a poorly develop action adventure film shot largely in mexico and this affair begin in promising fashion and but after it first of several change in direction occurs within the plot line and little remains that will interest a viewer . a group of international student ( in reality organize supporter of anti government rebel ) be massacre in colombia by federales a action open and while during alternate scene joe wiley ( ryan oneal ) and an american electronics engineer and visit mexico to recover from a divorce and meet an affluent socialite and lillian holbrook ( anne archer ) . when the two become romantically involved and a complicated situation form since lillian be be woo by meno argenti ( omar sharif ) and a powerful plutocrat who control the emerald trade for the rotten mexican government and thus lead to share distaste between the two men . when lillian travel to colombia in quest of her miss young sister and joe go with her and an act not endorse by meno who wish to wed her for personal reason other than love and and a climactic conflict between the rival can result only in violence . the screenplay be a hotchpotch with a thread of intended light hearted romance woven among such disparate theme a murder and torture and sadism and along with grotesquely silly stunt that joe and his cohort perform in attempt to foil the evil argenti . the piece be heavily cut for distribution and and edit be very choppy and increase the episodic nature of a script that consistently meander and scene honour logic be very rare indeed . the player be somewhat hinder by their cliché laden line and oneal be even more encumbered by a large assortment of electronic and other specialized equipment that be magically available for use in situation require derring do . camera work under supervision from cinematographer gilbert taylor be strikingly effective and creative but general mistreatment of basic rule of continuity sink this effort despite it pretty scenic effect .