Clay Pigeon (film) explained

Clay Pigeon
Cinematography:	Alan Stensvold
Editing:	Danford B. Greene
Studio:	Tracom
Distributor:	Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Runtime:	93 minutes
Country:	United States
Language:	English

Clay Pigeon (released in the UK as Trip To Kill) is a 1971 American action film directed by Lane Slate and Tom Stern^{[1] [2]} and written by Ronald Buck, Jack Gross, Jr. and Buddy Ruskin. The film stars Tom Stern, Telly Savalas, Robert Vaughn, John Marley, Burgess Meredith and Ivan Dixon. The film was released in August 1971, by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.^{[3] [4]}

Plot

A Vietnam War veteran (Stern) has been using illegal drugs, but eventually decides that he wants to escape that life. But before he can leave it behind, a CIA narcotics agent (Savalas) recruits him to go undercover in Los Angeles to help expose other ex-soldiers who are involved in drug dealing and drug kingpin Neilson (Vaughn).^[4]

Cast

• Tom Stern as Joe Ryan
• Telly Savalas as Redford
• Robert Vaughn as Neilson
• John Marley as Police Captain
• Burgess Meredith as Freedom Lovelace
• Ivan Dixon as Simon
• Jeff Corey as Clinic Doctor
• Marilyn Akin as Angeline
• Marlene Clark as Saddle
• Belinda Palmer as Tracy
• Mario Alcalde as Jason
• Peter Lawford as Government Agent

Reception

Critical response

Roger Greenspun of The New York Times wrote in his review: "Clay Pigeon also makes no sense. But its directors, Tom Stern and Lane Slate, have a certain willingness to take each moment as it comes, and its absurdities more often seem the products of a super-active exuberance than of a failed imagination. In its particular field—sex and violence—"Clay Pigeon" just falls short of being very good."^[5]

Release

Clay Pigeon was released in theatres in August 1971. The film was released on DVD on April 27, 1999 and later on July 6, 2010 by PolyGram Filmed Entertainment.^[6]

See also

• List of American films of 1971

References

Sources

• Book: Weldon, Michael. The Psychotronic Video Guide To Film. St. Martin's Griffin. 1st. New York City. 1996. 978-0312131494. 109.
• Book: The FBI: A Comprehensive Reference Guide. Annotated. Athan G.. Theoharis. Richard. Powers. Susan. Rosenfeld. Tony. Poveda. Greenwood Publishing Group. Santa Barbara, California. 1998. 978-0897749916. 289.
• News: Clay Pigen. The Troy Record Staff. The Troy Record. 21st Century Media. Troy, New York. December 26, 1970. November 21, 2016. 34.
• News: Clay Pigeon. Connecticut Post Staff. Connecticut Post. Hearst Corporation. Bridgeport, Connecticut. April 3, 1971. November 21, 2016. 9.
• Book: Devine, Jeremy M.. Vietnam at 24 Frames a Second: A Critical and Thematic Analysis of Over 400 Films About the Vietnam War (Texas Film Studies Series). University of Texas Press. 1st. Austin, Texas. 1999. 978-0292716018. 77.

Notes and References

1. Book: Maltin, Leonard. Leonard Maltin's 2015 Movie Guide (Leonard Maltin's Movie Guide). Signet Fiction. New York City. 2004. 978-0451468499.
2. Web site: Clay Pigeon. Turner Classic Movies. Turner Broadcasting System (Time Warner). Atlanta. November 21, 2016.
3. Web site: Clay Pigeon. TV Guide. NTVB Media CBS Interactive (CBS Corporation) . United States. December 2, 2014.
4. Web site: Clay Pigeon (1971) - Overview - TCM.com. Turner Classic Movies. Turner Broadcasting System (Time Warner). Atlanta. December 2, 2014.
5. News: ' Chandler' and 'Clay Pigeon' Teamed as Screen Double Bill. Roger. Greenspun. The New York Times. Roger Greenspun. New York City. March 2, 1972. November 21, 2016.
6. Book: Clay Pigeon. PolyGram Filmed Entertainment. Universal Studios. Universal City, California. April 27, 1999. 6305353212.