The making of this film has become legendary as a symbol of 70s director excess in such tomes as Easy Rider Raging Bulls - it was a definite turning point in the career of William Friedkin, who for his previous two films could do no wrong, but came a cropper with this one.
He did want to make a big commercial picture - a bunch of dudes driving nitro glycerin over the mountains in central America... that's a sexy concept. And he had the basis of a classic French film to take from. Yes the characters aren't particularly likeable but they didn't have to be in the 70s.
In hindsight though it's not hard to see why audiences stayed away. The title is misleading. It feels very European, with a cast of mostly unknown actors; they are excellent, by the way, but it probably would have had more impact for Western audiences with more familiar names or say a Brit as one of the four drives; it may have resonated more for Eastern audiences if one of the drivers had been Asian (would have loved Toshiro Mifune or Ken Tanaka to be in this!) Roy Schneider is very good in his part but Friedkin is right - Steve McQueen would have made all the difference. It's also a bleak journey - and overlong, at two hours. I enjoyed the opening sequences, particularly the one in Israel, but really, they could have gone. (The Paris opening sequence feels especially long with people going off to have chats and coming back etc)
It's also easy to see why the movie has become a cult favourite. There is the story of its making, and its place in 70s cinema (particularly Friedkin's career). Plus its a stunning looking creation; it must have been hell to make but it's got amazing locations and production design. The scene of the trucks going over the bridge in the rain has to be seen to be believed. The bit part actors and extras are incredibly authentic. And the script improves on the French original in several ways such as the addition of bandits at the end.
Bruno Cremer is touching as the dodgy French banker, Francisco Rabal alright as the especially ruthless driver (his moustache was annoying), Amidou very impressive as the Arab terrorist who actually seems to be the most decent of the lot (he's the only one much upset by Karl John's death).
It's a flawed film (I never believed the Mafia would travel all that way for a hit) but made with tremendous passion and intensity, and deserves to be more widely known.
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