Marathon Man Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A naive marathon runner gets caught in a dental nightmare when his spy brother dies and a Nazi dentist wants his stolen diamonds back.

🍿 Marathon Man: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Introduction to Babe Levy and His World

Thomas ‘Babe’ Levy, a history Ph.D. student and marathon runner at Columbia University, is haunted by his father’s suicide, a consequence of McCarthy-era accusations. His brother, Henry ‘Doc’ Levy, seemingly an oil executive, is actually a secret agent. Babe’s life is disrupted when he meets Elsa Opel, a mysterious foreign student.

The Nazi Connection and Doc’s Secret Life

An event sets off a chain reaction, a car crash involving the brother of Nazi war criminal Christian Szell. Doc’s clandestine operations bring him into contact with Szell. The murder of Doc throws Babe into a world of espionage and danger, a world he barely comprehends. He finds his life and all he has known uprooted.

Abduction and Torture: ‘Is It Safe?’

Babe is abducted and subjected to brutal torture by Szell, famous for the ‘Is it safe?’ dental scene, as Szell believes Doc shared critical information with Babe before his death. Babe, genuinely ignorant, endures agonizing pain. This sequence is a turning point, revealing the depths of Szell’s depravity.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Thomas ‘Babe’ Levy (Dustin Hoffman): A graduate student and marathon runner who becomes unwillingly embroiled in a deadly international conspiracy.
• Dr. Christian Szell (Laurence Olivier): A sadistic Nazi war criminal seeking to retrieve a fortune in stolen diamonds.
• Henry ‘Doc’ Levy (Roy Scheider): Babe’s seemingly oil executive brother, who is secretly a government agent working against Szell.
• Peter Janeway (William Devane): The director of the secret agency, ‘The Division’, who is revealed to be a double agent.
• Elsa Opel (Marthe Keller): Babe’s Swiss girlfriend who is revealed to be connected to Szell.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Christian Szell: “Is it safe?” – Szell repeatedly asks this question while torturing Babe, trying to determine if it’s safe to retrieve his diamonds.
• Christian Szell: “You’re talking to me?” – Said to Babe after his famous line. Szell is growing impatient with Babe’s sarcastic attitude.
• Babe: “No, you can keep them. You can keep as many as you can swallow.” – Said to Szell when Babe forces him to swallow the stolen diamonds.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $6.5M
• Domestic Gross: $21.7M
• Worldwide Gross: $21.7M

💥 Marathon Man Reviews

Personal Review

I remember watching Marathon Man for the first time and being absolutely horrified by the dentist scene. The film’s suspense and paranoia kept me on the edge of my seat. Dustin Hoffman’s portrayal of innocence thrust into extreme danger was very engaging. Laurence Olivier’s menacing presence as Szell was bone-chilling. Overall, it’s a movie that has stuck with me over the years because of its intense atmosphere and unforgettable moments. It definitely made me think twice about my next dental appointment!

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of suspenseful thrillers”
  • “Viewers interested in stories about Nazi war criminals”
  • “Those who appreciate strong performances by Dustin Hoffman and Laurence Olivier”
  • “People who like films set in gritty 1970s New York”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Graphic violence including torture”
  • “Themes of Nazi war crimes and anti-Semitism”
  • “Some disturbing imagery”

Professional Reviews

• Variety: “Marathon Man is a masterfully crafted thriller with compelling performances by Dustin Hoffman and Laurence Olivier. The film effectively builds suspense, offering moments of genuine terror and intrigue, solidifying its status as a classic of the genre.
• The New York Times: “While the plot of Marathon Man may be somewhat convoluted, the film’s intensity and the powerful performances, particularly Olivier’s chilling portrayal of the Nazi dentist, make for a gripping cinematic experience. The torture scene is undeniably memorable.
• RogerEbert.com: “Marathon Man is a disturbing and intense thriller, with a convoluted and sometimes implausible plot. However, the tension is palpable, the performances are strong, and the movie stays with you long after the credits roll due to the horror.

Audience Reactions

Olivier’s performance as the villain is iconic and terrifying.: Viewers consistently praise the performances, especially Laurence Olivier’s portrayal of the chilling Dr. Szell, and the film’s unrelenting suspense.

The dentist scene is one of the most disturbing and memorable scenes in film history.: Many remember and cite the dental torture scene as being one of the most intense and disturbing scenes they have ever witnessed in a movie.

Overall Consensus: Marathon Man is widely regarded as a classic thriller with strong performances and suspenseful scenes, though some find the plot convoluted.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “Laurence Olivier took the role partly to provide for his family, as he anticipated his cancer would be fatal. He received treatment during filming, which affected his memory, but he made a full recovery.”
• “Dustin Hoffman employed method acting, staying awake for 24 hours to appear exhausted in scenes, prompting Olivier to famously suggest, ‘Why don’t you just try acting?'”
• “The ending credits scroll with Babe’s jogging route as a backdrop, visually connecting his personal journey with the film’s narrative.”

🖥️ How to Watch Marathon Man?

Marathon Man is available for rent or purchase on various platforms including Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, and Vudu. Check your local listings for broadcast options and streaming availability. It can often be found included with subscriptions to various streaming services periodically.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Marathon Man, you might like these similar films:

• The Boys from Brazil (1978): Features a similar theme of hunting down Nazi war criminals hiding in South America, with a suspenseful plot.
• All the President’s Men (1976): Another 1970s paranoid thriller starring Dustin Hoffman, focusing on uncovering a government conspiracy.
• The Bourne Identity (2002): A man with amnesia is thrown into a world of espionage and must uncover his past while being pursued by shadowy agents.
• Three Days of the Condor (1975): Another 70’s thriller where an ordinary man finds himself caught up in a deadly conspiracy after his co-workers are all murdered.

🛒 Marathon Man Related Products

• Marathon Man [Blu-ray]: Experience Marathon Man in stunning high definition with this Blu-ray edition, featuring enhanced picture and sound quality. A must-have for fans of classic thrillers.
• Marathon Man (Movie Poster): A high-quality reproduction of the original Marathon Man movie poster. Perfect for decorating your home theater or office with a touch of classic cinema.
• Running Shoes: High-performance running shoes to achieve maximum speed.
• Marathon Man: The Novel: Delve deeper into the thrilling world of Marathon Man with William Goldman’s original novel. Discover additional details and insights into the characters and plot.

🎧 Soundtrack

Marathon Man features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Main Title” – performed by Michael Small
• “Is It Safe?” – performed by Michael Small
• “The Diamond District” – performed by Michael Small
• “Dors, ô cité perverse (from ‘Hérodiade’)” – performed by Jules Massenet

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Daniel Day-Lewis on Laurence Oliver & Dustin Hoffman Marathon Man story

Ever wonder what it was like on set with legends like Olivier and Hoffman? Daniel Day-Lewis shares a hilarious anecdote that gives you a peek behind the curtain – trust me, it’s a great story!

MARATHON MAN – A Movie Myth Crushed

Think you know ‘Marathon Man’? This video might just change your mind! It tackles a big myth surrounding the movie and offers a fresh perspective you won’t want to miss.

MARATHON MAN (1976): UNPACKING THE SCENE IN THE DIAMOND DISTRICT

That diamond district scene in ‘Marathon Man’ always felt a bit off, right? This video breaks it down piece by piece, uncovering hidden meanings and character motivations – seriously, it’s mind-blowing.

Marathon Man Road Rage

The car chase scene in this movie is wild! It’s a bit bizarre, but totally unforgettable. You have to see it to believe it!

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