Scorpio [1973]

1. Exploding, collapsing wooden scaffolding.
2. Burt impersonates a Black priest.
3. Fake suicide capsule.

I have never, ever liked a film directed by Michael Winner. And while I can’t say it’s a “good” movie, I came closer to liking Scorpio than any other Winner film.

It’s basically a John le Carré simulacrum with a flabby, derivative screenplay, burdened with some truly terrible dialog, that doesn’t stand up to scrutiny. The ending in particular has none of the gravitas it thinks it has, simply because it feels contrived rather than fated. However you do get some excellent location work, beautifully lensed by Robert Paynter, and a helluva chase sequence. Burt and Alain are fun to watch, especially in their few scenes together.

So yeah, it’s a tolerable way to kill a few hours.