Shock to the system

United Kingdom, 1990

Film
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Graham Marshall (Michael Caine) is a middle-aged New York advertising exec recently passed over in a sure fire promotion to a younger subordinate (Peter Riegert). Suffering the effects of this crushing oversight, Graham inadvertently pushes a panhandler into the oncoming path of a subway train, killing the man instantly. Charged with murder, Graham is released on manslaughter. This leads him to speculate on the possibility of repeating his actions - murder, camouflaged as accident - and plots to get back at some of his enemies, starting at home with his shrewish wife (Swoosie Kurtz). The downtrodden suit has turned into a likeable avenger. This parable of corporate greed in post 1980s Wall Street is a curious mix of thriller and black comedy. Cast also includes Will Patton as the obligatory gumshoe and Elizabeth McGovern as the sympathetic co-worker and love interest. Based on the novel by Simon Brett.

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Collection

In ACMI's collection

Credits

director

Jan Egleson

producer

Patrick McCormick

production company

Corsair Pictures

Duration

01:24:00:00

Production places
United Kingdom
Production dates
1990

Collection metadata

ACMI Identifier

314841

Language

English

Audience classification

MA

Sound/audio

Sound

Colour

Colour

Holdings

VHS; Access Print (Section 1)

Wikidata

Q2364018

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If you would like to cite this item, please use the following template: {{cite web |url=https://acmi.net.au/works/91692/ |title=Shock to the system |author=Australian Centre for the Moving Image |access-date=18 May 2024 |publisher=Australian Centre for the Moving Image}}