Sitting Target

Sitting Target
Sitting Target
Directed by	Douglas Hickox
Screenplay by	Alexander Jacobs
Based on	Sitting Target; 1970 novel; by Laurence Henderson
Produced by	Barry Kulick
Starring	Oliver Reed; Jill St. John; Ian McShane; Edward Woodward; Freddie Jones; Frank Finlay
Cinematography	Edward Scaife
Edited by	John Glen
Music by	Stanley Myers
Distributed by	Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Release dates	May 1972 (UK); 12 June 1972 (NYC);
Running time	93 minutes
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English

Sitting Target (also known as Screaming Target ^[1]) is a 1972 British crime film directed by Douglas Hickox and starring Oliver Reed, Ian McShane and Jill St. John.^[2] It was based on the 1970 novel of the same name by Laurence Henderson.

Plot

Harry Lomart, a convicted murderer, and Birdy Williams are convicts planning a breakout. Before the two men can abscond to another country, Lomart gets word that his wife Pat has been having an affair with another man and has become pregnant.

The two men had made plans to lie low after their escape from jail, but Lomart decides to find and kill his wife and the man she has been seeing. Inspector Milton is assigned to apprehend the two escaped convicts.

Cast

Oliver Reed as Harry Lomart
Jill St. John as Pat Lomart
Ian McShane as Birdy Williams
Edward Woodward as Inspector Milton
Frank Finlay as Marty Gold
Freddie Jones as MacNeil
Jill Townsend as Maureen
Robert Beatty as Gun dealer
Tony Beckley as Soapy Tucker
Mike Pratt as Prison warder's accomplice
Robert Russell as First prison warder
Joe Cahill as Second prison warder
Robert Ramsey as Gun dealer's bodyguard
June Brown as Lomart's neighbour

Production

Douglas Hickox was signed to direct in July 1971.^[3] Filming started in September 1971.^[4]

Due to restrictions about filming in British prisons, the prison sequences were filmed in Kilmainham Gaol, Dublin.^[5] The Winstanley and York Road Estates in Battersea feature prominently throughout the film as the setting for many of the action sequences of the main protagonist.^[6]^[7]

Critical reception

The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "Another glib and glossy thriller along the lines of Get Carter [1971] and Villain [1971], considerably shallower and more stereotyped than either as it grinds nastily and rather artily (Douglas Hickox reveals a disconcerting passion for overhead shots) through a busy schedule of pain, mutilation and death. With its absurdly contrived plot and strictly one-dimensional characters (Oliver Reed doing his broody bit, Ian McShane doing his cheery bit, and no one else getting a look in), it has absolutely nothing to offer except its gleeful, plentiful and largely unmotivated violence."^[8]

Variety wrote: "The screenplay by Alexander Jacobs sometimes is difficult to follow, but Douglas Hickox's tense direction keeps movement at top speed. ... Reed's portrayal is topflight, Perhaps the more outstanding performance, however, is presented by Ian MacShane, as Reed's sidekick. ... Music by Stanley Myers captures the proper mood."^[9]

The Radio Times Guide to Films gave the film 3/5 stars, writing: "A splendid supporting cast of TV familiars and peculiars make this a juicy and none too subtle excursion into the underworld."^[10]

Leslie Halliwell said: "Rough, tough action thriller; passes the time for hardened addicts."^[11]

Soundtrack

The soundtrack was composed by Stanley Myers. It was released by Finders Keepers Records (FKR004LP) in 2007.^[12]

References

^ "Screaming Target Original Oliver Reed Cult Classic WOW | eBay". Archived from the original on 10 June 2015.
^ "Sitting Target". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
^ Beth Brickell in Star Role Murphy, Mary. Los Angeles Times 24 July 1971: a7.
^ Unding-a-ling Role for Jill St. John Los Angeles Times 5 August 1971: g9.
^ p. 298 Filmfacts, Volume 15 Division of Cinema of the University of Southern California, 1972
^ "The Winstanley Plays Itself".
^ "Cinematic Depictions of Battersea". 7 May 2013.
^ "Sitting Target". The Monthly Film Bulletin. 39 (456): 123. 1 January 1972 – via ProQuest.
^ "Sitting Target". Variety. 266 (2): 6. 23 February 1972 – via ProQuest.
^ Radio Times Guide to Films (18th ed.). London: Immediate Media Company. 2017. p. 844. ISBN 9780992936440.
^ Halliwell, Leslie (1989). Halliwell's Film Guide (7th ed.). London: Paladin. p. 924. ISBN 0586088946.
^ "Stanley Myers – The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack To Douglas Hickox's Sitting Target". Discogs. Retrieved 7 February 2024.

External links

[1] "Screaming Target Original Oliver Reed Cult Classic WOW | eBay". Archived from the original on 10 June 2015.

[BFIsearch-2] "Sitting Target". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 17 April 2024.

[3] Beth Brickell in Star Role Murphy, Mary. Los Angeles Times 24 July 1971: a7.

[4] Unding-a-ling Role for Jill St. John Los Angeles Times 5 August 1971: g9.

[5] . 298 Filmfacts, Volume 15 Division of Cinema of the University of Southern California, 1972

[6] "The Winstanley Plays Itself".

[7] "Cinematic Depictions of Battersea". 7 May 2013.

[8] "Sitting Target". The Monthly Film Bulletin. 39 (456): 123. 1 January 1972 – via ProQuest.

[9] "Sitting Target". Variety. 266 (2): 6. 23 February 1972 – via ProQuest.

[10] Radio Times Guide to Films (18th ed.). London: Immediate Media Company. 2017. p. 844. ISBN 9780992936440.

[11] Halliwell, Leslie (1989). Halliwell's Film Guide (7th ed.). London: Paladin. p. 924. ISBN 0586088946.

[12] "Stanley Myers – The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack To Douglas Hickox's Sitting Target". Discogs. Retrieved 7 February 2024.

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