Brass Target (1978) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

After a Nazi gold train robbery exposes a conspiracy among corrupt American officers, De Lucca investigates while trying to prevent the assassination of Patton.

Story Structure — 4 Plot Phases

The Stolen Gold

Patton orders Nazi gold transported to Frankfurt, but the train is robbed before it arrives. Poison gas kills 59 military policemen in a railroad tunnel, and the crime is linked to corrupt American officers.

Key Events

• Patton Orders Gold Transport — After V-E Day, Patton orders Nazi gold transported to the Reichsbank in Frankfurt. Characters: Gen. George S. Patton Location: Europe
• Gold Train Is Robbed — The gold train is robbed before reaching Frankfurt. Location: En route to Frankfurt
• Tunnel Gas Attack — Poison gas kills 59 U.S. Army military policemen in the tunnel. Location: Railroad tunnel
• Corrupt Officers Behind Robbery — A group of corrupt American officers led by a colonel is behind the crime. Location: Europe
• Patton Opens Investigation — Patton launches an investigation into the gold robbery and killings. Characters: Gen. George S. Patton Location: Europe

De Lucca Under Suspicion

Patton's investigation initially points to De Lucca because the thieves took a plan from his wartime operations. De Lucca starts his own inquiry and visits his former commander McCauley.

Key Events

• Inquiry Turns to De Lucca — The investigation initially points to De Lucca after the thieves take his plan. Characters: Gen. George S. Patton, Maj. Joe De Lucca Location: Europe
• De Lucca Starts His Inquiry — De Lucca begins his own investigation into the robbery. Characters: Maj. Joe De Lucca Location: Europe
• Visit to McCauley — De Lucca visits his former wartime commander McCauley. Characters: Maj. Joe De Lucca, Col. Mike McCauley Location: Requisitioned German castle
• Officers Hire Webber — The corrupt officers hire Webber to kill Patton and stop the inquiry. Characters: Shelley Martin Webber Location: Europe
• Mara Joins the Search — De Lucca meets former girlfriend Mara, who can help find the culprits. Characters: Maj. Joe De Lucca, Mara Location: Europe

The Assassin's Pursuit

The corrupt officers hire Webber to kill Patton and halt the inquiry. Mara helps De Lucca, and the pair discover that Webber is pursuing them and intends to kill Patton.

Key Events

• Webber Is on Their Trail — De Lucca and Mara discover that Webber is pursuing them. Characters: Maj. Joe De Lucca, Mara, Shelley Martin Webber Location: Europe
• Patton Also in Webber's Sights — They learn Webber is also planning to assassinate Patton. Characters: Gen. George S. Patton, Shelley Martin Webber Location: Europe
• Race Across War-Ravaged Europe — De Lucca and Mara race to save Patton and catch the officers. Characters: Maj. Joe De Lucca, Mara Location: War-ravaged Europe
• Webber Disguises Himself — Webber poses as an American soldier to carry out the staged killing. Characters: Shelley Martin Webber Location: Europe

Patton's Staged Death

Webber poses as an American soldier and stages a traffic accident involving Patton's car and a military truck. He fires a rubber bullet that breaks Patton's neck, after which De Lucca tracks him down and kills him.

Key Events

• Patton's Car Is Targeted — Webber sets up a traffic accident involving Patton's car and a military truck. Characters: Gen. George S. Patton, Shelley Martin Webber Location: Road in Europe
• Truck Collides with Patton's Car — A military truck collides with Patton's car as part of the staged accident. Characters: Gen. George S. Patton, Shelley Martin Webber Location: Road in Europe
• Webber Fires Rubber Bullet — At the collision, Webber fires a rubber bullet that strikes Patton. Characters: Gen. George S. Patton, Shelley Martin Webber Location: Road in Europe
• Patton Is Killed — The strike breaks Patton's neck and kills him. Characters: Gen. George S. Patton, Shelley Martin Webber Location: Road in Europe
• De Lucca Tracks Webber — De Lucca tracks down the assassin after Patton's death. Characters: Maj. Joe De Lucca, Shelley Martin Webber Location: Europe
• De Lucca Kills Webber — De Lucca kills Webber with the assassin's own weapon. Characters: Maj. Joe De Lucca, Shelley Martin Webber Location: Europe

Story Breakdown

• Gold Train Robbery — The shipment is stolen before reaching Frankfurt, and the attack leaves dozens of military policemen dead.
  • Patton Orders Transport — Patton orders the hoarded Nazi gold sent to the Reichsbank in Frankfurt.
  • Tunnel Gas Killings — Poison gas kills 59 U.S. Army military policemen during the robbery.
• Officer Conspiracy — The robbery is attributed to corrupt American officers led by a colonel.
  • Corrupt Officers — A group of American officers is behind the gold crime.
  • Webber Hired — The officers hire a professional assassin to kill Patton and halt the inquiry.
• De Lucca Under Suspicion — Patton's investigation initially turns toward De Lucca, whose wartime plan was taken by the thieves.
  • Stolen Operations Plan — The thieves take a plan from De Lucca's wartime operations.
  • Patton Investigates — Patton launches an inquiry into the robbery.
• De Lucca's Inquiry — De Lucca conducts his own investigation and seeks out people from his wartime past.
  • Castle Visit — De Lucca visits his old commander McCauley at a requisitioned German castle.
  • Mara Assists — De Lucca meets former girlfriend Mara, who can help find the culprits.
• Race Against Webber — De Lucca and Mara discover Webber is on their trail and intends to assassinate Patton.
  • Assassin Revealed — They learn Webber is pursuing them and is planning to kill Patton.
  • Cross Europe — The pair race across war-ravaged Europe to save Patton and catch the officers.
• Patton's Assassination — Webber disguises himself as a soldier and kills Patton through a staged traffic accident.
  • Staged Collision — A military truck collides with Patton's car as part of Webber's plan.
  • Rubber Bullet — Webber fires a rubber bullet that strikes Patton and breaks his neck.
• Webber's Final Pursuit — After Patton's death, De Lucca tracks down the assassin and kills him.
  • De Lucca Tracks Webber — De Lucca pursues the assassin after the staged killing.
  • Assassin Killed — De Lucca kills Webber with Webber's own weapon.

Directed by

John Hough

Key Cast

• Sophia Loren — Mara
• John Cassavetes — Maj. Joe De Lucca
• Max von Sydow — Shelley Martin Webber
• George Kennedy — Gen. George S. Patton
• Robert Vaughn — Col. Donald Rogers