“The
tightly-plotted and well-paced
terrorist thriller Ransom is the perfect
vehicle for award-winning actor Sean
Connery to give yet another powerful
and charismatic performance as
Colonel Nils Tahlvik, Scandinavia’s
resourceful and potentially ruthless
Head of Security...”
NILS IS THE CENTRAL FIGURE of the team that has to outwit and apprehend a
group of brutal terrorists who are holding the British Ambassador to Scandinavia
and his staff at his home in the mountains as a bargaining chip to secure the
release of five of their comrades who have been imprisoned in Britain.
Following
a series of bomb attacks in London, and with the ambassador now held hostage,
terrorist leader Petrie (menacingly played by Ian McShane) flies into Scandinavia
to collect his men and the ambassador, who are to be delivered to the airport
under guard to be flown to a secret destination known by the codename Marigold.
Petrie
takes over the plane full of innocent passengers and crew to ensure all goes
according to plan and issues a series of demands that, if not met within twelve
hours, will result in the execution of one of the hostages to show he means
business.
“Ransom
—
an exciting and
gripping movie
that benefits from
Sean Connery
and a truly chilling
storyline...”
Desperate
to avoid giving in to the terrorists and thereby opening the floodgates for
future hostage situations, Nils is adamant that he will not allow his country
to be blackmailed.
British-Scandinavian co-operation has been strained, with London at first reluctant
to give much information, but having identified another terrorist leader, Martin
Shepherd (John Quentin), Nils at least knows who he is dealing with.
As he tries to keep everything under control while following instructions from
his superiors that not one life should be lost, each tactic Nils tries seems
to result in him being blocked — which leads to him to rapidly come
to the conclusion that there is an informant on the inside.
With the plane full of terrified men, women and children stuck on the runway
under the terrorist's control and a threat from Petrie that he will not hesitate
to act if there is one more trick, Nils will have to think fast on his feet
to avoid a catastrophe while following his impossible orders as his opponent
puts a more terrifying 'plan B' into action. And time is fast running out…
Beautifully photographed by double Oscar-winning cinematographer Sven Nykvist
and complemented by a memorably haunting score by Jerry Goldsmith, Ransom
(also known as The Terrorists) is presented in a high quality, brand
new High Definition transfer from the original 1974 film elements.
Sean Connery is perfect as the tough, seasoned Nils Tahlvik in this exciting
and gripping movie that benefits from fine casting and a chilling storyline.
Ransom is a Seventies gem.
Ransom also features: James Maxwell as Bernhard; Jeffrey Wickham as Barnes;
Robert Harris as Palmer; William Fox as Ferris; Isabel Dean as Mrs Palmer; Knut
Wigert as Plson; Harry Landis as Lookout Pilot; Norman Bristow as Denver; John
Cording as Bert; Christopher Ellison as Pete; and Karen Maxwell as Eva.
Music is by Jerry Goldsmith; Director of Photography is Sven Nykvist, ASC; Written
by Paul Wheeler; Produced by Peter Rawley; and Directed by Casper Wrede.
*
Part
of our 'The British Film' collection, Ransom is released on 1 September
2014 on DVD and Blu-ray. Running Time: 94 Minutes | Catalogue Numbers: DVD 7954160;
Blu-ray 7957087 | RRP: DVD £9.99; Blu-ray £14.99. Special Features: Original
Theatrical Teaser and Trailer | Image Gallery | Promotional Material PDF.
The British Film collection was launched by Network Distributing in April 2013
as part of a five-year plan to release over 450 vintage British films through
a deal with Studiocanal, one of Europe's leading distribution and production
companies. Many of the films have never been available to own.
"Ransom… [an] exciting and gripping movie that benefits from fine casting
and a chilling storyline"
—Maggie Woods
“The
tightly-plotted and well-paced