1976 - KILLER FORCE aka THE DIAMOND MERCENARIES

Filmed mostly on location in South Africa, Killer Force is about a team of thieves who decide to rob a diamond mining complex of twenty million dollars in uncut diamonds.  The director is Val Guest who apparently rewrote the script as the film went into production.  Not the best way to make a movie.  Guest also called this film one of the most difficult assignments of his career.

The film has an unusual cast, Telly Savalas in what can only be described as a "paycheck performance" is the head of security.  Savalas dresses in some cool 1970's clothes and wears a pair of sunglasses throughout the film as he walks through his part.  Peter Fonda is one of the diamond mine's security team. Fonda is sporting a really bushy beard and sort of plays his part as a half hippie, half action hero.  Maud Adams the model turned actress is the unlikely girlfriend of the hairy Fonda.  Christopher Lee is part of the team of thieves, yet another bad guy performance from him.  Hugh O'Brian and O.J. Simpson apparently represent the American contingent in more oddball casting.

 

This is not a great film for the most part.  I suppose there is some entertainment value seeing this weirdo cast but the film seems rather sloppy in the acting and story telling departments.  The last 30-40 minutes is a big action climax with a shootout and a car chase in the desert to keep a viewer awake.  If you like to watch things blow up or lots of guys getting shot this will do.

 

Screenplay by Val Guest,  Gerald Sanford and Michael Winder, the running time is 102 minutes