MURPHY'S WAR is a WW2 thriller shot in Venezuela to give it an exotic look. The unusual storyline is the best thing about it and similar to Wilbur Smith's SHOUT AT THE DEVIL in the tale of an Allied soldier obsessed with getting revenge on the submarine captain who massacred his men after their ship was torpedoed. Peter O'Toole headlines the cast and dominates with his portrayal of the cocky, carefree Irishman; as usual his superior acting is one of the best things about the film.
The direction comes courtesy of Peter Yates, the man behind BULLITT, and like that film this is a very visual experience. There aren't many ingredients and there's rather a languid pacing but MURPHY'S LAW holds your attention regardless. The locations are fantastic and the special effects solid for their era. There's not much action but that which does occur is hard-hitting. The cast can also be relied upon to give strong performances; because there are so few characters in this, they have to work harder and they're up to the job.
Philippe Noiret (re-teaming with O'Toole after NIGHT OF THE GENERALS) is the likable French ally while Sian Phillips adds plenty of character as the British nurse. Most surprising of all is Horst Janson, Hammer's star from CAPTAIN KRONOS, playing the villain of the piece. He's understated and eminently hateable, a polar opposite from his starring role in the Hammer film. MURPHY'S LAW builds to a fantastically tense climax which is the best part of the film and indeed the last twenty minutes are cinematic excellence.
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