INSTITUTE FOR REVENGE
US, 1979, 75 minutes, Colour.
Sam Groom, Lauren Hutton, Leslie Nielson, Robert Coote, Ray Walston, George Hamilton.
Directed by Kenneth C. Annakin.
Institute for Revenge is a brief, entertaining melodrama. Designed for television audiences, it focuses on an unscrupulous millionaire, playing the stock market. George Hamilton is very good in the role. Leslie Neilson is his corrupt attorney. A small victim (Ray Walston) seeks the help of the Institute for Revenge, presided over by jovial Robert Coote. Agents include Sam Groom and Lauren Hutton, who infiltrate into the villain's empire, wreak a complete revenge on him.
There is a central computer, I.F.R., who presides over the doings of the Institute. Far-fetched, set in glamorous Palm Springs, but also expressing the feelings of so man people who have been swindled by unscrupulous businessmen. Ken Annakin (Disney films and English dramas in the '50s and '60s, spectacles in the '60s, a range of popular entertainments in the '70s and '80s) directed.
1. Entertaining melodrama? Crime thriller? Infiltration and revenge?
2. Locations, Palm Springs, Tulsa, New York? Special effects for the centre of I.F.R? Musical score?
3. The title and its focus, on unscrupulous villains, with the law unable to break them?- The anger of small business people who lose their savings? The possibility for revenge?
4. Alan Roberto, his real name, his fortune, his being before the Senate, the law unable to touch him? Counsellor Barnes and his advice? Anders and the confrontation, his dismissal of him? His lifestyle, Palm Springs, society, scoffing at the law, his plane, plans for escaping to Mexico? The encounter with John Schroeder, with Leila? Believing their attitudes and actions? Leila infiltrating, feeding him information? Schroeder covering up? Bradley and his being employed as mechanic? The way that the group played Roberto? His concern about his firm, his henchmen, their searching Schroeder's apartment? Research, the visit to Wall Street and to Wellington? The final trap, the plane, going to Mexico? Conquered?
5. The Institute for Revenge: the centre, the computer? Their programmes? Staff, the foundation? Wellington and his presiding, consultations with the computer, contact with the people in the field? His pretence .n Wall Street and being bought off?
6. Schroeder and Leila. working as a team. smooth and suave, at the marina, in the social club, interaction with Roberto. antagonism of Schroeder, seduction and information by Leila? Their covering their tracks, their scenarios? The visits to Tulsa? Playing golf at the end? Winning out?
7. Bradley and Joanne, working as a team, infiltrating the plane, the search of the apartment and Joanne hiding? Joanne taking various roles? The hijacking of the plane. the meeting of the plane and getting the money?
8. Anders representing the small victims, concern. the Institute for Revenge, his working and giving information to Roberto on the phone? Vindication?
9. Popular stars in a popular-style crime thriller - with social point?
