<![CDATA[Weak Follow-Up to 'Dirty Harry' and 'Charley Varrick']]>Archived from the IMDb Discussion Forums — The Black Windmill

ecarle — 17 years ago(October 14, 2008 09:31 PM)

I remember being psyched for "The Black Windmill" (originally "Drabble") as it was announced for 1974 release.
Don Siegel had just gone two for great two: "Dirty Harry" (a big hit) and "Charley Varrick"(a well-reviewed cult hit) and the prospect of Siegel directing the talented Michael Caine, who had been quite the Siegelian tough guy in "Get Carter," was delicious.
And yetthe movie was quite dull and flat and lacked Siegel's tightness. And modernly, while "Dirty Harry" and even "Charley Varrick" get plenty of cable airplay, "The Black Windmill" is nowhere to be found, as if the studios KNOW something is wrong with it.
My only guess is that Siegel, working overseas in Britain for the most part, somehow lost his comfort level with the material.
On the other hand, I do recall the action finale being pretty good,and Michael Caine gritting both upper and lower teeth together in vengeance for his kidnapped child was pretty tough.

]]>https://filmglance.com/discuss/topic/186584/weak-follow-up-to-dirty-harry-and-charley-varrickRSS for NodeFri, 15 May 2026 08:26:01 GMTTue, 28 Apr 2026 22:23:23 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to Weak Follow-Up to 'Dirty Harry' and 'Charley Varrick' on Tue, 28 Apr 2026 22:23:26 GMT]]>Woodyanders — 6 years ago(March 18, 2020 12:48 AM)

Granted, this film isn't of the same sterling caliber as those two movies, but it's a nicely done thriller just the same.
You've seen Guy Standeven in something because the man was in everything.

]]>https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1565969https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1565969Tue, 28 Apr 2026 22:23:26 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Weak Follow-Up to 'Dirty Harry' and 'Charley Varrick' on Tue, 28 Apr 2026 22:23:25 GMT]]>IMDb User

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]]>https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1565968https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1565968Tue, 28 Apr 2026 22:23:25 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Weak Follow-Up to 'Dirty Harry' and 'Charley Varrick' on Tue, 28 Apr 2026 22:23:24 GMT]]>Sandoz — 11 years ago(February 07, 2015 06:58 AM)

I just watched it for the first time myself last night, and you're right about this one disappearing off the radarif it had screened more often on any TV channels I would have definitely seen it before now.
I think you're correct about calling this film "dull and flat"it just never really springs to life. Part of the problem, I feel is as you mentioned, Don Siegel may have felt like a fish out of water helming a thriller in an unfamiliar location like London, and it took him off his game.
But I feel another big problem rests with the script. There are hazy motivations for certain characters, along with various red herrings that distract the audience's attention for no good reason. For instance, I feel the story gets pulled in two directions between the kidnapping of Caine's son and Caine's attempt to involve and later circumvent the involvement of MI-6. And they bring in the bit about the whole affair being a scheme by a mole within the department almost like an afterthought at the very end; I think that should have been set up long before Caine figures it out.
All in all, I'd rate the film **1/2. It's not a total waste of time, but it's nothing I'll put on my "to watch again" list.
"You may think thatI couldn't possibly comment."

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