Taglines: Trust no one. No one.
The Domino Principle movie storyline. Tucker is a chronic underachiever and a loser. A Vietnam war veteran who just can’t seem to keep out of trouble, in the years since his discharge. The only thing he got out of the war was his skill with a rifle. Now, serving a long stretch in prison for murder, he has hit rock-bottom. But one day a man in a three-piece suit visits him in prison, a man he has never seen before, and informs him that he can walk out of prison a free man if he will shoot someone for them, no questions asked.
The Domino Principle is a 1977 neo noir thriller film starring Gene Hackman, Candice Bergen, Mickey Rooney and Richard Widmark. The film is based on the novel of the same name and was adapted for the screen by its author Adam Kennedy. It was directed and produced by Stanley Kramer. 
About the Story
Roy Tucker (Gene Hackman), serving time for the murder of his wife’s first husband, is approached in prison by a man named Tagge (Richard Widmark) on behalf of a mysterious organization with an offer: in exchange for helping him escape and start a new life, Tucker must work for the organization for a few weeks.
Following his escape with cellmate Spiventa (Mickey Rooney), whom the organization immediately kills, Tucker flies to Puntarenas, Costa Rica where he is reunited with his wife Ellie (Candice Bergen). After a few idyllic days, the organization’s Tagge, Pine (Edward Albert) and General Reser (Eli Wallach) return them to Los Angeles. There, the details of his mission slowly unfold. He realizes that he is expected to assassinate someone and refuses. The organization retaliates by kidnapping his wife.
The next morning, Tucker fires on his target from a helicopter, but it is hit by return fire and crashes. Tucker and Reser escape but Tucker takes Pine hostage and demand a plane and the return of his wife. At the airstrip, Tucker tells Tagge that he deliberately fired short. Tagge reveals that he had two other shooters in place, including Tucker’s supposedly murdered cellmate Spiventa, and Tagge’s group has been manipulating Tucker for over a decade. Aboard the plane with Ellie, Tucker spots someone planting a toolbox in the back of Tagge’s car.
Unable to get the pilot to abort takeoff, Tucker watches helplessly as Tagge is blown up with his car. The couple return to Costa Rica where Tucker sees his new life dismantled as quickly as it was assembled: his false passport destroyed, his money taken and Ellie killed. Spiventa and Pine arrive to kill Tucker, but he gets the drop on them and dumps their bodies in the ocean. The film closes with a resolute Tucker vowing not to give in, unaware he is in the crosshairs of yet another assassin.
The Domino Principle (1977)
Directed by: Stanley Kramer
Starring: Gene Hackman, Candice Bergen, Mickey Rooney, Richard Widmark, Edward Albert, Eli Wallach, Neva Patterson, Jay Novello, Joseph V. Perry, Claire Brennen, George Fisher
Screenplay by: Adam Kennedy
Production Design by: William J. Creber
Cinematography by: Fred J. Koenekamp, Ernest Laszlo
Film Editing by: John F. Burnett
Costume Design by: Rita Riggs
Set Decoration by: Raphael Bretton
Art Direction by: Ron Hobbs
Music by: Billy Goldenberg
MPAA Rating: None.
Distributed by: AVCO Embassy Pictures
Release Date: March 23, 1977
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