Home | Movies By Year | Movies from 1975
Hennessy (film)
Buy Hennessy (film) now from AmazonFirst, read the Wikipedia article. Then, scroll down to see what other TopShelfReviews readers thought about the movie. And once you've experienced the movie, tell everyone what you thought about it.
Wikipedia article
'Hennessy' is a 1975 British thriller film directed by Don Sharp and starring Rod Steiger, Trevor Howard, Lee Remick, Richard Johnson, Peter Egan, Stanley Lebor and Sir Patrick Stewart, the latter in his film debut.'Variety' film review; 23 July 1975, page 20.
Plot
After the death of his family during a riot in Belfast, Niall Hennessy comes up with a plan to blow up the British Houses of Parliament.[https://web.archive.org/web/20090113215539/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/36138 BFI.org]
Cast
*Rod Steiger ... Niall Hennessy
*Lee Remick ... Kate Brooke
*Richard Johnson ... Insp. Hollis
*Trevor Howard ... Cmdr. Rice
*Peter Egan ... Williams
*Eric Porter ... Tobin
*Ian Hogg ... Gerry
*Stanley Lebor ... Hawk
*John Hallam ... Boyle
*Patrick Stewart ... Tilney
*David Collings ... Covey
*John Shrapnel ... Tipaldi
*Hugh Moxey ... Stephen Burgess (M.P.)
*Margery Mason ... Housekeeper
*Paul Brennan ... Maguire
*Paul Blake ... Rally Leader
*Patsy Kensit ... Angie Hennessy
Production
The film was a co production between Peter Snell and American International Pictures. The original director was to be John Guillermin but by the time the producers raised finance he was on another project so they approached Don Sharp, then directing 'Callan'.
Production started in February 1974 and finished in September.Great Scenes on Film in 'The Movies'
Haber, Joyce. Los Angeles Times 13 Feb 1974: e7.
Footage of Queen Elizabeth
The film contained footage of Queen Elizabeth II speaking at the State Opening of Parliament and apparently reacting to something happening in the House of Lords, taken in 1970. The clips were purchased by AIP from Movietone News and incorporated in the film. Buckingham Palace consented to use of the clip in the film but later said this was a misunderstanding as to the way the news footage would be used in the film and they would not do it again.News Clip of Queen Causes Film Flap'Los Angeles Times' 7 June 1975: f18.Royal flush
'The Guardian' 24 June 1975: 15.
Release
The British Board of Film Classification initially refused to classify the film because of the footage. Producer Samuel Z. Arkoff managed to get it passed by adding a disclaimer stating that the British Royal Family had not participated and footage of the Queen was from newsreel and by cutting a six-second sequence where the Queen appeared to react to the explosion
The Rank Organisation then refused to screen the film in its Odeon Cinemas, citing commercial reasons. EMI also refused to distribute it, with Chairman Sir Bernard Delfont claiming it was too sympathetic to the IRA to be shown at that present time. Critics such as Alexander Walker protested against this.Movies: Critics boo British ban on 'Hennessy'
Massey, Patrick. 'Chicago Tribune' 13 July 1975: e15.
As a result, it was only shown at a small number of independent cinemas.
Critical Reception
The 'Guardian' called it "quite a good thriller".Offer they couldn't defuse: Derek Malcolm reviews new films'The Guardian' 17 July 1975: 10.
The 'Los Angeles Times' called it "routine but competent."MOVIE REVIEW: 'Hennessy' Has Royal Look 'Hennessy' Gets Royal Treatment
Champlin, Charles. 'Los Angeles Times' 30 July 1975: e1.
References
Buy Hennessy (film) now from Amazon
<-- Return to movies from 1975