The Killer Elite

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The Killer Elite
promotional poster for The Killer Elite
Starring	James Caan Robert Duvall Burt Young Bo Hopkins Arthur Hill Gig Young Mako
Music by	Jerry Fielding
Editing by	Monte Hellman

The Killer Elite is an action thriller starring James Caan and Robert Duvall. It tells the story about two secret agents who are part of the so-called Killer Elite, a private mercenary organization called Com-Teg: Communications Integrity Associates (i.e., CIA). Duvall assassinates a man they are supposed to be protecting, and shoots Caan in the leg in the bargain. After nearly healing from his injuries, Caan is sent on his next assignment, which requires him to protect an Asian client (played by Mako), and gives him the opportunity to revenge himself on Duvall, who is part of the team out to assassinate the client. He retrains himself with the help of a cane and recruits a couple of former associates (Bo Hopkins and Burt Young) to help him. However, the entire deal turns out to be an elaborate set-up of both Caan and Duvall's characters, part of an internal power struggle among the directors of Com-Teg (Gig Young and Arthur Hill).

The film is regarded as one of Sam Peckinpah's weaker efforts. The screenplay's lack of character development and predictable story are the most common complaints. Nonetheless, some critics have noted that the film's action sequences are shot and edited with some of the flair typical of Peckinpah's earlier action films, though his characteristic use of slow motion tends to mesh poorly with the kung-fu sequences (more usually edited in a highly dynamic, quick-moving style in 1970s kung fu films). The film climaxes in a shootout on the deck of a ship between ninjas, Yakuza and mercenaries led by James Caan.

Caan and the other actors often ad libbed the dialogue, which is often quite amusing, but the ad libs also make clear the actors' and director's contempt for the material (for instance, Caan's from-the-sides jibes during the supposedly climactic kung-fu duel on the boat).

The editing was done by Monte Hellman. The film represents the last collaboration between Peckinpah and soundtrack composer Jerry Fielding.

Films directed by Sam Peckinpah
The Deadly Companions • Ride the High Country • Major Dundee • The Wild Bunch • The Ballad of Cable Hogue • Straw Dogs • Junior Bonner • The Getaway • Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid • Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia • The Killer Elite • Cross of Iron • Convoy • The Osterman Weekend