Who? (film)
Who? is a 1974 British science fiction film based on the 1958 novel of the same name by Algis Budrys. It was directed by Jack Gold and stars Elliott Gould, Trevor Howard and Joseph Bova. Some video releases were retitled The Man in the Steel Mask or Roboman.
| Who? | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Jack Gold |
| Written by | John Gould |
| Based on | Who? by Algis Budrys |
| Produced by | Barry Levinson Kurt Berthold (co-producer) |
| Starring | Elliott Gould Trevor Howard Joseph Bova |
| Cinematography | Petrus R. Schlömp |
| Edited by | Norman Wanstall |
| Music by | John Cameron |
Production companies | Lion International Hemisphere |
| Distributed by | British Lion Films |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 93 minutes |
| Countries | United Kingdom United States West Germany |
| Language | English |
Synopsis
An enigmatic individual with a metal face is returned from East Germany and claims to be Lucas Martino, an American scientist who was working on a top-secret project but was severely injured and scarred in a car crash. American authorities hold him in custody while they try to establish whether the man is the real Martino or an impostor looking for secret information about the ultimate rocket project developed in the West.
Cast
- Elliott Gould as Sean Rogers
- Trevor Howard as Colonel Azarin
- Joseph Bova as Lucas Martino
Release
Although one 1983 British source stated that the film was shelved for five years after its completion in 1974,[1] contemporary sources indicate the film was screened theatrically in the U.S. in 1975,[2][3] and broadcast on British television in 1976.[4]
Reception
Contemporary U.S. reviews were mixed to negative. The Iowa Gazette described it as "distinctly average but better than mediocre".[2] The Kentucky Courier-Journal dismissed it as a "clinker", calling it an "inane... funereal mess".[3]
References
- Selway, Jennifer (6 February 1983). "The Week in View". The Observer. p. 40 – via Newspapers.com.
- Halliday, Doc (12 June 1975). "Who? Conventional Spy Plot, but its Ending is Imaginative". The Gazette. Cedar Rapids: Iowa – via Newspapers.com.
- Dietrich, Jean (27 September 1975). "After watching 'Who?' you start wondering why". The Courier-Journal. Louisville, Kentucky. p. A11 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Weekend Television/Radio: BBC1". The Guardian. 24 July 1976. p. 16 – via Newspapers.com.