THE NEXT MAN
US, 1976, 107 minutes, Colour.
Sean Connery, Cornelia Sharpe, Albert Paulsen, Adolfo Celi, Charles Cioffi.
Directed by Richard C. Sarafian.
The Next Man is an espionage thriller of the mid-'70s. It did not receive much commercial release.
Rather lavishly photographed in a range of settings, its main action occurs in New, York. Sean Connery is very good as the oil minister of Saudi Arabia, a visionary who comes to New York to make speeches of peace and reconciliation with Israel to the United Nations. His aim is to form an alternate oil organisation to those influenced by the U.S. or the U.S.S.R. He then becomes the target for terrorist assassination.
The film is interesting in retrospect, looking at the oil crisis of the '70s as well as Arab- Israeli relationships. It was released just before the dialogue which led to the Camp David agreement.
The film is well-paced. Connery gives a persuasive performance. The villain is well-played by the glamorous Cornelia Sharpe. Direction is by Richard C. Sarafian, a director of a range of films including Run Wild, Run Free, Vanishing Point, Man in the Wilderness.
1. Interesting and enjoyable espionage? Terrorism? Arab- Israeli relationships? Arabs on the world stage? Dramatising the '70s? Seen in the retrospect of later decades?
2. The use of world-wide locations: England, the south of France, Saudi Arabia, the United States, New York City? Atmosphere? Musical score?
3. The captions with dates and times, tension, editing and pace, urgency? The contribution of the stunts and special effects?
4. The plausibility of the plot, international relationships, oil? The Middle East? International terrorism? The title?
5. The focus on OPEC-Middle East relationships, Arab nations and the relationships amongst themselves, tensions with Syria? Dialogue and clashes with the Israelis? American pressure, Soviet influence? The world economy, espionage, nuclear threat? Terrorism and assassinations?
6. The opening with the initial plan, the international cartel, the focus on the three principals, the staging of their assassinations - the violence in the London hotel, the assassination in the Saudi Arabian street, the seduction in Nice? The effect for the opening of the film?
7. The introduction to Nicole and her seduction, her disguises, her ruthlessness, her return home, her family, her contacts, her going to New York, setting up Khalil?
8. Sean Connery as Khalil, from Saudi Arabia, his role in the government, his vision? Going to New York, his background, education, quotations, the helicopter ride, his love for the city, the subway, his wanting a kitchen, cooking? His relationships with his staff? With the American guards? His speech at the United Nations and its implications? The encounter with Fouad and the Syrians? His meeting Nicole at the reception, attracted by her, talking, going to the auction, buying her the gift, meeting her, shared relationship, going to the Bahamas, the affair, the lyrical sequences, the drama of the assassination attempt? His return to the U.N. and the applause? His speech, the proposal for peace, its rationale, representatives walking out? The question of his security, leaving to go back home, the proposal to Nicole, his assistant betraying him, his being shot by Nicole? Visionary, contribution to world politics? His death and his own personal weaknesses?
9. Nicole as killer, listening at the U.N., insinuating herself into Khalil's company, intimate, sharing, the auction of the gift, the Bahamas, the danger, audiences anticipating her final decision or not?
10. Khalil's assistant, the relationship between the two, security, hit final betrayal? Nicole killing him?
11. Syria and the Arab nations and their friendships and hostilities? The opening with the CIA and the KGB and their assassination? In the United Nations?
12. The American guards, personalities, strategies, the end and the explosion, the deaths?
13. A film of the '70s, international intrigue?
