The Ransom (1977)

The Ransom Poster

A Native American travels around a resort town, murdering cops and rich people with a high-powered crossbow, while demanding that the town's richest residents pay him money to stop the killings.

Overview
"The Ransom" is a gripping British thriller film set in the late 1970s. Directed by Caspar Wrede, and also referred to as "The Terrorists" in some areas, the movie is based on the book "Ransom" by Stanley Ellin. It boasts a fascinating storyline with prominent stars such as Sean Connery, Ian McShane, Jeffrey Wickham, and Isabel Dean among its cast.

Plot Summary
In the story, a Scandinavian Airlines System aircraft is bound for London when it's hijacked by a group of terrorists led by Ray Petrie (Ian McShane). They require the airplane to land in Scandinavia and require a ransom for the lives of the guests.

Connery stars as Colonel Nils Tahlvik, a security chief appointed to deal with the crisis. His military co-ordination and negotiation abilities are put to extreme test while trying to stabilize conserving the captives without succumbing to the terrorist's needs.

Making complex matters, the extremists have a British ambassador (Jeffrey Wickham) amongst the slaves. The UK federal government declines ransom payment but is desperate to conserve the ambassador. They send in a mediator, Captain Denver (John Quentin), but he is unskilled compared to the skilled Colonel Tahlvik.

Tensions and Climax
The stress intensifies as a power struggle arises in between Colonel Tahlvik and Captain Denver. Tahlvik securely thinks in a zero-tolerance approach towards terrorism and refuses the concept of paying the ransom while Denver is willing to pay it in a quote to guarantee the security of the guests, specifically the ambassador.

Finally, it is exposed that Denver is, in fact, another terrorist who has actually been planted to undermine Tahlvik's efforts and guarantee that the hijackers' needs are satisfied. The gripping climax of the movie sees Tahlvik outmaneuvering the terrorists and conserving the captives in a twist that includes a surprising measurement to the story.

Significance and Legacy
"The Ransom" brilliantly records the tense atmosphere of a hijacking and the precarious nature of dealing with the political and human aspects of such a crisis. It checks out themes of responsibility, political maneuvering, and ethical complexity amidst a dangerous circumstance.

Sean Connery's representation of Colonel Tahlvik is extensively applauded. He efficiently communicates the character's determination, wit, and staunch dedication to concepts, marking one of his most unforgettable roles apart from his renowned James Bond character.

In conclusion, "The Ransom" is a well-crafted thriller that explores the moral and ethical dilemmas faced throughout a tense hijacking situation. The motion picture, with its well-scripted plot twists and extraordinary efficiencies, is a testament to a bygone age of cinema that didn't depend on unique impacts however concentrated on story-driven suspense. The movie leaves audiences on the edge of their seat, making it an ageless classic in the thriller category.

Top Cast

  • Oliver Reed (small)
    Oliver Reed
    Nick McCormick
  • Deborah Raffin (small)
    Deborah Raffin
    Cindy Simmons
  • James Mitchum (small)
    James Mitchum
    Tracker
  • Stuart Whitman (small)
    Stuart Whitman
    William Whitaker
  • John Ireland (small)
    John Ireland
    Chief Haliburton
  • Paul Koslo (small)
    Paul Koslo
    Victor
  • Julienne Wells
    Floozy
  • Kim Hopkins (small)
    Kim Hopkins
    Allisa
  • Arch Archambault
    Inspector Davey