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A Movie A Week: THE MACKINTOSH MAN (1973)
Only Mackintosh can save them now… and Mackintosh is dead!

First by MrGaunt	Jun 30th, 2009 05:14:25 AM
I hate myself
Surprised by Newman's character? by Jardinier	Jun 30th, 2009 05:26:03 AM
You must not have paid attention, then. As I recall, it's pretty clear from the beginning what Rearden's job is: infiltrate the prison escape group. I'm not sure why you'd think him Australian at the beginning; Mackintosh explicitly asks him in their first meeting whether he's adjusted to his accent yet (something of the sort, anyway, it's been a couple months since I saw the film). That doesn't mean the movie isn't good, it is, but for me, it was never the twists and turns that created the tension, it was a desire for Rearden to succeed in his mission. Beyond that, I stand by what I wrote in a previous AWAW talkback: [Mackintosh Man is] the kind of film Michael Caine would have starred in if the director'd been someone of slightly lesser profile. Tonally, I was very much reminded of Caine's THE BLACK WINDMILL (which was apparently released a year later, says wikipedia).
Quint by mwhyntie	Jun 30th, 2009 06:13:05 AM
Surely 'The Hustler' warrants being one of the best Newman films? Was it not in the box set? It's my favourite film by a mile. This must have come just after Huston finished 'Fat City', a freakin masterpiece character study and film noir. It doesn't hit those heights.
Not to knock Long Hot Summer by seppukudkurosawa	Jun 30th, 2009 06:54:41 AM
which is also pretty awesome, but if I were you I'd put it aside for a week and replace it with Odd Man Out (following James Mason). Not only because this column is in dire need of a non-American movie every now and then, but also because it's almost pound for pound as good as Carol Reed's other movie, The Third Man. Then again, seeing as how this column only covers movies you haven't seen, I guess you must have seen all the movies made outside of America already. (Yes, I know I sound like a douche).
Also the movie posters by kirttrik	Jun 30th, 2009 08:18:12 AM
70's movie posters rule. Photoshop has really somewhat ruined the artform.
do your famous James Mason voice by durhay	Jun 30th, 2009 08:55:36 AM
nm
I really enjoy this movie - by dogrobber	Jun 30th, 2009 09:07:12 AM
I liked it so much that I ended up buying an entire Paul Newman box set of flics just to get it (not that I didn't want 'Harper' or 'The Drowning Pool'). But the one thing that I didn't like was Mr. Newman's attempt at an accent - I thought it was a terrible and it really bothered me/pulled me out of the movie when he put it on. But I hadn't thought/had it pointed out that the accent might be purposely faked by the character as another layer of deception. I'm going to watch it again to see if my opinion of the accent changes. Thanks. Also, all the posters, as well as the taglines, for this film are really brilliant.
In 1975 or so by Tindog42	Jun 30th, 2009 11:47:46 AM
I was wandering around the Warner back lot (long story for another time) when I came across pile of discarded props and other 'stuff'. On top of the collection was a three dimensional model of the gun graphic (with Newman's profile in place of the ammo magazine) which was used for promotions. It was a good 12 feet long or more. It was BIG. Have never viewed the movie but I have a clear memory that face gun.
Macintosh Rules!!!! by Jarro	Jun 30th, 2009 11:54:10 AM
windoze sucks!! All Hail Macintosh, Man!!!
Please no NeilF "posting for attention boy" this weekend by vanderdeken	Jun 30th, 2009 12:11:21 PM

Quint, you cannot be longing for 70s's cinema excelency by AsimovLives	Jun 30th, 2009 12:33:36 PM
when you are today supporting such a piece of dumb movie shit like JJ's Star Trek. If you wan to see the return of the intelligent blockbuster studio movie, you need to set your priorities straight and stop supporting the type of movies which are making the return of such smart movies impossible, year by year. If you consider that too much of a sacrifice, then consider nothing good comes cheap.
Ummm... Star Trek is still one of the best films of this year. by dannyocean	Jun 30th, 2009 01:33:45 PM
Not to be argumentative ;> If that isn't what you would define as an intelligent movie, I would suggest "The Hurt Locker". Quint I haven't seen this John Huston film, but I do like "The Kremlin Letter", as confusing as it is, so I'll give it a try. Thanks for another well-written suggestion.
dannyocean by AsimovLives	Jun 30th, 2009 01:48:11 PM
That tells more of how shitty the oher movies are then of any quality that JJ's Star Trek doesn't have. In the end, it's all shit, with minor degrees of differences between each of them. JJ's Star Trek is a great failure because it fell from a great height.
sounds a bit like The Deadly Affair.. by foree forehead	Jun 30th, 2009 02:33:15 PM
..was on TCM the other day, only with james mason as the goodie. great british cast though and the plot veered in plenty of cool directions. it was summed up a bit neatly but still unfurled in a fairly clever manner, and had all sorts of cool asides. that said, i'd wager mason's better as a baddie, as he displayed so nicely in north by northwest.
John Huston by alynch3	Jun 30th, 2009 03:37:18 PM
He made at least two other masterpieces after The Man Who Would Be King (Prizzi's Honor, The Dead), possibly more depending on your opinion of Under The Volcano and Wise Blood.
Harry Andrews--Woundwort. by Sal_Bando	Jun 30th, 2009 04:54:24 PM
Made a career outta playing tough Blighters if you will. Good good character actor.
Only the Macintosh can save them now, but he was killed by the P by MrMysteryGuest	Jun 30th, 2009 05:24:25 PM

C by MrMysteryGuest	Jun 30th, 2009 05:24:41 PM

Yep, another movie to add to the queue by SoylentMean	Jun 30th, 2009 05:32:38 PM
I really do wish that there was some billionaire philanthropist that took the notion of art under his wing, dedicating his life to the cause. Within that cause would be a big honking chunk of love for film and a desire to fund many, many projects both big and small. I would love to see the finished product of well funded films where profit was never, at any time throughout the filmmaking process, a worry of the producers. Carte blanche, a blank canvas, and unlimited funds. Applied to most things that could result in some truly magnificent achievements. As long as all the children get fed.
Does someone eat an apple in this movie? by SoylentMean	Jun 30th, 2009 05:36:41 PM
I think that's what most folks are gonna expect.
THE MACKINTOSH MAN the title? by Red Dawn Don	Jun 30th, 2009 10:58:09 PM
I loved this movie when I saw it over 20 years ago on TBS/TNN. Does the title refer to the Brits calling an overcoat a mackintosh? Spys use overcoats, at least in all the cliches. Can you imagine a movie today with such a title. Or even better THE OVERCOAT MAN. No way a movie studio now would allow that title to happen.

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A Movie A Week: THE MACKINTOSH MAN (1973)
Only Mackintosh can save them now… and Mackintosh is dead!

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A Movie A Week: THE MACKINTOSH MAN (1973) Only Mackintosh can save them now… and Mackintosh is dead!

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A Movie A Week: THE MACKINTOSH MAN (1973)
Only Mackintosh can save them now… and Mackintosh is dead!