The Formula
Big Oil. Big Money. Big Mystery. Everyone’s out to make a killing.
Overview
While investigating the death of a friend and fellow cop, Los Angeles police officer Barney Caine stumbles across evidence that Nazis created a synthetic alternative to gasoline during World War II. This revelation has the potential to end the established global oil industry, making the formula a very valuable and dangerous piece of information. Eventually, Caine must contend with oil tycoon Adam Steiffel, who clearly has his own agenda regarding the formula.
Fun facts
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Nominations
5 award nominations, including the Oscar for Best Cinematography (1981)
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Box office
Grossed $8.89M worldwide against a $13.2M budget
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Setting
Set in Los Angeles
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Music
Music by Bill Conti
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Cinematography
Cinematography by James Crabe
Details
- Director
- Writer
- Steve ShaganNovel, Screenplay
- Status
- Released
- Release date
- December 19, 1980
- Original language
- English
- Budget
- $13.2M
- Revenue
- $8.9M
- Countries
- Germany, United States of America
Streaming on
In the United States
Availability data byJustWatch, opens in a new tab
All options, opens in a new tabProduction
Cast
George C. ScottBarney Caine
Marlon BrandoAdam Steiffel
Marthe KellerLisa
John GielgudDr. Abraham Esau
G.D. SpradlinArthur Clements
Beatrice StraightKay Neeley
Richard LynchGeneral Helmut Kladen / Frank Tedesco
John van DreelenHans Lehman
Robin ClarkeMajor Tom Neeley
Ike EisenmannTony
Marshall ThompsonGeologist #1
Dieter SchidorAssassin
Werner KreindlSchellenberg
Jan NiklasGestapo Captain
Wolfgang PreissFranz Tauber
Calvin JungSgt. Yosuta
Alan NorthNolan
David ByrdObermann
Ferdy MayneSiebold- Gerard MurphyChauffeur
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