Product Details

• Actors: Michael Caine, Anthony Andrews, Victoria Tennant, Lilli Palmer, Mario Adorf
• Directors: John Frankenheimer
• Writers: Edward Anhalt, George Axelrod, John Hopkins, Robert Ludlum
• Producers: Edie Landau, Ely A. Landau, Mort Abrahams
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, Letterboxed, Widescreen, NTSC
• Language: French (Dolby Digital 1.0), English (Dolby Digital 1.0)
• Subtitles: English, French
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rating: R (Restricted)
• Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)
• DVD Release Date: February 23, 1999
• Run Time: 112 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 2.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 0792840445
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #12,811 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)

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• For more information about "The Holcroft Covenant" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The 1980s weren't too kind to John Frankenheimer, but this film stands out as a top-notch spy thriller. A Nazi pact to steal a fortune from the Third Reich to aid Holocaust survivors results in a bizarre inheritance 40 years later, with architect Michael Caine having to come to terms with his father's past and the terrifying prospects of a Fourth Reich. The whole thing becomes a metaphor for a witches' covenant. It's exciting and well-paced and full of precious little moments (though Caine and Victoria Tennant fall short of being interesting characters). Supporting actors Mario Adorf, Michael Lonsdale, and Bernard Hepton really shine. The film was based on Robert Ludlum's bestseller and coscripted by George Axelrod (The Manchurian Candidate). Terrific audio commentary by the director provides valuable insight--for instance, allowing Lonsdale to carry a long exposition scene through his commanding presence. --Bill Desowitz

Product Description

Michael Caine (The Ipcress File) and legendary director John Frankenheimer (The Manchurian Candidate, Ronin) team up for an explosive action/thriller jam-packed with heart-stopping suspense and international intrigue. Based on the best-selling novel by Robert Ludlum (and scripted by George Axelrod, Edward Anhalt and John Hopkins), the adventure unfolds "with a crispness that suggests acid etching a nightmare on glass" (Los Angeles Times). Noel Holcroft (Caine) is a New York architect who receives an unexpected inheritance from his ex-Nazi father: $40 billion in funds stolen from the Third Reich, now intended to aid Holocaust survivors. But as Holcroft delves into the treasure's mysterious history, he is thrust into a pulse-pounding adventure in which he alone stands in the way of a plan that is moving inexorably toward its terrifying conclusion: the rise of an all-powerful Fourth Reich!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Crappy DVD Transfer, May 1, 2005

By	Gregory Mast (San Jose, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Holcroft Covenant (DVD)

OK, so I wasn't really paying attention when I pre-ordered this movie. I was surprised when I checked the invoice and noticed that the movie cost about 5 USD. However, it is fair to say that even at five dollars this DVD is grossly overpriced.

Why? Because this looks like the worst kind of 4th generation bootleg VHS transfer. The video is crap and the audio is worse. This is, without a doubt, the worst DVD in my library (and it won't be there long). I actually checked the packaging to see if in fact this was a studio release.

If you are an afficianado of Mexican bootleg DVD's then this is for you. Otherwise, ZERO STARS .(...)

17 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars For Caine and Frankenheimer fans ONLY, June 16, 2000

By	Harvey Pekar (Rocky River, Ohio United States) - See all my reviews

The Holcraft Covenant is nothing more than your average 80's thriller that has the benefit of having a top-notch leading man and director attached. The picture looks excellent and there is just enough intrigue added to the film's premise to keep the viewer on board the whole way. Frankenheimer displays his trademark visual flair without going over the top(as many were guilty of at the time). The one thing that really detracts from the film is it's obviously low budget and irritating synth score. It is an overall average adaptation of a fairly decent Ludlum thriller that is worth picking up only for the excellent picture quality and commentary by the director. It is a delight to hear Frankenheimer discuss one of the film's most exciting scenes being filmed and constructed around of the absence of a leading man! For Fans of the star and director only.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What film did these other people watch?, June 29, 2009

By	Elizabeth "Sarah E.'s In Love" (Bowling Green, Ky USA) - See all my reviews

I don"t understand why there are so many negative reviews for this enjoyable "spy" film. I did not find it hard to follow at all. Frankenheimer delivers a thoroughly enjoyable film with a solid cast. I haven't read the book, maybe that is why some didn't like it, but the charges of it being confusing are unfounded. Michael Caine is the only "star", maybe also contributing to the dislike. I'd see it again, just to listen to Anthony Andrews speech on America (not that I agree). Riveting stuff, recommended.