Rescate en el mar del Norte

This little seen film is the original version, and earliest example, of what is now commonly see as the modern actioner. Long before Bruce Willis saved Nakatomi Plaza, Roger Moore was involved in this rescue of a 2billion pounds worth British Oil rig in the North Sea. The story is thus, Anthony Perkins and his crew of villains hi-jack a supply ship heading for Ruth and Jennifer, two British oil rigs. When docking with them, they are rigged with explosives, and are to be detonated if a hefty ransom is not met. Cue eccentric English naval expert Moore, and his daring plan to save the day. Not as explosive as its predecessors, but as interesting.

Actor Roger Moore is best known for his work as Agent 007 in the James Bond movies but during his stint as James Bond he made a number of other movies of variable quality. One of the best was this 1979 adventure (it was released in 1980 in the US under the title "Ffolkes") in which Moore stars as an eccentric British adventurer with a disdain for women and a fondness for cats. Moore leads a small underwater commando group that does the occasional favor for Lloyds of London. The British government has a problem. Two oil rigs in the North Sea and a Norwegian Cargo Freighter are being held to ransom. A terrorist group has overrun the freighter and has both it and the two rigs fitted with booby trapped bombs. The economic, environmental and human cost if the British refuse the ransom could be astronomical. Unwilling to negotiate with hostages the government decides to contact Lloyds with a view to using their private specialized methods for dealing with problems. This is where Moore's character Ffolkes comes in. With a truly exceptional cast including James Mason, Anthony Perkins and David Hedison "North Sea Hijack" (aka "Ffolkes") is an enjoyable romp that is high on action and good humor. I highly recommend this movie.

Throughout his career critics have placed Roger Moore in a catagory with such alleged actors as George Hamilton and Pamela Anderson. Individuals whose celebrity status has been maintain by good looks rather than talent.

It is not hard to understand why. From the start Moore has been typecast in the same basic charactor mold; the ruggedly handsome high competant womanizer. James Bond, Maverick, The Saint, they are all virtually the same. Only on rare occations has Moore been able to overcome the stereotype and prove his versitility as an actor. The 1979 action yarn Ffolkes is one such occation.

In the title role Moore is anything but his typical ladies man. The product of a messy divorce, Rufus Excaliber Ffolkes resents women. He considers them inferior at best and a blight on society at worst. He now prefers the company of cats.

Ffolkes is also a gruff reclusive genius with little tolerance for lesser intellects. This is neatly demonstrated when a secondary charactor addressing Ffolkes's intellectual prowess flippantly states,

"You must be one of those people who finish the (London) times crossword puzzle in ten minutes."

"I assure you." Ffolkes angerily responses. "I have never taken ten minutes!"

But Fflokes is no braggart. His genius is quickly proven when a vital British oil drilling platform is taken over by a group of blackmailing terrorists led by Tony (Psycho) Perkins. Ffolkes, an expert in counter terrorism anticipated such an attack months in advance and has a well trained group of handpicked specialists standing by to lead an assult.

Despite the misgivings of the Royal navy command who consider him a loose cannon the prime minister commissions Ffolkes to liberate the platform. What follows is some of the best high action drama in movie history.

When terrorists commanded by Kramer (Anthony Perkins) and Harold (Michael Parks) take over two oil rigs and threaten to explode them if their demands are not met, an unique commando unit led by Ffolkes (Roger Moore sporting a beard and whose character has been criticized for being sexist as well as James Bond) is sent in to stop them . The next 12 hours could cost you 1,000 million pounds and 600 lives you need a man who lives second by second . Ffolks is a misogynistic man who dislike of women due to a failed marriage and having several sisters as opposed to being a ladies man; being moody, cranky and cantankerous .

Thrilling film about a North Sea hijack full of suspense , tension , excitement and some humor in charge of Roger Moore . This picture and its source Jack Davies 'Esther, Ruth and Jennifer' novel were both first released in the same 1979 year ; the meaning and relevance of this movie's source novel is that the three names refer to the three sea-based entities that are threatened to be blown-up in the story in both the book and the film. Roger Moore's likable performance playing a misogynistic character including pet obsession with his pussy cats and having an effeminate needlework hobby. The definition and relevance of this movie's ffolkes title is that it refers to the surname of the central character played by Roger Moore , the full name is actually Rufus Excalibur Ffolkes, and has been interpreted as being sexist. Though the character is supposed to be very much a polar opposite to his James Bond character, paradoxically, the character was arguably just as sexist, just in a different way. Very good support cast as James Mason as Admiral Sir Francis Brindsen as Michael Parks as Harold Shulman , David Hedison as King , Jack Watson as Capt. Olafsen ,George Baker as Fletcher ,Jeremy Clyde as Tipping . Rousing and moving musical score by Michael J. Lewis . Colorful cinematography by Tony Imi , filmed on location , the Norwegian dockyard port scenes were actually filmed not in Norway but in Ireland in the harbor town of Galway , the Galway Docks were made-up to look Norwegiana and the Scotish castle seen in the movie was portrayed by Dunguaire Castle which is near the village of Kinvara, County Galway, Ireland .

This movie marked the second teaming of director Andrew V. McLaglen with star Roger Moore who had worked together on ¨The Wild Geese¨ , they would work together again on ¨The Sea Wolves¨, their third and final movie together. Of these three films, Ffolkes is the only one which was not a war movie. The motion picture being well realized by Andrew V McLagen, son of great actor Victor McLagen . He's a a known Ford's disciple . Andrew holds the distinction of directing the most episodes of "Gunsmoke" . Furthermore , he holds the honor of filmmaking the most episodes of ¨Have gun , Will travel" (1957). And is one of the few directors to have directed both Clint Eastwood and John Wayne . He's a Western expert (McLintock, Shenandoah, Bandolero, Chisum, Cahill, Way west) and warlike specialist , such as proved in several films ( Return to Kwai, Wild Geese , Dirtdozen: the next mission, Sea wolves, Breakthrough ) . Rating : Nice , acceptable and passable , 6 . The picture will appeal to Roger Moore fans , an old master in the art of conjuring sympathy out of nothing . Worthwhile watching

If you've seen Roger Moore as The Saint, as 007, as any other character, even if you haven't liked him, you'll enjoy him as "ffolkes," the cat-loving misogynist of this movie. Even though I'm very much a feminist I loved this character. I don't think that the casting of Anthony Perkins was too obvious, I think he brought complications to a simply drawn character. The supernumeraries on either side are just complicated enough to be slightly confusing and still enjoy their conflicts.

This is one of my favorite movies. Of course, so is "Eating Raoul."