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| The Revolutionary | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Paul Williams |
| Written by | Hans Koning (novel & screenplay) |
| Produced by | Edward R. Pressman |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Brian Probyn |
| Edited by | Henry Richardson |
| Music by | Michael Small |
| Distributed by | United Artists |
| Release date |
|
| Running time | 100 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
The Revolutionary is a 1970 American political drama film directed by Paul Williams. The screenplay was written by Hans Koning (credited as Hans Koningsberger), based on his novel of the same name. It was the film debut for actor Jeffrey Jones.
Plot
In a placeless locale much like the United States in an unspecified time much like the late 1960s, a university student called "A" becomes increasingly radicalized as he believes the campus leftist organization of which he is a member is not militant enough. The dean of the university suspends him for his political activities and his girlfriend Anne dumps him. He joins a Marxist group headed by Despard, a working class factory worker who is fomenting a general strike. The general strike fails and A goes underground as government agents crackdown on radicals.
Losing his university status, he is drafted by the army and willingly allows himself to be inducted. He deserts when his unit is mobilized to suppress a workers' strike, finding sanctuary with Helen, a young bourgeois woman, hiding in a greenhouse. "A" is left adrift when Despard, under Party orders, refuses to mobilize his group to take action. Meeting the radical Leonard II at a bar in the company of Despard, "A" allows himself to be drawn into Leonard II's schemes, which include liberating a pawn shop and then assassinating the judge who will oversee the trial of the factory workers. His part in the conspiracy to kill the judge is to detonate a second bomb in case Leonard II's bomb does not explode. After the judge has sentenced several convicted strikers, Leonard's bomb malfunctions, and "A" is left holding the bomb and facing the judge.
Cast
- Jon Voight as A
- Seymour Cassel as Leonard II
- Robert Duvall as Despard
- Jennifer Salt as Helen
- Collin Wilcox as Ann
- Alan Tilvern as Sid
- Lionel Murton as Professor
See also
References
- "The Revolutionary (1970)". BFI. Archived from the original on May 5, 2019.
- "The Revolutionary (1969) - | Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related". AllMovie.
- ^ "The Revolutionary (1970)". AFI CATALOG OF FEATURE FILMS THE FIRST 100 YEARS 1893–1993. American FIlm Institute.
External links
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- 1970 films
- 1970s political drama films
- 1970 independent films
- American independent films
- American political drama films
- Films about communism
- Films based on American novels
- Films directed by Paul Williams
- Films set in universities and colleges
- United Artists films
- Vietnam War films
- Films scored by Michael Small
- 1970 drama films
- 1970s English-language films
- 1970s American films
- English-language independent films
- 1970s drama film stubs
- 1970s American film stubs