The Seven-Ups

D'Antoni, who produced The French Connection, here turned director and came up with a flawed mirror image of the earlier film. Led by Scheider in the Gene Hackman-type role, the Seven-Ups, a crack squad of New York detectives, pit their wits against a gang of heavies whose hit-man is played by the film's stunt co-ordinator, Bill Hickman. Most of the excitement is well handled, usually as a result of Hickman's amazing skill at setting up car chases and spectacular bits of action. But even the best sequences can't redeem an unremarkable and rather confused script, or D'Antoni's unimpressive handling of actors.