The Holcroft Covenant (1985) [Blu-ray]

John Frankenheimer’s The Holcroft Covenant (1985) will not make you forget his political, mind-bending thriller The Manchurian Candidate (Jonathan Demme’s Manchurian remake very good too), but the Holcroft Covenant is good in its own bizarre, kind of trashy, in a low-budget, mysterious, Frankenheimer originality sort of way.A highlight is the ‘Berlin parade’ (it may be offensive or seem gratuitous to others…) of transgenders recreating/reliving a Germany that existed in the 1920’s and 30’s complete with (real) transvestites, etc, giving the festival a truly decadent, sex oriented theme.The Holcroft Covenant is based on a Robert Ludlum novel, yet, Director John Frankenheimer explains in commentary that he took some liberties (including making up the transgender parade in Berlin—it doesn’t exist) to condense the story to just under 2 hours (112 minutes). So, if you’ve read the book be ready for alterations. But, then again, those of you well read/versed in Robert Ludlum novels know they are long and often are made into a series of movies (Jason Bourne) or a mini series (The Rhinemann Exchange), so, most should still know what to expect, no!? International intrigue. Germans, probable bad guys. A plot twist. In the case of The Holcroft Covenant a man named Noel Holcroft (played convincingly intelligent, brave and humanely vulnerable) receives a ridiculous amount of an inheritance from his estranged (to say the least) father who the son knows was a whole hearted Nazi sympathizer. Noel is expected to do the right thing with the money; and the there seems to be too many people pestering—even threatening—the beleaguered, reasonably simple, every man architect to do the right thing with the money.But what is the right thing and under who’s suspicious viewpoint!Forty Million dollars in gold stolen from the ‘Late’ Third Reich is, surely, bound to bring out some very curious individuals and the groups—or government agencies—they work for.Michael Caine and a sometimes stunning Victoria Tennant carry the movie as the thrown together couple slowly stumble across a mystery—and a cast of characters—of who to trust?Who/where did Holcroft really expect his son to share the money?The Holcroft Covenant is not great, but, it is not too surprising a movie with international intrigue remains an intriguing watch. The Holcroft Covenant is, somewhat, like an experience you have to see to believe. Frankenheimer’s vision has me wondering if Ludlum’s book reads like a bad dream, too.DVD is a Kino Lorber production. Good picture as usual. Grittiness seems appropriate.4.4 stars

Many people found this movie stupid, boring or unbelievable...Granted, "The Boys from Brazil" was far superior, in impact and horror, but this one is far more accurate than one may suspect.While in "Boys" you had a Doctor Mengele (Gregory Peck, giving a powerful, if not overpowering interpretation) traveling around the world, trying to clone and recreate Adolf Hitler out of children (which truly sounds like science fiction to even the more far-fetched conspiracy theorist), you get here a very plausible and actually accurate depiction of a more than probable Nazi conspiracy.Those who have watched "The Formula", starring George C. Scott and Marlon Brando, got to know that during the final days of the Third Reich, the Nazi planned contingencies to save their own neck, if not their ideology, from being annihilated by the impending Allied invaders.In "The Formula" they tried it with synthetic fuel, negotiating with U.S. officials, still during the "Battle of the Bulge" (which by now seems to have been a fact, not fiction).In "Holcroft Covenant", we have a bunch of SS officers convening secretly in a Bunker in Berlin and swearing an oath of allegiance to the Black Order to which they belonged, swearing that what they had started had to go on throughout generations to come and sealing the pact through what the title of the movie defines as "The Holcroft Covenant".Such an occurrence did in fact take place, although earlier in the war and just after the fall of Stalingrad. The members of the SS knew right there and then that the war was lost and did prepare for the future.Eerily as it may seem, many of these officers managed to slip through the network of Nazi hunters, either through monetary compensations or through other secret dealings and either landed up in South America or in other States, such as South Africa, Namibia and so on.But some never escaped truly. They just managed to merge in the confused situation in which Europe found itself after the war, and managed to pop-up in very respectable activities and functions in the entire tissue of society, not just in neighboring Countries, but in Germany as well.What we tend to forget, or would likely want to forget is, that they had an agenda, to which they clung to their last breath.After all an ideology (especially extreme ones, whether from the Right or from the Left) cannot be simply swiped of through talking or reasoning. More drastic means would be needed.But in order to do so, some compromises with the concept of a Fre World and Freedom should be made. Failing to do so, means that you won't be able to effectively do it.I am talking about reconditioning of brains, or if you will, "brain washing"...In this movie, although taken from a fictional novel, we see the failings of our system to do what is needed, when it is needed.The propagation of certain unhealthy doctrines and ideas throughout generations is nothing new and although it always failed to be successful in its more negative forms, it still resides as a pure illusion in the minds of people who always dream to be masters of the world.Paranoia or maniacal sense of persecution by others can affect people in this way.Given that there are still many Fascist and National-Socialist groups throughout the world, brings forth the question whether or not such "Covenants" were ever issued. Fact is, that "they" are still among us.Considering all this and in the face of a work of fiction such as this movie, it is refreshing to know that someone tried to take a peak at this shady, underground world and show it for what it is and was.Just because people seem to be nice, forthcoming or just "respectable" does not mean they truly are.Beware of false friends. The Devil is seldom what he or she appears to be. Besides, it never comes in the form of a Monster.It is you, it is me, it can be anyone you know and can be as charming and as trustworthy as your neighbor,... until one day...This is what this movie is all about and as such, it is a marvelous conveyor of a message that should be heeded preciously, because no one knows his neighbor as well as he or she thinks...Paranoia? Maybe, but also a healthy dose of wisdom and realism.In my view, just for these qualities, the movie deserves a second watching and an introspection.The present version of the DVD is far clearer than its VHS predecessor, and being presented in a matted format of 1.85:1 makes it more enjoyable. The sound is adequate and discreet, but very well balanced.The acting by Michael Caine is a bit theatrical, but nevertheless very much felt. Victoria Tennant is lovable as the source of our hatred, while astonishingly so, Anthony Andrews, an otherwise brilliant actor, is left out cold. His interpretation is uneven and kind of wooden, compared to his TV-performance of "The Scarlet Pimpernel".But still, this is a movie that would deserve a more balanced judgment.In my view, if you are a lover of conspiracy thrillers, then this DVD must belong to your shelve collection.It is your choice...

Quality acting, story line, photography and production worthy of a four star rating. That it contradicts the modern reality of fascist corruption of the former United States of America since at least 1980, of ongoing equivalent to fascism communist takeovers around the world including militarily in the Crimea, and of a plethora of petty dictatorships organized along fascist lines everywhere else including especially the Untied Queendumb and its empire, is not of consequence to rating this excellent fantasy film. While it all should have been obvious when the son and then one of the grandsons of the treasonous "American" financier Prescott Bush, who helped the Nazi High Command hide their loot stolen throughout Europe around the world, were appointed Presidunces of the former United States, the Goebbelsian practice of telling a "big enough lie" for "everyone" to believe it maintained the fascist domination of what has become a Loonie Tied Studs of Merka where no reparations are conceivable nor contemplated.

Michael Caine said that he started filming before he had time to read the script properly. Too late he realized that he didn't understand it. The plot is not totally incomprehensible but much of it makes little sense. However it does feature Michael Caine giving it his best which makes up for a lot. Some have criticised the movie for too much talking and too little action. If it were not for the talking it really would be incomprehensible. Perhaps the script should have featured more talking and thinking. Three stars for the script. Four stars for Michael Caine.I streamed this movie via Amazon Prime so can not comment on any dvd's or blu-rays.

Michael Caine is a superb actor of Cinema

Please, please, please! Stay way from this DVD.It is lousy at best...I thought I would be lucky in buying this crappy DVD, but instead I have been taken for a ride...This appears to be a tape transfer. The image is grainy and shabby all over. Colors are dull and washed out. The aspect ratio is a somewhat would be 1.66:1 or at best 1.70:1 instead of the 1.85:1 correct ratio.Some images jump up and down like a defective VHS copy.Sound? Loud and with an unbearable whirring noise...The joke? Special Features: (and I quote) Interactive Menus - 6 scene selections.Who are these morons at Pegasus Entertainment?Cocaine sniffing bozos?If one reads the back sleeve you may discover that this masterpiece in incompetence and lousy transferring reside in Germany.Well, does one wonder? They do not even respect their own classics, and believe me, I know something about it, because I have tried to buy some, and what I did receive was unworthy to be called technologically advanced...Really, stay away form this one.At 6 pounds it is a waste of your hard-earned money.I have re-ordered this at 13 dollars with Amazon.com in the United States. It practically costs the same, but being released by MGM, one is guaranteed to have a far better copy transferred on DVD.I was really hoping in a PAL pristine copy, because of the far better image resolution it usually has on a widescreen television.But this has absolutely no resolution to speak of.I own a Pan & Scan VHS tape recorded from a broadcast of the movie on Showtime (in the United States) some years ago and believe me, it looks sparkling and sharp in comparison to this copy.If I had the means and were the holder of the legal rights to the movie, I would sue the bastards who have dared to slam this taped movie on DVD.That would teach them a lesson they would not soon forget.Alas I don't.Granted, the movie may not be the quintessential Michael Caine vehicle and maybe it may be a bit ludicrous in contents, but to distribute it this way, is simply an insult to decency and professional ethics.I almost suspect that this might be one of those semi-legal pirate copies that usually are available through China or South America.If I were in Law Enforcement, I would like to investigate this thoroughly, because seemingly, there are some companies out there who are again trying to launder their dirty drugs and prostitution moneys, by using fake trade names, in order to sell such trash.Don't waste your money and look for titles on brand names. They might be slightly more expensive, but they cannot play such games without compromising their own labels and therefore they don't even try.You would be better served and you would force minor companies (especially some like this one) to go out of business before time.They really would deserve to go out of business, since all they do is steal your money...Avoid them at all cost and leave them dry.Maybe this will soon translate into prices of the major studios being dropped accordingly, once these pirates will be defeated.Fight for it. It's in your own interest.

What an awful transfer of the film to DVD. Terrible sound, very unsharp and with washed out colour. Unwatchable so a complete waste of money. Thank god it was quite cheap. The problem appears to be with the Pegasus Entertainment issue which is the version I purchased and is the subject of my description here. We stopped watching after just a few minutes, it was like wearing some one else's glasses because of the blurred image. Only fit for the bin or the 50p shelf in the charity shop, though it would be overpriced if given away for free. The trouble is Amazon have published the same results for nearly all reviews of this film. Each of ten films on offer have exactly the same 36 identical reviews, whether released by Pegasus or anyone else. Quite a few of these have completely different covers so presumably a different manufacturer and transfer production. There is no indication that there might be a satisfactory product among all those on sale. The only hope seems possibly to be the MGM remastered release which in just one case had two positive recommendations and none of the negative ones. Amazon should look into this issue of a faulty product, plus amending their review policy to reflect particular products and not a blanket coverage of all. It is not a good situation for either buyers or sellers to have such indefinite guidance and advice.Since my earlier review above, I have purchased the MGM version. With some relief, having taken a chance on spending more money on an alternative product, I can only say what a difference. Even the actual black and white WW2 footage of a bombing raid in progress at the beginning is sharper than on the Pegasus DVD. I have only played the first few minutes until the modern day colour part starts and Michael Caine appears but the picture is to the sharpness and full colour you would expect of a proper transfer from an original cine film, plus the sound is fine too, not distorted. If if does not have the MGM logo across the top of the front box label for this film, don't buy it. There was one slight concern on opening the postal package, the whole of the text was in Spanish the main title on the front being "El Pacto de Berlin" and underneath in very small script "The Holcroft Cevenant". I needn't have worried the soundtrack dialogue is in English. I don't actually care if the box information was printed in outer Mongolian so long as the film and soundtrack are OK and in English. I attach a photo of the box to show the difference between the MGM and the above Pegasus DVD.

This early (1985)adaptation of Robert Ludlum's novel followed in the footsteps of Sam Peckinpah's The Osterman Weekend, and pre-dated both Matt damon's Bourne Trilogy, and also Richard Chamberlain's tv version of Jason Bourne.The Story...Noel Holcroft (Caine) is a Architect whom is summoned to Geneva, while there he meets Manfredi (Michel Lonsdale) whom informs that his father-who was a Nazi financier has left a "Covenant" of some 4 and a half Billion dollars, to be shared amongst three other children (Tennant, Andrew and Adorf).The movie should have been really excellent--John Franheimer directing, he credits some really superb work--The Manchurian Candidate(Famously withdrawn due to the John Kennedy Assasination). The Train, French Connection 2(a truly underrated sequel), Black sunday--somewhere around this time though Frankenheimers good taste began to desert him and he made such dire pictures as this and Prophecy. Only finding his feet again with 52 Pick-Up.The Holcroft Covenant though is Probably Caine's worst movie & performance-he is hampered by Victoria Tennant(an actress i've never understood the success of...) Anthony Andrew hams it up as her brother/lover. The european actors do better Mario Adorf, Michel Lonsdale at least sound convincing, as does Lilli Palmer-in I think her final role as Caine's Mother.Covenant works neither as a thriller or light espionage, as the dialogue is risible.

There were several problems with the quality of the DVD when I first played it, so I had to eject it and restart play, after when it seemed a bit better, but still not perfect.