as it ever was. But hey, I'm just supposed to write a review… The final project of director Edward Dmytryk, who was particularly famous in the forties & fifties thanks to movies like "Crossfire" and "The Caine Mutiny", is a tense and engaging action/thriller with a handful of harshly violent sequences and a remarkable lead role for veteran actor George Kennedy. He stars as NATO computer specialist John Kingsdale, working in Naples and playing computer games with his friendly colleague most of the time. But when he returns home to his beloved wife and three children one night, they have been viciously massacred by unknown assailants for an unknown reason. After the funeral the deeply saddened John hesitates one moment to shoot himself through the head, but he shoots the TV-screen instead and vows to personally track down his family's killers. With the help of his colleague and their computer equipment, John discovers that he deals with a group of terrorists that invade the homes of American families through responding to newspaper ads. He prevents another massacre, but meanwhile John himself is also chased by the local authorities. "The Human Factor" is an overall very solid vigilante/revenge thriller. The script is occasionally tedious and confusing due to all the computer slang, especially during the first half of the film, but this is widely compensated during the explosive final act, with a furious battle in a Naples' backstreet alley and a gritty finale inside a crowded supermarket. Several people pointed out that George Kennedy was an odd choice to play the mad avenger, but he's a terrific all-around actor and brings more realism to the part. If, for example, Charles Bronson would have played John Kingsdale, "The Human Factor" would have been more stereotypical and a lot less persuasive. Recommended!
    7dopefishie

    Good revenge flick

    It's fun to see George Kennedy in this kind of a role as a grieving father out for revenge. I've mostly only seen him in westerns up until now. Raf Vallone was excellent as the Inspector and always a pleasure to watch. The plot is pretty straightforward stuff so there's very little mystery to be had here.

    Good soundtrack. Good action sequences toward the end (you have to wait for them).

    The most interesting part was how old school and all-knowing the computers are in this film. Literally, the characters are physically connecting telephones to large computer machines in order to send and receive green text on a black screen, and they take everything the computer says as gospel. Lol. Those were different times.

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    Related interests

    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama
    Cho Yeo-jeong in Parasite (2019)
    Thriller

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Final theatrical movie of Director Edward Dmytryk.
    • Goofs
      In the final scene when Kinsdale shoots the fleeing terrorist in the back, after his Colt 1911 runs out of ammunition, the slide does lock back, and he continues to pull the trigger with the gun making a clicking sound, as if it is a double action. The 1911 is a single action and will not make that sound.
    • Quotes

      Mike McAllister: He's found his killers. He doesn't want them in jail. And neither the machine nor I can predict exactly what his next move is going to be!

    • Connections
      Featured in 9/11 Alchemy - Facing Reality (2018)

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    FAQ14

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 27, 1976 (United Kingdom)
    • Countries of origin
      • United Kingdom
      • Italy
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Italian
    • Also known as
      • The Human Factor
    • Filming locations
      • Naples, Campania, Italy
    • Production companies
      • Avianca Productions Ltd.
      • Eton
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 35m(95 min)
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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