Fear Is The Key (1972)

Following the death of his wife and son in an airplane crash, an underwater salvage expert (Barry Newman) hatches an elaborate scheme to bring those responsible to justice. Based on the novel by Alistair MacLean and directed by Michael Tuchner (VILLAIN). In the 1960s and early 1970s, Alistair MacLean's novels were popular fodder for the movies. THE GUNS OF NAVARONE (1961), THE SATAN BUG (1965), ICE STATION ZEBRA (1968), WHERE EAGLES DARE (1968) among them. This potboiler isn't among the best adaptations made from his books. But it was a big hit in England and has a small cult following. What people remember most is the car chase through the Louisiana bayous and I have to admit it's very well done and I suspect it might have influenced a similar Louisiana car chase in the Bond movie LIVE AND LET DIE (1973). Newman has a nice masculine presence and should have had a bigger film career but his movies were never very good. He did better in television receiving Emmy and Golden Globe nominations for the series PETROCELLI. The action sequences are entertaining enough to sustain one's interest but not its characters. With Suzy Kendall, John Vernon, Ray McAnally, Dolph Sweet and in his film debut, Ben Kingsley.