Films/DVD Asylum

"The McKenzie Break"

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This is an extremely entertaining "oldie"...a prisoner of war film, from the German side...WW2 German prisoners held in Scotland, complex escape plan that involves a UBoat, inept camp commander Ian Hendry can't handle the Germans, evolves into a battle of genuine wits between the camp commander, and the special, British Army investigator Brian Keith brought in to investigate the escape, and the German commander, Helmut Griem.
Extremely compelling story made out of something so cliche`. A real suprise here. This is a Lamont Johnson's specialty. Unfortunately, his work is essentially lost on the public.
Here's the allmovieguide link...
http://allmovie.com/cg/avg.dll

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Re: "The McKenzie Break" - thegage 13:26:52 08/01/02 (2)
I remember seeing this when it came out in 1970/71, in a second-run theater, as the second half of a double feature with another film I can't remember. In my hazy memory it seemed to me at the time a little disjointed and "off" for lack of a better word. But then, I was twelve, so I expect it was more the filtering through my eyes than the film itself. I'll have to take a current look.
BTW, Lamont has had an interesting and varied career. His work seems to serve the material, rather than inflicting his style on it, hence he is not easily characterized or slotted into one of the expected "director categories". That makes it not surprising that he's not better known.
John K.
- Re: "The McKenzie Break" - mikenyc 13:47:25 08/01/02 (0)
  I was surprised by the brutality of the German escape. Quite unusual, I felt, for a film of it's day. Also, there was no over acting here...very understated, and serving the story line, only.
  Johnson's use of the half dissolve effect to compress time and events, was quite novel. I don't remember seeing it used this way in film, before. No doubt, Johnson's acting and Tv directing experience, served him well as a motion picture director.
  If I recall correctly, he loved the theater, more than motion pictures, so all we really have of him, is a good body of Tv work. And that's so indespensible a medium, the magic of those Tv directors is made totally unknown to us.
- Lamont Johnson - mikenyc 13:38:46 08/01/02 (0)
  He got his "chops" on Tv, directing "Twilight Zone"..."Kick the Can", "The Shelter" episodes, among others...and "Alfred Hitchcock Presents", and loads of Tv Movies..."My Sweet Charlie", "Execution of Eddie Slovak", "That Certain Summer", "Visit To A Chief's Son", "Gore Vidal's 'Lincoln'"...as well as being a former film actor.
  This acting experience, no doubt, gave him his unique perspective...unintrusive to the material...rare in an industry, that's comprised, seemingly and totally of egomaniacs or as the film school's call them "auteurs"...or "Personalities". Ugh!

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