"Is it safe?" Who can forget the menacing question Lawrence Olivier so effectively poses while performing novocaine-less dentistry on Dustin Hoffman in John Schlessinger's crackerjack 1976 thriller? Adapted by William Goldman from his best-selling novel about two brothers--Hoffman and Roy Scheider, nicknamed Babe and Doc, respectively--who become involved (one knowingly, the other unknowingly) in a Nazi fugitive's (Lawrence Olivier) bold and risky plan to slip into America and retrieve valuables from a safe-deposit box, Marathon Man is a delightfully twisty-turny suspenser with standout performances from the remarkable cast (which also includes Marthe Keller and William Devane). Presented widescreen with a heart-pounding Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack, this nicely transferred disc features an older "making of" as well as a brand new documentary featuring Hoffman, Scheider, Keller, Goldman and producer Robert Evans. Highly recommended. (R. Pitman)
Marathon Man
Paramount, 125 min., R, DVD: $29.99 Volume 17, Issue 1
Marathon Man
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