SNOW JOB (THE SKI RAIDERS) (director: George Englund; screenwriters: Ken Kolb/Jeffrey Bloom/based on a story by Richard Gallagher; cinematographer: Gabor Pogany; editor: Gary Griffen; music: Jacques Loussier; cast: Jean-Claude Killy (Christian Bilon), Daniele Gaubert (Monica Scotti), Cliff Potts (Bob Skinner), Vittorio De Sica (Dolphi), Lello Luttazzi (Simonelli), Giancarlo Prete (Donato); Runtime: 90; MPAA Rating: PG; producer: Edward L. Rissien; Warner Bros.; 1972)
“A clever, offbeat Alpine caper film.”
Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz
American filmmaker George Englund (“The Ugly American”/”Zachariah“) directs a clever, offbeat Alpine caper film. It’s based on a story by Richard Gallagher. The screenplay is by Ken Kolly and Jeffrey Bloom. The great French Olympic champion Skier Jean-Claude Killy plays Christian Biton, a ski shop manager in the ski lodge at Cervinia, Italy. He schemes to rob the lodge’s bank of $250,000. He recruits his wealthy American girlfriend Monica Scotti (Daniele Gaubert) and an American ski instructor Bob Skinner (Cliff Potts) to be his partners. To pull off the heist Monica must flirt with the lodge manager Simonelli (Lello Luttazzi) to learn more about the vault system. Christian must practice skiing down a dangerous glacier, while Bob prepares to ride a snowmobile that will jump a chasm where he will hide the stolen money he gets from Christian in a crevasse. The plan is to return in the spring and get the money. After they successfully pull off the heist, an insurance company investigator (Vittorio De Sica) appears and begins to suspect the trio. It’s a pleasant thriller that had a short theater run because of bad reviews. I enjoyed it for its breathtaking snow vista shots and great skiing footage. I tolerated it despite its mostly bad acting, slight story and limp directing.
REVIEWED ON 1/11/2017 GRADE: B
Dennis Schwartz: “Ozus’ World Movie Reviews”
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