The Uppercrust" bases loosely on the AKH scandal, the scandal about the most famous hospital in Vienna. Made in the early 80ies but the political situation in Austria has not changed since then.
I have to agree with the other users: Frank Gorshin's performance as Hit-man is really great. He shines throughout the rest of the cast. Broderick Crawford has a fine guest appearance in the first few minutes. Nigel Davenport has a fine appearance, too as journalist who tells Gorshins Hit-man this is the typical Austrian way.
Lukas Resetarits is good as Haumer, the but rest of the Austrian cast is really terrible. Franz Buchrieser as Kottan mumbles his lines and looks more like a factory worker than an investigator, the rest is not to mention. The only interesting thing is that this was the last time Buchrieser played Kottan, on TV it was now Lukas Resetarits who played Major Adolf Kottan.
The camera work is not very good, Peter Patzaks direction in his early film and TV works always looked a little bit amateurish and Helmut Zenkers script not always really works. Some of the best scenes of this film are the differences: The first scenes were shot in L.A. and are all bright and sunny. The scenes in Vienna are all dark and gray like the city itself, its always snowing or raining in almost every scene. That is also the mood of this film.
It's really not a masterpiece but Frank Gorshin gives such an impressing performance that you watch it until the end. Without him the whole movie would be forgettable.
I have to agree with the other users: Frank Gorshin's performance as Hit-man is really great. He shines throughout the rest of the cast. Broderick Crawford has a fine guest appearance in the first few minutes. Nigel Davenport has a fine appearance, too as journalist who tells Gorshins Hit-man this is the typical Austrian way.
Lukas Resetarits is good as Haumer, the but rest of the Austrian cast is really terrible. Franz Buchrieser as Kottan mumbles his lines and looks more like a factory worker than an investigator, the rest is not to mention. The only interesting thing is that this was the last time Buchrieser played Kottan, on TV it was now Lukas Resetarits who played Major Adolf Kottan.
The camera work is not very good, Peter Patzaks direction in his early film and TV works always looked a little bit amateurish and Helmut Zenkers script not always really works. Some of the best scenes of this film are the differences: The first scenes were shot in L.A. and are all bright and sunny. The scenes in Vienna are all dark and gray like the city itself, its always snowing or raining in almost every scene. That is also the mood of this film.
It's really not a masterpiece but Frank Gorshin gives such an impressing performance that you watch it until the end. Without him the whole movie would be forgettable.