''Breaking Point'' is a 1976 Canadian-American

crime drama Crime film is a film belonging to the crime fiction genre. Films of this genre generally involve various aspects of crime and fiction. Stylistically, the genre may overlap and combine with many other genres, such as Drama (film and television), dr ...

film starring

Bo Svenson Bo Svenson (born 13 February 1941) is a Swedish-American actor, director, producer, and screenwriter, known for his roles in American genre films of the 1970s and 1980s. Early life Svenson was born in Sweden, the son of Birger Ragnar Svensson ( ...

, and featuring

Robert Culp Robert Martin Culp (August 16, 1930 – March 24, 2010) was an American actor and screenwriter widely known for his work in television. Culp earned an international reputation for his role as Kelly Robinson on ''I Spy (1965 TV series), I Spy'' ( ...

in a supporting role, produced and directed by

Bob Clark Benjamin Robert Clark (August 5, 1939 – April 4, 2007) was an American film director and screenwriter. In the 1970s and 1980s, he was responsible for some of the most successful films in Canadian film industry, Canadian film history such ...

Plot

While walking home one evening with his stepson Andy, former Marine and Judo instructor Michael McBain (

) witnesses a murder. Although initially reluctant to identify the two culprits, he is eventually persuaded to do so by

Lieutenant A lieutenant ( , ; abbreviated Lt., Lt, LT, Lieut and similar) is a Junior officer, junior commissioned officer rank in the armed forces of many nations, as well as fire services, emergency medical services, Security agency, security services ...

Frank Sirriani (

), who believes that their trial will lead to the arrest of Vincent Karbone (

John Colicos John Colicos (December 10, 1928 – March 6, 2000) was a Canadian actor. He performed on stage and on television in the United States and Canada. Early life Colicos was born in Toronto, Ontario, to a Greek father and a Canadian mother. Career ...

), a leading construction magnate in

Philadelphia Philadelphia ( ), colloquially referred to as Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania, most populous city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and the List of United States cities by population, sixth-most populous city in the Unit ...

and suspected leader of one of the city's most notorious Mafia gangs, whom Sirriani has been building a case against for the last 6 years. McBain testifies despite intimidation; however, to Sirriani's surprise, the two culprits refuse to name Karbone as their employer and reject the opportunity of a plea-bargain. As a result, Karbone remains legally untouchable. Expecting the intimidation to stop now that the trial is over, McBain and his family try to return to their ordinary lives. Instead, the intimidation intensifies, with Karbone planning to kill McBain and the rest of his family in order to make an example of him. After an attempt on his stepson's life, McBain, his wife Helen (

Linda Sorenson Linda Sorenson (born January 19, 1940) is a Canadian film, television and voice actress, best known for playing Mrs. Stegman in ''Class of 1984'', Warden Howe in ''Murphy Brown'', Virginia Reeves in '' Material World'' and Isabelle Carrington in ...

), stepson Andy, and sister Diana ( Belinda Montgomery), are put into

witness protection Witness protection is security provided to a threatened person providing testimonial evidence to the justice system, including defendants and other clients, before, during, and after trials, usually by police. While witnesses may only require p ...

, and moved from Philadelphia to

Toronto Toronto ( , locally pronounced or ) is the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, most populous city in Canada. It is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Ontario. With a p ...

. Helen's ex-husband Peter ( Stephen Young) and Diana's fiancé are left behind. When Peter gets a phone call from his son Andy telling him where they've moved, he travels to Toronto to see him, alerting Karbone to McBain's new location. Furthermore, Karbone has Diana's fiancé killed. With the new identity of his family compromised, and learning of the murder of his sister's fiancé, McBain decides to return to Philadelphia to take on Karbone himself. After killing several of Karbone's men, McBain eventually corners Karbone and kills him, neutralising the threat to his family's life. The film focuses heavily on the logistics of witness protection, a program that was newly introduced in the US in 1971.U.S. Marshals Service
/ref>

Cast

as Michael McBain *

as Frank Sirrianni *

as Vincent Karbone * Belinda Montgomery as Diana McBain *

as Helen McBain * Stephen Young as Peter Stratas *

Richard M. Davidson Richard Davidson (born 1951) is a professor of psychology and psychiatry. Richard Davi(d)son may also refer to: * Richard K. Davidson (born 1942), American railway executive * Richard M. Davidson (theologian), Old Testament scholar and Seventh-da ...

as Hirsch * Doug Lennox as Damoni

References

External links

*
''Breaking Point'' at AllMovie
* * 1976 films 1976 action films 20th Century Fox films Films directed by Bob Clark Films about the American Mafia 1976 crime drama films American crime drama films English-language Canadian films Canadian crime drama films Films set in Philadelphia Films with screenplays by Stanley Mann 1970s English-language films 1970s American films 1970s Canadian films English-language crime drama films English-language action films Films produced by Bob Clark {{1970s-US-film-stub

Plot

Cast

See also

References

External links