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The Rewatchables ·

Marathon Man

year 1976decade 70sdirector John Schlesingergenre Thriller
host Bill Simmonshost Chris Ryanproducer Craig Horlbeck theme New York City Month
All 31 categories

The Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award · 1:03:07

Harrison Ford as Babe in 1976

Bill Simmons: A young Harrison Ford is proposed as a better 1976 Babe because he matches the novel’s size, running, danger, and romance.

Bill Simmons: Tom Cruise is proposed as the ideal Babe in a hypothetical 1984 version because the role centers on running, expertise, romance, and panic.

The film

Marathon Man (1976)

Directed by John Schlesinger · Thriller

125

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Cast

Selected cast credits · Film reference

Dustin Hoffman Thomas Babington "Babe"
Jeff Palladini Babe as a child
Laurence Olivier Dr. Christian Szell (alias 'Christopher Hess')
Roy Scheider Henry "Doc"
Scott Price Doc as a child
William Devane Peter Janeway
Marthe Keller Elsa Opel
Fritz Weaver Professor Biesenthal
Marc Lawrence Erhard
Allen Joseph H. V. Levy
Tito Goya Melendez
Ben Dova Klaus Szell
Lou Gilbert Rosenbaum
Jacques Marin LeClerc
Raymond Serra truck driver
Billy Kearns American tourist

Everything from the episode

In the order the hosts got to it. Open a row for the discussion.

31:38

Roger Ebert's review
In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 00:31:38Read transcript
  • Ebert gave the film three stars while praising its moment-to-moment thriller craft despite plot holes. — Bill Simmons
  • The hosts argue the movie merits four stars and that Ebert withheld about half a star too much. — Bill Simmons
  • Contemporary critics are described as having unusually high expectations for 1976 thrillers. — Bill Simmons
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1:04:23

Casting What-Ifs

Richard Widmark, Charlotte Rampling, and Julie Christie are discussed as alternatives.

Richard Widmark, Charlotte Rampling, and Julie Christie are discussed as alternatives.

In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 01:04:23Read transcript
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1:11:18

Half-Assed Internet Research

The segment covers Doc and Janeway’s relationship, Abebe Bikila, barefoot kickers, and Goldman’s unproduced Brothers ...

The segment covers Doc and Janeway’s relationship, Abebe Bikila, barefoot kickers, and Goldman’s unproduced Brothers screenplay.

In the discussion (4)
Approx. transcript time · 01:11:18Read transcript
  • The novel identifies Doc and Janeway as lovers more explicitly than the film. — Bill Simmons
  • The runner in the flashbacks is identified as Ethiopian Olympic champion Abebe Bikila, who won the 1960 marathon barefoot. — Bill Simmons
  • Barefoot football kickers and their poor historical accuracy are discussed.
  • Goldman reportedly wrote an unproduced, poorly regarded screenplay called Brothers connected to this story. — Bill Simmons
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1:16:53

Picking Nits

The exposition drive, Szell’s Diamond District visit and disguise, farmhouse detour, Jaws marquee, and Hoffman’s runn...

The exposition drive, Szell’s Diamond District visit and disguise, farmhouse detour, Jaws marquee, and Hoffman’s running form

In the discussion (6)
Approx. transcript time · 01:16:53Read transcript
  • Janeway telling Babe the entire Szell story during a circular drive is questioned, though defended as a confidence-building interrogation tactic.
  • Szell personally visiting the Diamond District before retrieving the diamonds is questioned.
  • Szell’s minimal disguise is criticized.
  • The drive to the farmhouse is questioned again. — Bill Simmons
  • A Jaws marquee visible behind Hoffman is said to break the Roy Scheider fiction. — Bill Simmons
  • Hoffman’s running stride and marathon pacing are criticized as lurching and inefficient. — Bill Simmons
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1:22:56

Probably Unanswerable Questions

Babe’s dental recovery, British supervillains, and renting his damaged apartment again

Babe’s dental recovery, British supervillains, and renting his damaged apartment again

In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 01:22:56Read transcript
  • The likely extensive dental treatment and anesthesia Babe would need are questioned. — Bill Simmons
  • The film is considered as a possible origin point for British actors playing Hollywood supervillains. — Chris Ryan
  • Whether Babe’s wrecked, foul-smelling apartment could ever be rented again prompts personal New York apartment stories.
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1:27:16

Best Double Feature

The Boys from Brazil, Uncut Gems, and Munich
Marathon Man
The Boys from Brazil
Uncut Gems
Munich
In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 01:27:16Read transcript
  • The Boys from Brazil is proposed for another Olivier and Nazi story. — Bill Simmons
  • Uncut Gems is proposed for another Diamond District story. — Chris Ryan
  • Munich is proposed for another Jewish revenge story. — Bill Simmons
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