Product Description

Michael Caine (The Ipcress File) and legendary director John Frankenheimer (The Manchurian Candidate, Ronin) team up for an explosive action/thriller jam-packed with heart-stopping suspense and international intrigue. Based on the best-selling novel by Robert Ludlum (and scripted by George Axelrod, Edward Anhalt and John Hopkins), the adventure unfolds "with a crispness that suggests acid etching a nightmare on glass" (Los Angeles Times). Noel Holcroft (Caine) is a New York architect who receives an unexpected inheritance from his ex-Nazi father: $40 billion in funds stolen from the Third Reich, now intended to aid Holocaust survivors. But as Holcroft delves into the treasure's mysterious history, he is thrust into a pulse-pounding adventure in which he alone stands in the way of a plan that is moving inexorably toward its terrifying conclusion: the rise of an all-powerful Fourth Reich!

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #24248 in DVD
• Brand: CAINE,MICHAEL
• Released on: 1999-02-23
• Rating: R (Restricted)
• Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
• ESRB Rating: Teen
• Formats: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, Letterboxed, Widescreen, NTSC
• Original language: English, French
• Subtitled in: English, French
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .25 pounds
• Running time: 112 minutes

Amazon.com
The 1980s weren't too kind to John Frankenheimer, but this film stands out as a top-notch spy thriller. A Nazi pact to steal a fortune from the Third Reich to aid Holocaust survivors results in a bizarre inheritance 40 years later, with architect Michael Caine having to come to terms with his father's past and the terrifying prospects of a Fourth Reich. The whole thing becomes a metaphor for a witches' covenant. It's exciting and well-paced and full of precious little moments (though Caine and Victoria Tennant fall short of being interesting characters). Supporting actors Mario Adorf, Michael Lonsdale, and Bernard Hepton really shine. The film was based on Robert Ludlum's bestseller and coscripted by George Axelrod (The Manchurian Candidate). Terrific audio commentary by the director provides valuable insight--for instance, allowing Lonsdale to carry a long exposition scene through his commanding presence. --Bill Desowitz

Customer Reviews

For Caine and Frankenheimer fans ONLY
The Holcraft Covenant is nothing more than your average 80's thriller that has the benefit of having a top-notch leading man and director attached. The picture looks excellent and there is just enough intrigue added to the film's premise to keep the viewer on board the whole way. Frankenheimer displays his trademark visual flair without going over the top(as many were guilty of at the time). The one thing that really detracts from the film is it's obviously low budget and irritating synth score. It is an overall average adaptation of a fairly decent Ludlum thriller that is worth picking up only for the excellent picture quality and commentary by the director. It is a delight to hear Frankenheimer discuss one of the film's most exciting scenes being filmed and constructed around of the absence of a leading man! For Fans of the star and director only.

Huh?
I can't figure out which was worse - the acting, the dialogue, the direction or the plot. I rented the movie thinking...."OK, a post WW2 spy thriller with Nazi intrigue starring Michael Caine and directed by John F. How could it be anything but spine-tingling?".
Jeesh, what a mistake.

Believe or not, Caine is capable of giving a bad performance. And this was it. He just seems lost in this train wreck. However, he was Olivier compared the rest of the cast. Veronica Tennant shows why her career lasted months! All the others were caricatures of stereotypes (that Orchestra Conductor better be slinging hash somewhere now, because acting was not his forte).

And the dialogue! Caine is supposed to be a "foreign born American citizen". He, of course, has as thick an English accent as in every other movie, indicating he was brought up on the Isle. When Veronica Tennant tells him "the umbrella is in the boot", she has to explain that boot means trunk in England! Gawd, are we all idiots?!?

The plot?!? Don't even get me started... It's absolutely asinine. Our bumbling everyman is caught up in some meandering travelogue which is supposed to pass for international high-stakes intrigue. What a snorefest.
What were they thinking?

Nah, they weren't. Pass on this one folks.

Dissatisfied viewer
I found this movie to be disapointing. It did'nt even try to follow the book. I realize there was alot to cover but come on it just sucked out.