The Domino Principle

ITC Entertainment

Industry	Film production
Headquarters	United States
Products	Films

The Domino Principle is a 1977 neo-noir thriller film featuring performances by Gene Hackman, Candice Bergen, Mickey Rooney, and Richard Widmark. The screenplay was adapted from a novel authored by Adam Kennedy, who also wrote the original book. Direction and production were handled by Stanley Kramer. The film was produced under the banner of ITC Entertainment and distributed by AVCO Embassy Pictures. With a production budget of $6 million, it earned merely $1.7 million from rentals across the United States and Canada.

In his memoirs, Kramer observed that the principal actors—Hackman, Bergen, and Widmark—likely wished to maintain a level of anonymity akin to the shadowy conspirators depicted in the narrative, aligning with the film’s overarching themes of secrecy.

Plot

Roy Tucker (portrayed by Gene Hackman), incarcerated for murder, is approached by Marvin Tagge and Ross Pine, agents representing a clandestine organization. They offer him a chance to escape prison and start anew if he agrees to undertake a temporary mission. Initially reluctant, Tucker agrees when informed he can reunite with his wife Ellie.

With assistance from corrupt prison officials, Tucker escapes alongside his cellmate Oscar Spiventa, who is immediately eliminated by the organization upon their rendezvous beneath the Golden Gate Bridge. In San Francisco, Tucker encounters General Tom Reser and experiences a brief period of freedom before being transported to Costa Rica with Ellie, who believes Tucker’s release is due to an upcoming retrial. Provided with financial support and accommodation, their peace is short-lived as they are summoned back to Los Angeles for Tucker’s assigned task: assassinating a political figure.

Under Reser’s guidance, Tucker undergoes training but attempts to withdraw upon realizing the true extent of his mission. However, when Ellie is abducted, he complies. After carrying out the assassination, Tucker deliberately sabotages their escape; the pilot perishes and the helicopter crashes. Holding Pine captive, Tucker demands safe passage and Ellie’s release. Tagge discloses that multiple shooters were involved—including Spiventa, who is still alive—and reveals that Tucker has been manipulated for over ten years.

During a flight with Ellie, Tagge is killed by an explosive device planted on board. Returning once again to Costa Rica, Tucker finds his new life unraveling: his passport is destroyed, funds depleted, and Ellie dies in an accident. When Spiventa and Pine arrive at his location, Tucker kills them both and disposes of their bodies. The story concludes with Tucker determined to continue resisting, unaware that another assassin awaits him.

Cast

• Gene Hackman as Roy Tucker
• Candice Bergen as Ellie Tucker
• Richard Widmark as Marvin Tagge
• Mickey Rooney as Oscar Spiventa
• Edward Albert as Ross Pine
• Eli Wallach as General Tom Reser
• Ken Swofford as Warden William Ditcher
• Neva Patterson as Helen Gaddis
• Jay Novello as Captain Ruiz
• Joseph V. Perry as Bowkemp
• Ted Gehring as Arnold Schnaible
• Majel Barrett as Mrs. Schnaible

Development

The Domino Principle originated from the sixth novel written by former actor Adam Kennedy. The paperback rights were acquired by New American Library for $250,000 prior to publication, sparking considerable interest in adapting the story for film. Released in 1975, the novel received acclaim from publications such as the Los Angeles Times and New York Times for its suspenseful narrative and innovative approach.

In November 1975, Stanley Kramer purchased the film rights reportedly for $250,000, recognizing the story’s pertinence to contemporary issues. By March 1976, Kramer had secured an agreement with Lew Grade to produce two films: The Domino Principle, featuring Gene Hackman and Candice Bergen, alongside a comedy titled The Sheikhs of Araby, which ultimately was not produced.

Kramer highlighted that the film’s intent was less about revealing the assassin or target and more focused on portraying unseen forces exerting control over fate.

Filming

The main shooting phase took place during April and May of 1976. During on-location filming at San Quentin Prison, an incident occurred where an inmate stabbed a guard.

Gene Hackman later reflected on the production, acknowledging difficulties and tension with director Kramer that impacted the filming experience. Candice Bergen praised Hackman for significantly enhancing her acting, although she subsequently expressed a negative view of the film and mentioned criticism she received for portraying a more conventional character.

Critical response

Upon release, the movie was met predominantly with unfavorable critiques and remained in theaters for only two to three weeks, marking a disappointing outcome for Kramer's initial venture into thriller direction.

Vincent Canby of The New York Times pointed out the story's ambiguity, emphasizing that a pivotal statement from Hackman's character left important questions unresolved. Variety labeled The Domino Principle as a lackluster and monotonous thriller plagued by inconsistencies in both physical action and plot logistics. James Monaco characterized the film as largely an exploration of paranoia.

Box Office

Financier Lew Grade stated that the film managed to "break even." Hackman himself admitted that many audience members, including him, found the movie difficult to comprehend.

Release

The film was made available on VHS through Avid Home Entertainment on January 1, 1998, and later issued on DVD by Lionsgate Home Entertainment on January 24, 2006.

Legacy

Kramer and Kennedy intended to team up again for a film adaptation of Raise the Titanic! under Lew Grade’s production, which was set to replace Araby as Kramer's second project in their agreement; however, Kramer eventually departed from this endeavor.