@@edwardwright2989 Lol. I think people tend to do that for a few reasons. It was the beginning of Freidkin's commercial decline. He's also been somewhat forgotten over the years. Had this movie had anywhere near the success of the Exorcist or the French connection this probably wouldn't have happened. A lot of his films have been underated since then. Definitely a good underated movie, but masterpiece? That's a stretch. I don't think there's a great performance by anyone
This movie is truly one of the most underrated and overlooked films of all time. Even after almost 50 years and people rediscovering what a hidden gem it is, it still remains in obscurity and is very rarely talked about. I would say this was Friedkin's best film, even better than The Exorcist, The French Connection, and To Live and Die in LA.
He's right there with Coppola, 3 sensational, classic 70s flicks for Bill, 4 for Coppola. Just saw an interview with him where he was talking about how it sucks getting old. He had a hard time even standing this year. He came up with 2 great ones the last few years, Bug, which is hilarious, and Killer Joe. Siskel complains about the characters being unlikeable. That's one of the things I dig about it, the cynical characters. In Killer Joe, every friggin character is an asshole. He will be missed.
I saw this movie in the theater when it first came out and thought it was absolutely stunning. Paid to watch it many more times before it left the theaters and got it on VHS and DVD ASAP. Amazing, underrated film. Holds up all these years later.
I discovered this film being shown one Friday night in the basement auditorium lecture hall of my college in the mid '90s. I honestly just stepped in to kill time before going to a keg party, but I ditched the party and sat mesmerized and stunned by the story I was watching. I started going to more offbeat "arthouse" films after this.
Sounds like you helped it make most of its box office. I caught this in the 80s on that new thing, pay cable movie channels. Got HBO and Showtime and spent hours watching movies I'd never seen or heard of, they actually had rather sophisticated adult programming in those early years. I was young, my tastes were mature, I was happy. When this one came on I sat in mesmerized silence for its entirety and then always remembered it as a shockingly good and affecting film, that no one except film studies people know about.
Watching the film I kept saying 'how'd they shoot the bridge scene without killing anyone' and kept thinking there's way that a model. But it was. Simply amazing.
Same. I bought this soundtrack on 8-Track in a dollar bin a year or so after it came out. At 13 it was my first introduction into synthesizer music. I had no idea what I was getting into.
Same. I first heard the record album, not knowing anything about the film or Tangerine Dream. I was greatly impressed by both. In fact, I attended a Tangerine Dream concert last night in Atlanta- first time I heard them in person (I know, not the original performers) and they played the "Betrayal" track from the film live and in person!
It's such an underrated masterpiece. The studio had no idea how to market it. I was lucky to see this in the theater when it came out and was amazed. This sequence alone is riveting and suspenseful.
The characters are going to be cold though. To varying degrees, they're all psychopaths. And yet, paradoxically, I found myself rooting for them on a human level. They're pitted against nature at its worst. What can go wrong does go wrong at every turn. Gripping.
Hmm, all psychopaths? They were all definitely criminals. Scanlon and Manzon were sociopaths. Perhaps Nilo and Kassem could possibly be in the extreme personality category.
Yes, definitely cold- these are all amoral, radical, deeply-traumatized, anti-social people... all big reasons for why they're interesting and compelling characters!! There have been thousands of films made about 'heroism' and 'honor' and 'virtue', and they unilaterally seem propagandic in comparison to a film like Sorcerer.
This probably would have done better if it had retained the title of it's source material. "The Wages of Fear" was a taut, adventure thriller, a little known novel that was adapted into a little known, but well made movie in the 1950's. While not a huge hit, the film was so suspenseful and compelling that over time it began to build a following, making it onto many critic's top ten lists. I think that in 1970's there were still many film enthusiasts who would have recognized the title and there would have been a lot more interest generated via word of mouth.
You are so correct. The title and the ad campaign made it seem like it was a supernatural thriller! I kept waiting for demons to show up. Gene was spot on
@@hetmanjz More people (mainly Americans) need to know classic French films. They were so much better at showing real human nature. Hollywood almost always made things a little too sappy.
Saw this film when it first came out in theaters. Was a great movie, vastly underrated. One of the first films I recall using hand held cameras in some action scenes to give the impression of a news reel footage. Some very tense sequences in this film. The only draw back to this film I found, was the beginning sequences introducing the main characters didn’t really flow well with the rest of the movie. It almost seemed like two separate films stuck together. It is still a very good action drama.
Some of the more famous soundtracks have been Sorcerer, Thief, Legend, Risky Business, The Keep, Firestarter, Flashpoint, Heartbreakers, Shy People and Near Dark. TG composed soundtracks for more than 20 movies. There was no mention of why the movie was not released on video tape for more than 25 years. After a lengthy lawsuit filed against Universal Studios and Paramount, Friedkin supervised a digital restoration of Sorcerer, with the new print premiering at the 70th Venice International Film Festival on August 29, 2013 and Warner released a Blu-ray version in 2014. I saw this movie in Canada during its original run. I was already a fan of Tangerine Dream. When I rewatch Sorcerer nowadays, I usually watch La Salaire de la Peur (The Wages of Sin) first, then Sorcerer. Both are amazing films in their own right.
With the title Sorceror in front of a demonic statue at the movie's opening, it had the viewers thinking it would be another exorcist/devil movie. It should have been called something else to avoid the confusion. Turned out it was the name of one of the trucks these criminals from all parts of the world were driving through the South American jungles. The music soundtrack and atmosphere did have the images of a horror movie as one viewer said. I watched it a few times on video/TH-cam. Director William Friedkin loves having characters that are troubled/screwed up with their lives in his films (The Exorcist, To Live And Die In LA). One of the most underrated action films from the 1970s. It felt like Friedkin's Apocalypse Now I witnessed.
I kind of like that it's the name of one of the trucks. Like they could've gone the obvious route and named it something having to do with some dangerous truck journey, but something is very thought provoking of this whole story about why it's called Sorcerer.
One of the best films of the 70's. Most theater-goers were intellectually out of their depth to appreciate the many subtleties within the film. Quite possibly the most depressing & hopeless film I've ever seen. Absolutely loved it.
Agreed. There is a site on youtbe that breaks down the philosophical components to this movie and I found myself nodding at every point. It probably needs to be seen a number of times to appreciate it. The title suggests the allusion that they were all predestined for that trip to Hell for their past behaviours.
I remember being totally blown away when I saw this film in the theatre. A terribly dark and depressing movie but a tour de force of directing and acting beyond anything I've seen before or since. Thanks for reminding me of a great movie.
I saw this in the theater when it was released and re-watch it regularly. It remains one of my three all-time , co-favorite films. It is just supremely great -- to me. I recognize that it may not be everyone's cup of tea, but it is definitely mine. Finally, I agree with some of what Friedkin, himself, had to say about the film, but disagree with other things. It should absolutely be better known and watched and appreciated.
Director William Friedkin, this film is tough, gritty. Friedkin knew what to do. He once said 'I know how to give audiences 1 and half hours packed with a real thrill'. He certainly achieved this in The French Connection, Exorcist. Using Francisco Rabal whom he wanted in The French Connection to play 'Charnier' made this film great. It just came in the time of Star Wars. I strongly believe this film was an epic. even though it wasn't best at the box office.
A couple of things here... notice the "howling, grunting and subtle frequency tone, along with the wood creaking sound effects. Pure brilliance. I'm not even mentioning Tangerine Dream's Synth compostions that just add such a rich layer of intensity to this classic cinema masterpiece. This is true filming within the highest degree of art form. Bravo... these types of scenes now have CG Graphics and computers taking over...
Ebert got it. This was a masterpiece of suspense and had me on the edge of my seat. I have the dvd and watch it here on the tube regularly about once a month at least. Siskel couldn't understand a great movie if it fell on him. Sure the title is a bit misleading, but watch the movie for what it is and you will understand. The scene near the end when he is carrying the nitro and just BARELY able to keep from falling! Roy Schieder was one of those actors that could pull off a scene without saying a word. Just look at those eyes when he looks at the old woman at the end he wants to dance with. And before that when he gets the check and stares off into the camera. Then there is the part in the beginning where Schieder says "Where am I going?" and the guy says "I swear to Christ I don't know." Then shows up at the end with that tall guy with the bad haircut. Epic picture!!!
Unforgettable movie. I can see why the title might have misled prospective moviegoers, with little advertising for the subject matter. Although the title is probably taken, I can't think of a better movie to call "White Knuckled"
I agree with them about the name. I'd actually never heard of this film till earlier today after reading it in another videos comments. My first thought was, "wow I never knew Roy Scheider did a fantasy film. I need to look this up."
I love the title. Went to see it bc Roy Schieder was in it. Understand title drawbacks, as explained by Siskel. Still think it should have become a cult classic.
One of Quentin Tarantino's favorite films. I saw this with my father in 1977 when I was 12 at the theater. Seen it a few times since & it always captivates my attention.
I've seen explosions, death defying action sequences, documentary style film making... nothing like this The version I saw had *no sub titles* for the first 15 min (is that how it was in theaters?) and I immediately was hooked. My only problem was the ending. But I concede that 1 minute of directorial choice to someone who just gave me 2 hours of film making perfection. In short: incredible
One of my all time favorite films. The biggest mistake Friedkin made that led to poor box office sales was the title. It confused everyone. The original title was much better.
1977; the year cinemagoers eschewed the brilliant, revolutionary adult filmmaking of the 1970's in favour of laser swords, princesses and little furry bears.
I saw this in the theater, but we went having no idea what it was. We, of course, thought it would be about an actual sorcerer! As I recall, the movie is rather dark (cinematography and plot!) and it was hard to figure out what was going on. "Star Wars" killed this film. But I'll have to rewatch it again soon at some point.
You know what you do? Watch this incredible movie....and then watch "Star Wars" AS SOON as it's done! It's the most amazing double feature! It's what I did when I first saw it, and it works so amazing. Sorcerer is gut-wrenching suspense and action, dark 1970s action......and then "Star Wars" comes along and it's this fast, breezy, movie that's also an action/adventure....but totally different. You can literally see it as a goodbye to the 70s "realism" American cinema....and what would become the 1980s-present: the blockbuster years, lol. Anyways, try it, you'll like it! An amazing double feature!
@@ajmmoviestv1669 Yes - then I bought the blu-ray. These days, with streaming services censoring things, original cut dvds are more important than ever.
When William Friedkin was running his own studio label in the 1970s and had the power to greenlight movies as a producer, he rejected George Lucas' pitch for Star Wars. In 1977, Sorcerer came out just weeks after Star Wars, in the midst of the Star Wars phenomenon, and was crushed by it. This is what karma looks like.
3:56 about the title of *Sorcerer.* I agree to an extent with Gene, but if you watch the film and pay attention, the title does make sense. At first, it is simply the name of the red truck with the "yellow teeth". Roy Schieder's truck has "Lazaro" on the hood (like Lazarus), and the red truck has "Sorcerer" titled right below the driver seat on the side of the truck.. you can see the name when the red truck is maneuvering around the 90 degree left turn on the rickety wooden bridge early in their journey. But... there is more than that. At the 41 minute mark, there is a quick shot on the very front of the Sorcerer truck showing a cameo of Pazuzu (or at least a demon scribbled in chalk). I thought at first it was just a nice little nod from Friedkin, until I saw the *Wages of Fear* edit and Roy Schieder uses chalk to write "218" above his speedometer after setting it to "0" so he knows how many miles to the Oil Field. The Frenchman (Serrano) comes up to Roy and says "Good luck, Dominguez (Roy's alias)". Roy says "Go to hell, Serrano" and tosses him the chalk. It recently occured to me that Dominguez (Roy) unwittingly casted a spell on Serrano and the Middle Eastern guy, essentially cursing them.. they were doomed from the beginning. Most black magic promises wealth and power at the expense of your soul... the assassin dies because he broke his oath, as in the *Wages of Fear* edit he tells Dominguez he flipped a coin as to who he would kill.. he got Dominguez, but decided to kill the other guy because "he is partial to Americans". Everyone dies, Dominguez gets all the money but his soul is cursed to have the shadow of what happened follow him for the rest of his life. The title of the movie doesn't refer to the truck... it refers to Roy Schieder's character.
The reason this tanked at the box office was everyone was expecting a horror movie! The title, Friedkin's direction plus Tangerine Dream's sinister music in TV spots was trying to lure fans of The Exorcist and the Omen. (The Tangerine Dream music would not be out-of-place in an early 80s zombie movie by Lucio Fulci...)
I went to see this movie because of Friedkin and Scheider’s involvement, and thought it was great back in 1977, but my own opinion of the failure I think is because everyone was Star Wars crazy at the time, and this movie died a quick death in the theaters
It's out on Blu-Ray. I own a copy and love the movie. I actually saw it when it came out originally, I even bought the soundtrack I enjoyed that as well. I'm happy to see it's finally getting it's due credit.
I wouldn't drive across that bridge even on nice sunny day. It's a death trap!
4 ปีที่แล้ว +22
I like Siskel but he's way off - Sorcerer is one of the coolest films ever made and I dare say it's better than the original "Wages of Fear" which I also love. I'm huge Friedkin fan and this is his masterpiece. But there are two slight quibbles about this film; 1) I agree about the title. The movie is way more promising than it's title (only a schlocky, bad, B-sword and sorcery movie would deserve a title like "Sorcerer") - it should have been titled "Wages of Fear" or even "Lazarus" (which was another title Friedkin considered - that title is still a little misleading but better one than "Sorcerer") & 2) originally, Friedkin wanted Steve McQueen for Scheider's role. McQueen would have accepted if Friedkin allowed his wife, Ali MacGraw, to have a part in the film or if she served and credited as an executive producer of the film (so that they could be together on location - because McQueen didn't like the idea of being away from her for months in the jungle) but Friedkin rejected McQueen's requests and McQueen pulled out. Friedkin later regretted his decision - and even though I thought Scheider was good in the role - I think Steve McQueen would have better a better fit and the film would have been WAY COOLER and better. Overall, those are irrelevant complaints and the film still stands out as a masterpiece!
I agree with everything you say. I love Friedkin's films and Sorcerer is my favorite too. I remember reading Easy Riders, Raging Bulls which talks about the making of Sorcerer. Steve McQueen in Sorcerer (and Apocalypse Now) would have been epic and the perfect film for his personality.
I agree, amazing movie, and the title absolutely sucks for all the reasons talked about ( by you, and Gene Siskel). I do love Roy Scheider in this role for two reasons: this is a perfect role for him. He has a face for this kind of suspense action, as evidenced by Jaws. Secondly: There are so few movies to see Scheider do his stuff, that this one is a precious discovery for fans of Chief Brody (and Joe Gideon!). For me, this, "All That Jazz" and "Jaws" are his top three performances/movies. I also am not a huge Steve McQueen fan, and don't think he would have gotten as much as the character's inner stress as vividly as Scheider did. That's Scheider's stock in trade, as I was saying.
I’d say about zero people back in the day thought this was an exorcist sequel. Roger and Gene were two of the best critics of all time but you can always count on them to say something that doesn’t make any sense in every clip.
Interesting. Did you see it back then? I keep hearing that the title did hurt its chances very badly. Though New Hollywood Wave was on its way out for sure.
Outstanding film but a bad title. The was overlooked and is very much underrated. One of the ten Best films of 1977. It's eye opening and breathtaking to watch. I agree with Gene the ads for this movie made it look like a horror movie. Not adventure story with trucks though the jungle. Masterpiece of filmmaking.
I totally agree, William Friedkin is probably one of my favourite American directors of all time, but there are a few of his movies that didnt get the best titles. As a huge fan of Sorcerer, ive come to love the title but it definitely doesnt connect with the movie, as Friedkin said himself the title 'sorcerer' came to him while listening to a Miles Davis' record, aptly named Sorcerer. So really, it holds no true meaning to the film.
Simply one of the best films of all time William friedkin outdid himself a true Masterpiece for all generations❤💯👹 also somebody posted a German recut of sorcerer on TH-cam if you're a fan go check it out it's worth your time the working title is wages of fear has some new scenes not in the original Sorcerer . Enjoy !!!🤟👹👍
i was around then and dont remember it. i also assumed it was a different type of movie. it was great camera work. for the first minute I thought they were 100's of feet in the air. they got me.
Another instance of where I completely agree with Ebert and have no idea what the hell Siskel is bitching about. The film didn't have a happy ending and I think it was hurt by that. But the characters all seemed desperate and real. That river scene is so compelling since they had such a hard time getting the scene done period. This is the kind of film they should be showing in film school not this girl boss bullshit superhero films they keep pumping out. The idea that your death could be any moment one wrong move and Ka-boom. I think the marketing and title did hurt the film because Sorcerer makes it sound like a fantasy film which it wasn't Wages of Fear sounds much better. Just the idea of 1 truck making it across that bridge and knowing that the other team and truck have to do the same thing just nuts. I always thought of the most dangerous road on the planet in Argentina while watching this movie. Thanks Jason for posting the video.
This is mental. This video went up around the same time I started watching Sorcerer tonight (having recorded it 3 months ago but wanting to see it for the last few years with Mark Kermode always talking about it in his radio show). And I always look up Siskel & Ebert reviews of old movies I watch. Cosmic.
In some ways I think Sorcerer was to Billy Friedkin what Heaven's Gate was to Michael Cimino. Their careers never fully recovered from the failures of these two films.
A weird title and going up against Star Wars didn’t help. And maybe fans of serious cinema thought remaking a classic was a bad idea. But the film is great and deserved more attention at the time. Here in Britain it was renamed The Wages of Fear and, like the rest of Europe, re-edited and reduced in length by the distributors. All the vignettes at the start were turned into flashbacks and peppered throughout the film and other bits were dropped. Thankfully, the version we have now is the director’s cut and titled Sorcerer.
I saw this movie when it came out, and the very title of this movie doomed it to failure: "Sorcerer". The ad campaign for this movie was so vague that most people thought it was a supernatural picture-----myself included! Did it ever occur to the people that made this movie that they had a misleading title attached to it?
It very well could've been an intentionally misleading advertising campaign because, like the boys said here, the studio had no faith in the film. That used to be a lot more common years ago, cutting one trailer that makes a movie look like a comedy and another that makes it look serious, and so forth.
Disagree about character problems. The movie follows the thread of each of these desperate guys, how they ended up in a jungle hellhole and their motivation to volunteer for the suicide mission. It ain't warm & fuzzy, it's very dark but so beautifully done.
Poor marketing, plain and simple. Great poster and title but in 1977 they didn't convey to you what kind of movie this even was. Horror? Disaster? Magical adventure? Also, unexpected bad timing. Star Wars exploded and changed both the industry and pop culture overnight. Smokey and the Bandit aside (and a distant 2nd, at that), nothing that summer could put a dent in the popularity of Lucas's juggernaut. Had Sorcerer arrived earlier, say, April, it certainly would've done better, though most likely not Exorcist or even French Connection dollars. Speaking of Exorcist, more bad timing for Sorcerer in that Exorcist II hit theaters around the same time, siphoning some of Friedkin's potential audience. Given how soured Exorcist fans were on Boorman's disastrous sequel, they probably were so put off by the enigmatic marketing for Sorcerer (despite Friedkin's name being the key selling-point) that they just didn't even bother.
It's a really depressing film. Action pictures are supposed to be exciting. They don't have to have a happy ending (take Runaway Train, for example), but they are not supposed to so depressing.
I like Gene Siskel, but MAN did he have a tendency to dislike some of the best movies of all time based on some silly, silly criteria. The guys in Sorcerer are burned out and nerve-shot and desperate, that's kind of the point of why they take that job, and he wants "warmer" characters? Siskel would be like, "True, Good The Bad and the Ugly looks great, but couldn't it have a bit more in common with Terms of Endearment?" Roger Ebert was much better about "getting it" than Gene was. I still find Gene endearing, anyhow, but he was just total way-yonder-wrong about half the time.
A criminally underrated masterpiece.
In fairness going up against Saturday Night Fever, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, and not to mention Star Wars…..an uphill battle on F-ing K2.
This movie has the music of a sci-fi, a feel of a horror movie, the risks of a adventure movie and the fate of a masterpiece
It's a good underrated film. Don't over do it.
beautifully said maestro! I truly love Sorcerer ❤
@@edwardwright2989 Lol. I think people tend to do that for a few reasons. It was the beginning of Freidkin's commercial decline. He's also been somewhat forgotten over the years. Had this movie had anywhere near the success of the Exorcist or the French connection this probably wouldn't have happened. A lot of his films have been underated since then. Definitely a good underated movie, but masterpiece? That's a stretch. I don't think there's a great performance by anyone
Didn't this movie come out the same week as Star Wars or Jaws? If so, it never had a chance.
Also, Sorcerer actually has a much better ending than the original Wages of Fear (which was so bad that I thought it ruined the film).
This movie is truly one of the most underrated and overlooked films of all time. Even after almost 50 years and people rediscovering what a hidden gem it is, it still remains in obscurity and is very rarely talked about. I would say this was Friedkin's best film, even better than The Exorcist, The French Connection, and To Live and Die in LA.
I always loved Roy Scheider. He was on fire in the 1970’s (All That Jazz, Klute, Jaws, The French Connection. And this sounds good, too.).
The Seven Ups was pretty good too.
Amazing Film, and a brilliant soundtrack.
This is my fav Friedkin movie. Incredible I wish Criterion would release it
wish granted
Now that Friedkin is gone, this is the one that you must watch to find the kind of amazing filmmaker he was.
What? William Friedkin is still alive.
He's right there with Coppola, 3 sensational, classic 70s flicks for Bill, 4 for Coppola. Just saw an interview with him where he was talking about how it sucks getting old. He had a hard time even standing this year. He came up with 2 great ones the last few years, Bug, which is hilarious, and Killer Joe. Siskel complains about the characters being unlikeable. That's one of the things I dig about it, the cynical characters. In Killer Joe, every friggin character is an asshole. He will be missed.
@@robertforster8984 no,he died a week ago
@@robertforster8984 , He passed on Aug 7, sadly.
@@JacksonHoulihan WHAT? I had no idea.
Amazing film; the bridge sequence is one of the greatest set-pieces in cinema history, absolutely breathtaking.
Hard to believe this movie disappeared without a trace.
This is a classic that will be spoken about in years to come .
I saw this movie in the theater when it first came out and thought it was absolutely stunning. Paid to watch it many more times before it left the theaters and got it on VHS and DVD ASAP. Amazing, underrated film. Holds up all these years later.
I discovered this film being shown one Friday night in the basement auditorium lecture hall of my college in the mid '90s. I honestly just stepped in to kill time before going to a keg party, but I ditched the party and sat mesmerized and stunned by the story I was watching. I started going to more offbeat "arthouse" films after this.
I saw this in the movies and man it was a pretty good movie.
Sounds like you helped it make most of its box office. I caught this in the 80s on that new thing, pay cable movie channels. Got HBO and Showtime and spent hours watching movies I'd never seen or heard of, they actually had rather sophisticated adult programming in those early years. I was young, my tastes were mature, I was happy. When this one came on I sat in mesmerized silence for its entirety and then always remembered it as a shockingly good and affecting film, that no one except film studies people know about.
similar to Blow out a few years later you watch the film just 1 time and are mesmerized
I was sooo lucky to watch this film with William Friedkin in attendance at the TCM film festival!!!! Incredible
That scene would be all CGI now. And I'm on the edge of my seat watching on a computer screen
Watching the film I kept saying 'how'd they shoot the bridge scene without killing anyone' and kept thinking there's way that a model. But it was. Simply amazing.
One of two Friedken masterpieces few people saw, and many have forgotten (To Live and Die in LA is the other).
Yes! From Tangerine Dream in Sorcerer to Wang Chung with To Live and Die in LA. Both brilliantly created.
I loved this movie, had one of the best soundtracks, got me turned onto Tangerine Dream.
Same. I bought this soundtrack on 8-Track in a dollar bin a year or so after it came out. At 13 it was my first introduction into synthesizer music. I had no idea what I was getting into.
Tangerine Dream actually led me to this this film. Funny how things work that way.
Same. I first heard the record album, not knowing anything about the film or Tangerine Dream. I was greatly impressed by both. In fact, I attended a Tangerine Dream concert last night in Atlanta- first time I heard them in person (I know, not the original performers) and they played the "Betrayal" track from the film live and in person!
td had me before this, one of the reasons i watched this film was knowing their music.
It's such an underrated masterpiece. The studio had no idea how to market it. I was lucky to see this in the theater when it came out and was amazed. This sequence alone is riveting and suspenseful.
The characters are going to be cold though. To varying degrees, they're all psychopaths. And yet, paradoxically, I found myself rooting for them on a human level. They're pitted against nature at its worst. What can go wrong does go wrong at every turn. Gripping.
Hmm, all psychopaths? They were all definitely criminals. Scanlon and Manzon were sociopaths. Perhaps Nilo and Kassem could possibly be in the extreme personality category.
Yes, definitely cold- these are all amoral, radical, deeply-traumatized, anti-social people... all big reasons for why they're interesting and compelling characters!! There have been thousands of films made about 'heroism' and 'honor' and 'virtue', and they unilaterally seem propagandic in comparison to a film like Sorcerer.
This probably would have done better if it had retained the title of it's source material. "The Wages of Fear" was a taut, adventure thriller, a little known novel that was adapted into a little known, but well made movie in the 1950's. While not a huge hit, the film was so suspenseful and compelling that over time it began to build a following, making it onto many critic's top ten lists. I think that in 1970's there were still many film enthusiasts who would have recognized the title and there would have been a lot more interest generated via word of mouth.
"Wages of Fear" is pretty well-known, though, among people familiar with French cinema.
You are so correct. The title and the ad campaign made it seem like it was a supernatural thriller! I kept waiting for demons to show up. Gene was spot on
@@hetmanjz More people (mainly Americans) need to know classic French films. They were so much better at showing real human nature. Hollywood almost always made things a little too sappy.
Wages of Fear sounds too much like a crime thriller. But, yes, *Sorcerer* was a lousy title.
Spot on the title, but little else. @@philiphatfield5666
I saw this on HBO as a teenager. I was totally mesmerized..
Same.
Saw this film when it first came out in theaters. Was a great movie, vastly underrated. One of the first films I recall using hand held cameras in some action scenes to give the impression of a news reel footage. Some very tense sequences in this film. The only draw back to this film I found, was the beginning sequences introducing the main characters didn’t really flow well with the rest of the movie. It almost seemed like two separate films stuck together. It is still a very good action drama.
And a nod to Tangerine Dream for the amazing soundtrack which isn't mentioned here or exhibited in this clip. It's hypnotic on its own.
Tangerine Dream are awesome.
So brilliant! I saw them in Melbourne about 10 years ago purely on the strength of this soundtrack!
A nod? The music MADE the movie.
Keith Jarrets inclusion in the soundtrack is the secret sauce
Some of the more famous soundtracks have been Sorcerer, Thief, Legend, Risky Business, The Keep, Firestarter, Flashpoint, Heartbreakers, Shy People and Near Dark. TG composed soundtracks for more than 20 movies.
There was no mention of why the movie was not released on video tape for more than 25 years. After a lengthy lawsuit filed against Universal Studios and Paramount, Friedkin supervised a digital restoration of Sorcerer, with the new print premiering at the 70th Venice International Film Festival on August 29, 2013 and Warner released a Blu-ray version in 2014.
I saw this movie in Canada during its original run. I was already a fan of Tangerine Dream. When I rewatch Sorcerer nowadays, I usually watch La Salaire de la Peur (The Wages of Sin) first, then Sorcerer. Both are amazing films in their own right.
With the title Sorceror in front of a demonic statue at the movie's opening, it had the viewers thinking it would be another exorcist/devil movie. It should have been called something else to avoid the confusion. Turned out it was the name of one of the trucks these criminals from all parts of the world were driving through the South American jungles. The music soundtrack and atmosphere did have the images of a horror movie as one viewer said. I watched it a few times on video/TH-cam. Director William Friedkin loves having characters that are troubled/screwed up with their lives in his films (The Exorcist, To Live And Die In LA). One of the most underrated action films from the 1970s. It felt like Friedkin's Apocalypse Now I witnessed.
I kind of like that it's the name of one of the trucks. Like they could've gone the obvious route and named it something having to do with some dangerous truck journey, but something is very thought provoking of this whole story about why it's called Sorcerer.
One of the best films of the 70's. Most theater-goers were intellectually out of their depth to appreciate the many subtleties within the film. Quite possibly the most depressing & hopeless film I've ever seen. Absolutely loved it.
Agreed. There is a site on youtbe that breaks down the philosophical components to this movie and I found myself nodding at every point. It probably needs to be seen a number of times to appreciate it. The title suggests the allusion that they were all predestined for that trip to Hell for their past behaviours.
Yes, it's a very nihilistic film yet it's so engaging, even beautiful.
I remember being totally blown away when I saw this film in the theatre. A terribly dark and depressing movie but a tour de force of directing and acting beyond anything I've seen before or since. Thanks for reminding me of a great movie.
I saw this in the theater when it was released and re-watch it regularly. It remains one of my three all-time , co-favorite films. It is just supremely great -- to me. I recognize that it may not be everyone's cup of tea, but it is definitely mine. Finally, I agree with some of what Friedkin, himself, had to say about the film, but disagree with other things. It should absolutely be better known and watched and appreciated.
"the sorcerer" would hugely benefit from a 4k restoration. imagine all that stuff in full detail.
Director William Friedkin, this film is tough, gritty. Friedkin knew what to do. He once said 'I know how to give audiences 1 and half hours packed with a real thrill'. He certainly achieved this in The French Connection, Exorcist. Using Francisco Rabal whom he wanted in The French Connection to play 'Charnier' made this film great. It just came in the time of Star Wars. I strongly believe this film was an epic. even though it wasn't best at the box office.
One of my favorite films. Not for everyone, but every one in it is great, and nihilism 70’s style at its best
I loved the sound track to this movie!
The soundtrack was spectacular.
A couple of things here... notice the "howling, grunting and subtle frequency tone, along with the wood creaking sound effects. Pure brilliance. I'm not even mentioning Tangerine Dream's Synth compostions that just add such a rich layer of intensity to this classic cinema masterpiece. This is true filming within the highest degree of art form. Bravo... these types of scenes now have CG Graphics and computers taking over...
It should have won an academy award for the bridge scene alone.
@JACK-DETH I have the movie poster from the bridge scene framed on my wall .lol
Ebert got it. This was a masterpiece of suspense and had me on the edge of my seat. I have the dvd and watch it here on the tube regularly about once a month at least. Siskel couldn't understand a great movie if it fell on him. Sure the title is a bit misleading, but watch the movie for what it is and you will understand. The scene near the end when he is carrying the nitro and just BARELY able to keep from falling!
Roy Schieder was one of those actors that could pull off a scene without saying a word.
Just look at those eyes when he looks at the old woman at the end he wants to dance with. And before that when he gets the check and stares off into the camera. Then there is the part in the beginning where Schieder says "Where am I going?" and the guy says "I swear to Christ I don't know." Then shows up at the end with that tall guy with the bad haircut. Epic picture!!!
Would never have known about this movie without your video. King to you, mon frere!
Unforgettable movie. I can see why the title might have misled prospective moviegoers, with little advertising for the subject matter. Although the title is probably taken, I can't think of a better movie to call "White Knuckled"
I agree with them about the name. I'd actually never heard of this film till earlier today after reading it in another videos comments. My first thought was, "wow I never knew Roy Scheider did a fantasy film. I need to look this up."
Great find!!! I saw this when it premiered in the theaters.
I love the title. Went to see it bc Roy Schieder was in it. Understand title drawbacks, as explained by Siskel. Still think it should have become a cult classic.
Fantastic movie. The title does hold it back. I would have named it "The Road to Purgatory"
I love this movie and the sound track.
Watched it for the first time tonite.
It was great!
Quentin Tarantino and Roger Avary have mentioned this movie as one of their mutual favorites on the Video Archives podcast.
i saw the film nearly a decade ago and... man... what a film. a rare remake that is an equal to its original film.
One of Quentin Tarantino's favorite films. I saw this with my father in 1977 when I was 12 at the theater. Seen it a few times since & it always captivates my attention.
I saw this in the 70s and LOVED it.
I've seen explosions, death defying action sequences, documentary style film making... nothing like this
The version I saw had *no sub titles* for the first 15 min (is that how it was in theaters?) and I immediately was hooked.
My only problem was the ending. But I concede that 1 minute of directorial choice to someone who just gave me 2 hours of film making perfection.
In short: incredible
One of the best movies I've ever scene ong
Absolutely incredible film.
I was 10 or 11 when this was on Star Channel (later became the movie channel)...I was riveted to the screen
Unfortunately, Star Wars tanked a lot of films that year.
One of my all time favorite films. The biggest mistake Friedkin made that led to poor box office sales was the title. It confused everyone. The original title was much better.
I think Sorcerer is a cool title even though it didn't help it marketing-wise
Saw it in theater and I was spellbound and in fear most of the movie. I walked out feeling spent.
“Sort of a tricky situation.” 😂
Another reason it flipped (according to the director and some critics) was because it premiered on the same week as “Star Wars.”
An all time favorite. Saw it at a Drive-In when first released. Music by Tangerine Dream.
1977; the year cinemagoers eschewed the brilliant, revolutionary adult filmmaking of the 1970's in favour of laser swords, princesses and little furry bears.
I saw this in the theater, but we went having no idea what it was. We, of course, thought it would be about an actual sorcerer! As I recall, the movie is rather dark (cinematography and plot!) and it was hard to figure out what was going on. "Star Wars" killed this film. But I'll have to rewatch it again soon at some point.
You know what you do? Watch this incredible movie....and then watch "Star Wars" AS SOON as it's done! It's the most amazing double feature! It's what I did when I first saw it, and it works so amazing. Sorcerer is gut-wrenching suspense and action, dark 1970s action......and then "Star Wars" comes along and it's this fast, breezy, movie that's also an action/adventure....but totally different. You can literally see it as a goodbye to the 70s "realism" American cinema....and what would become the 1980s-present: the blockbuster years, lol. Anyways, try it, you'll like it! An amazing double feature!
Would love to see this go to 4K and projected in a theater with Dolby Surround sound.
Yes! Remastered.
I saw it in blu-ray in a proper theatre and it was amazing
@@Vlad65WFPReviews I am Jealous!
@@ajmmoviestv1669 Yes - then I bought the blu-ray. These days, with streaming services censoring things, original cut dvds are more important than ever.
Is it available to buy on 4K? I have the blu ray but it's not 4K.
@@ajmmoviestv1669
Powerful movie indeed.
When William Friedkin was running his own studio label in the 1970s and had the power to greenlight movies as a producer, he rejected George Lucas' pitch for Star Wars. In 1977, Sorcerer came out just weeks after Star Wars, in the midst of the Star Wars phenomenon, and was crushed by it. This is what karma looks like.
If that wasn't bad enough Universal released Smokey and the Bandit a month later and spent more time supporting it than Friendkin's.
@@WhyDoTroonsHaveTheSameVoicesSmokey and the bandit is really pleb-tier shit.
What killed this wonderful movie was it came out same time as "star wars ". But I saw it. Recommend it to anyone.
Loved this film. Your edits rock 🍻
An intense and very under-appreciated movie.
3:56 about the title of *Sorcerer.* I agree to an extent with Gene, but if you watch the film and pay attention, the title does make sense. At first, it is simply the name of the red truck with the "yellow teeth". Roy Schieder's truck has "Lazaro" on the hood (like Lazarus), and the red truck has "Sorcerer" titled right below the driver seat on the side of the truck.. you can see the name when the red truck is maneuvering around the 90 degree left turn on the rickety wooden bridge early in their journey.
But... there is more than that. At the 41 minute mark, there is a quick shot on the very front of the Sorcerer truck showing a cameo of Pazuzu (or at least a demon scribbled in chalk). I thought at first it was just a nice little nod from Friedkin, until I saw the *Wages of Fear* edit and Roy Schieder uses chalk to write "218" above his speedometer after setting it to "0" so he knows how many miles to the Oil Field. The Frenchman (Serrano) comes up to Roy and says "Good luck, Dominguez (Roy's alias)". Roy says "Go to hell, Serrano" and tosses him the chalk.
It recently occured to me that Dominguez (Roy) unwittingly casted a spell on Serrano and the Middle Eastern guy, essentially cursing them.. they were doomed from the beginning. Most black magic promises wealth and power at the expense of your soul... the assassin dies because he broke his oath, as in the *Wages of Fear* edit he tells Dominguez he flipped a coin as to who he would kill.. he got Dominguez, but decided to kill the other guy because "he is partial to Americans". Everyone dies, Dominguez gets all the money but his soul is cursed to have the shadow of what happened follow him for the rest of his life.
The title of the movie doesn't refer to the truck... it refers to Roy Schieder's character.
The reason this tanked at the box office was everyone was expecting a horror movie! The title, Friedkin's direction plus Tangerine Dream's sinister music in TV spots was trying to lure fans of The Exorcist and the Omen. (The Tangerine Dream music would not be out-of-place in an early 80s zombie movie by Lucio Fulci...)
I went to see this movie because of Friedkin and Scheider’s involvement, and thought it was great back in 1977, but my own opinion of the failure I think is because everyone was Star Wars crazy at the time, and this movie died a quick death in the theaters
It was kinda boring. But it was decent
@@richspinaci8293Star Wars crazy or no, plenty of other films succeeded.
Well, there was their soundtrack to the horror film The Keep.
Great movie Roy Shieder was great suspenseful. Wish I could see it again.
It's out on Blu-Ray. I own a copy and love the movie. I actually saw it when it came out originally, I even bought the soundtrack I enjoyed that as well. I'm happy to see it's finally getting it's due credit.
Favorite movie of all time
Before there was Anheuser Busch's management of their core brand Bud Light, there was Paramount and Universal's release of this movie.
I wouldn't drive across that bridge even on nice sunny day. It's a death trap!
I like Siskel but he's way off - Sorcerer is one of the coolest films ever made and I dare say it's better than the original "Wages of Fear" which I also love. I'm huge Friedkin fan and this is his masterpiece. But there are two slight quibbles about this film; 1) I agree about the title. The movie is way more promising than it's title (only a schlocky, bad, B-sword and sorcery movie would deserve a title like "Sorcerer") - it should have been titled "Wages of Fear" or even "Lazarus" (which was another title Friedkin considered - that title is still a little misleading but better one than "Sorcerer") & 2) originally, Friedkin wanted Steve McQueen for Scheider's role. McQueen would have accepted if Friedkin allowed his wife, Ali MacGraw, to have a part in the film or if she served and credited as an executive producer of the film (so that they could be together on location - because McQueen didn't like the idea of being away from her for months in the jungle) but Friedkin rejected McQueen's requests and McQueen pulled out. Friedkin later regretted his decision - and even though I thought Scheider was good in the role - I think Steve McQueen would have better a better fit and the film would have been WAY COOLER and better. Overall, those are irrelevant complaints and the film still stands out as a masterpiece!
I agree with everything you say. I love Friedkin's films and Sorcerer is my favorite too. I remember reading Easy Riders, Raging Bulls which talks about the making of Sorcerer. Steve McQueen in Sorcerer (and Apocalypse Now) would have been epic and the perfect film for his personality.
It was sort of Friedkin's Apocalypse Now, an exhausting, soul bearing shoot.
@@JasonBagherian i agree as well🎵
I agree, amazing movie, and the title absolutely sucks for all the reasons talked about ( by you, and Gene Siskel). I do love Roy Scheider in this role for two reasons: this is a perfect role for him. He has a face for this kind of suspense action, as evidenced by Jaws. Secondly: There are so few movies to see Scheider do his stuff, that this one is a precious discovery for fans of Chief Brody (and Joe Gideon!). For me, this, "All That Jazz" and "Jaws" are his top three performances/movies. I also am not a huge Steve McQueen fan, and don't think he would have gotten as much as the character's inner stress as vividly as Scheider did. That's Scheider's stock in trade, as I was saying.
@@TTM9691 I also like Roy Scheider in The French Connection that earned him his first Oscar nomination for his role in that film.
I’d say about zero people back in the day thought this was an exorcist sequel. Roger and Gene were two of the best critics of all time but you can always count on them to say something that doesn’t make any sense in every clip.
Interesting. Did you see it back then? I keep hearing that the title did hurt its chances very badly. Though New Hollywood Wave was on its way out for sure.
Siskel was a hard to please idiot that did not understand a great film if it fell on him.
This kind of seems like a remaking or take off on the French thriller "The Wages Of Fear" from 1952, interesting.
it was and wages of fear was superior
Finest truck movie ever made
I love Siskel, but damn if he wasn’t wrong more than he was right
Outstanding film but a bad title. The was overlooked and is very much underrated. One of the ten Best films of 1977. It's eye opening and breathtaking to watch. I agree with Gene the ads for this movie made it look like a horror movie. Not adventure story with trucks though the jungle. Masterpiece of filmmaking.
Completely agree.
Actually it has a great title. People are just dumb.
One of the greatest films in history!
@@MrCarpen7er 👍👍👍
I totally agree, William Friedkin is probably one of my favourite American directors of all time, but there are a few of his movies that didnt get the best titles. As a huge fan of Sorcerer, ive come to love the title but it definitely doesnt connect with the movie, as Friedkin said himself the title 'sorcerer' came to him while listening to a Miles Davis' record, aptly named Sorcerer. So really, it holds no true meaning to the film.
I saw it in the theatre when it came out.
Very scary.
Simply one of the best films of all time William friedkin outdid himself a true Masterpiece for all generations❤💯👹 also somebody posted a German recut of sorcerer on TH-cam if you're a fan go check it out it's worth your time the working title is wages of fear has some new scenes not in the original Sorcerer . Enjoy !!!🤟👹👍
i was around then and dont remember it. i also assumed it was a different type of movie. it was great camera work. for the first minute I thought they were 100's of feet in the air. they got me.
“Wages of Fear” overshadows it…and remains the better film in my opinion
Another instance of where I completely agree with Ebert and have no idea what the hell Siskel is bitching about. The film didn't have a happy ending and I think it was hurt by that. But the characters all seemed desperate and real. That river scene is so compelling since they had such a hard time getting the scene done period. This is the kind of film they should be showing in film school not this girl boss bullshit superhero films they keep pumping out. The idea that your death could be any moment one wrong move and Ka-boom. I think the marketing and title did hurt the film because Sorcerer makes it sound like a fantasy film which it wasn't Wages of Fear sounds much better. Just the idea of 1 truck making it across that bridge and knowing that the other team and truck have to do the same thing just nuts. I always thought of the most dangerous road on the planet in Argentina while watching this movie. Thanks Jason for posting the video.
Spoofed in the Mr. Plow episode of The Simpsons. Homer yells "D'OH!" when he sees a solid bridge he could have used.
This is mental. This video went up around the same time I started watching Sorcerer tonight (having recorded it 3 months ago but wanting to see it for the last few years with Mark Kermode always talking about it in his radio show). And I always look up Siskel & Ebert reviews of old movies I watch. Cosmic.
Like Roger says, ''it's one of the great lost films of the 70's''. Sorcerer is a great film, enjoy.
Coincidences happen all the time.
Al Gore Rhythm
I saw this film years ago, absolutely blown away by it. Never been able to find it again because I kept searching for "wages of fear" lol
In some ways I think Sorcerer was to Billy Friedkin what Heaven's Gate was to Michael Cimino. Their careers never fully recovered from the failures of these two films.
Sad but true… 2 masterpiece!
A weird title and going up against Star Wars didn’t help. And maybe fans of serious cinema thought remaking a classic was a bad idea. But the film is great and deserved more attention at the time. Here in Britain it was renamed The Wages of Fear and, like the rest of Europe, re-edited and reduced in length by the distributors. All the vignettes at the start were turned into flashbacks and peppered throughout the film and other bits were dropped. Thankfully, the version we have now is the director’s cut and titled Sorcerer.
I saw it when it came out. Sometimes you need movie stars instead of great actors.
Incredible film
Siskel could be dense, and here's one instance.
The reason I didn't watch this movie for a _very long time_ was the title.
Nice editing, Mr. Bagherian
I saw this movie when it came out, and the very title of this movie doomed it to failure: "Sorcerer". The ad campaign for this movie was so vague that most people thought it was a supernatural picture-----myself included! Did it ever occur to the people that made this movie that they had a misleading title attached to it?
It very well could've been an intentionally misleading advertising campaign because, like the boys said here, the studio had no faith in the film. That used to be a lot more common years ago, cutting one trailer that makes a movie look like a comedy and another that makes it look serious, and so forth.
Disagree about character problems. The movie follows the thread of each of these desperate guys, how they ended up in a jungle hellhole and their motivation to volunteer for the suicide mission. It ain't warm & fuzzy, it's very dark but so beautifully done.
The title is perfect, but horrible for marketing.
Poor marketing, plain and simple. Great poster and title but in 1977 they didn't convey to you what kind of movie this even was. Horror? Disaster? Magical adventure? Also, unexpected bad timing. Star Wars exploded and changed both the industry and pop culture overnight. Smokey and the Bandit aside (and a distant 2nd, at that), nothing that summer could put a dent in the popularity of Lucas's juggernaut. Had Sorcerer arrived earlier, say, April, it certainly would've done better, though most likely not Exorcist or even French Connection dollars. Speaking of Exorcist, more bad timing for Sorcerer in that Exorcist II hit theaters around the same time, siphoning some of Friedkin's potential audience. Given how soured Exorcist fans were on Boorman's disastrous sequel, they probably were so put off by the enigmatic marketing for Sorcerer (despite Friedkin's name being the key selling-point) that they just didn't even bother.
Almost twice the budget of Star Wars that came out the same year? Wow.
It's a really depressing film. Action pictures are supposed to be exciting. They don't have to have a happy ending (take Runaway Train, for example), but they are not supposed to so depressing.
It’s a cautionary tale.
These weren’t really good men and no amount of money will ever save them.
Sorcerer and Heavens Gate....have any two films ever been so f...d over.
How the heck do you choreograph that scene?
Gene Siskel was spot on
And I enjoyed it more then Gene
I like Gene Siskel, but MAN did he have a tendency to dislike some of the best movies of all time based on some silly, silly criteria. The guys in Sorcerer are burned out and nerve-shot and desperate, that's kind of the point of why they take that job, and he wants "warmer" characters? Siskel would be like, "True, Good The Bad and the Ugly looks great, but couldn't it have a bit more in common with Terms of Endearment?"
Roger Ebert was much better about "getting it" than Gene was. I still find Gene endearing, anyhow, but he was just total way-yonder-wrong about half the time.