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The Formula

Play trailer Poster for The Formula R 1980 1h 57m Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
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20% Tomatometer 10 Reviews 23% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
While investigating the death of a friend and fellow cop, Los Angeles police officer Barney Caine stumbles across evidence that Nazis created a synthetic alternative to gasoline during World War II. This revelation has the potential to end the established global oil industry, making the formula a very valuable and dangerous piece of information. Eventually, Caine must contend with oil tycoon Adam Steiffel, who clearly has his own agenda regarding the formula.
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The Formula

Critics Reviews

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Tom Milne Time Out 01/26/2006
Laborious Go to Full Review Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times 10/23/2004
2/4
its completely muddled plot is a disaster: There can be no joy in unraveling a plot that is a mystery even to itself. Go to Full Review Janet Maslin New York Times 08/30/2004
2/5
The murder scene is littered with so many red herrings it might as well be a delicatessen. Go to Full Review David Nusair Reel Film Reviews Apr 6
1/4
...a progressively underwhelming endeavor... Go to Full Review Paul Brenner Filmcritic.com 01/25/2009
2/5
plays like a tedious checklist of murders without a score card. Go to Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews 08/30/2008
C+
Only Marlon Brando in a small role as a daffy oil tycoon gives the film some spark. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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08/15/2022 A bit slow... good plot, if a bit convoluted. See more 02/04/2019 Interesting very well acted talky movie. The plot is pretty good spy, murder mystery, paranoia about big brother and how greed corrupts. The movie suffers from over talking and being a little to subtle instead of getting to the point. So it is over long considering the end and could’ve used a trimming of a good 20 minutes. The acting is top notch. Watching George C. Scott in fine form is always a joy and he definitely carries the movie. Brando plays an interesting character that is quite chilling in its comedic delivery. Just wished the movie moved faster. All in all a nice watch though. See more Bernard K 01/24/2018 Good story, excellent photography, good actors! See more 08/30/2015 with Scott and Brando in the cast this Nazi fiction should be better but would be a gr8 dbl feature with the superior 'the boys from Brazil" See more ashley h @ashleyhobgood87 06/30/2015 The Formula is a decent film. It is about a detective uncovers a formula that was devised by the Nazis in WW II to make gasoline from synthetic products. Marlon Brando and George C. Scott give good performances. The screenplay is a little slow in places. John G. Avildsen did an alright job directing this movie. I liked this motion picture because of the drama and mystery. See more 05/03/2014 Brando was still brilliant even when he lost his passion for the craft. His attention to detail, and 'being' in the moment is inspiring. See more Read all reviews
The Formula

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Cast & Crew

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John G. Avildsen

Director

George C. Scott

Lt. Barney Caine LAPD

Marlon Brando

Adam Steiffel

Marthe Keller

Lisa Spangler

John Van Dreelen

Hans Lehman

Calvin Jung

Sergeant Louis Yosuta LAPD Tactical Squad

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The Formula

The Formula (1980) The Formula (1980) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis While investigating the death of a friend and fellow cop, Los Angeles police officer Barney Caine stumbles across evidence that Nazis created a synthetic alternative to gasoline during World War II. This revelation has the potential to end the established global oil industry, making the formula a very valuable and dangerous piece of information. Eventually, Caine must contend with oil tycoon Adam Steiffel, who clearly has his own agenda regarding the formula.
Director
John G. Avildsen
Producer
Steve Shagan
Distributor
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Production Co
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, CIP
Rating
R
Genre
Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Dec 19, 1980, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Feb 6, 2017
Runtime
1h 57m
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