August 15: Marathon Man

Marathon Man

From William Goldman’s best-selling novel comes one of the most daring and affecting thrillers ever brought to the screen. Dustin Hoffman plays the likeable graduate student and marathon runner of the title, unwillingly trapped in a killing game of intrigue involving a Nazi fugitive, Christian Szell. Laurence Olivier received an Academy Award nomination for his chilling portrayal of the sadist Szell, who turns dental instruments into tools of torture with dispassionate ease. Directed by John Schlesinger and featuring an all-star cast, Marathon Man moves with nail-biting suspense to its thrilling, fever pitched conclusion. Roy Scheider and William Devane co-star. (Paramount)