spoiler very complex and confusing film about the nazi genesis project during wwii in the mass production of synthetic fuel to run it war machine . it be that fuel and make from liquefied coal and that have germany hold off defeat while inflict million of allied casualty for some two year after it supply of oil and mostly from the romanian ploesti oil field and be obliterate by allied daylight bombing in 1943. seeing in the spring of 1945 that the war be lose and for germany and german general helmut and richard lynch and make a desperate dash with a truck full of nazi secret document towards the swiss border only to get intercept by a u army patrol . it then that gen. helmut make a secret deal with u army major tom neeley and robin clark and to trade the document for his safety out of the country and possible be try a a nazi war criminal . it now 35 year later and neeley now a retired l. a police chief be find murder in his home with it make to look like it be some kind of mob hit . in fact it be but the mob wasn not the mafia but those run the world oil cartel . with neeley good friend in the lapd let . barney caine and george c. scott and put on the case it become evident to him that those who order neeley murder originate and by a check on neeley recent travel and from germany . that become even more clear to let . caine when within day neeley estrange wife kay and beatrice straight and be also fund murder in her jacuzzi with the same murder weapon that murder her husband . the film follow the same formula in that as soon a be and or let . caine and introduce to a major character in it he and or she and end up be murder . let . caine travel to and at that time in 1980 and west germany on official business start to put all the loose end in neeley murder together and uncovers his involvement with the nazi genesis project . if the secret of the genesis project be make public it would put the world oil cartel out of business . hard to follow and very boring at time and with the action in the film about as long a a one minute tv commercial and the best part in it be the confrontation between let . caine and titan oil ceo adam steiffel and marlon brando and at the conclusion of the movie . it that scene that explain to the audience what exactly be go on in the film . spoiler alert steiffel who the man behind all the murder in the movie come across so likable and due to brando comedic mannerism of him and that you find it hard to dislike him . in fact you look at scott and a let . caine and to be more of a villain that he do in be verbally abuse the what seem like the helpless bald fat man that steiffel be . in the end it steiffel who end up get the last laugh by checkmate let . caine and despite all his effort and in his try to get the genisis formula out to the public . which show that big buck not morality or the public interest be the way to get thing do in this world . there also in the movie the husky voice and very athletic look marthe keller a lisa spangler in a role that she seem to play in every film she be in back then while the mystery woman . lisa be so mysterious that even when the movie be finally over you do not quite know on just who let . caine or adam steiffel she be on . p. s the film the formula have the distinction of not only have two academy award winner and geroge c. scott and marlon brando and for best actor in it but also the very two who turn the coveted oscar down for and in brando case and political and and in george c and scott case and personal or professional reason .