Ransom (1975)

Hostage melodrama filmed in Norway. A gang of hijackers seizes a British plane as it lands in the fictional country of 'Scandinavia'. A ruthless military police chief, played by Sean Connery, is assigned to rescue the plane and its passengers. An ageing, unwell British Ambassador, whose residence has been seized by a second group of terrorists, is taken hostage. There is a power to the film - the terrorists in question are convincing in terrifying aims, angst and desperation. The atmosphere helps with the snowy, icy landscape. Jerry Goldsmith's score adds to moments of good suspense. However, with some obvious dubbing, far-fetched storyline and an array of upper-class English accents seemingly unlikely to carry out such dastardly deeds, the film becomes more underwhelming as it progresses.

Sean Connery plays Scandanavian military police chief Nils Tahlvik, assigned to deal with a high jacked British plane that has landed at their airport. The terrorists make various demands that Tahlvik must meet if he wants to save the plane filled with passengers...Undistinguished yarn has little going for it other than Sean Connery's commanding performance, and a surprise twist at the end that perhaps doesn't bear close scrutiny.... Regardless, though not at all bad, it contains little to make it memorable.With all respect to Mr. Connery, were films like this and "Zardoz" worth giving up playing James Bond?

Sean Connery plays a tough, uncompromising security chief who just happens to be a Swede with a distinctive Scottish burr in this forgotten thriller from the mid-70s. It's probably forgotten because it's all a bit hum-drum and consistently fails to thrill at any level. These were sort of Connery's wilderness years when he made a number of stinkers post-Bond (this, Zardoz, The Next Man) before finally hitting his stride. Having said that, he's still the best thing in this. Ian McShane can't compare and, sporting a three piece-suit and footballer's hair-do, makes a completely unconvincing terrorist.The story is unnecessarily convoluted and – at less than 90 minutes – overlong, with a number of superfluous scenes. Characterisation is non-existent, the terrorist's ideology and objectives sketchily described, and the climax is badly bungled as black-and-white suddenly becomes a murky grey which grows even muddier when two (presumably) good guys come to blows.The picture's one saving grace is Sven Nykvist's terrific photography. He captures some incredible images during the plane chase sequence which are simply staggering when viewed in high definition.

Strong performances by leads Sean Connery and Ian Mc Shane, backed good action segments, pacing and fine winter locations. Poor editing in some spots causes the film to seem a bit stiff as does some inferior dubbing. Nice twists. Connery's always a pleasure to watch, and Mc Shane's bad guy provides an interesting touch as the head terrorist.