Marathon Man is one of the most disturbing and influential political thrillers of the 1970s. Directed by John Schlesinger and adapted from William Goldman’s novel, the film blends Cold War paranoia, psychological horror, and raw physical terror into a slow-burning nightmare. It is famous not just for its plot, but for a single question that has echoed through cinema history: “Is it safe?”
Detailed Summary
A City of Secrets: New York in the 1970s
The story is set in a grim, distrustful New York City, reflecting the post-Watergate mood of America. Thomas “Babe” Levy, a graduate student and long-distance runner, lives a quiet life focused on academics and endurance training. He is emotionally fragile, haunted by his father’s suicide during the McCarthy era.
At the same time, an entirely different world operates beneath the surface: espionage, diamonds, and former Nazis hiding in plain sight.
The Brother Who Knows Too Much
Babe’s older brother Doc Levy appears suddenly after years of absence. Doc works for a shadowy intelligence organization and is deeply involved in a secret mission involving stolen diamonds once owned by Nazi war criminals.
Doc’s presence puts Babe unknowingly in danger. The film cleverly contrasts Babe’s innocence with Doc’s moral ambiguity, suggesting that knowledge itself is a curse.
The Dentist: Enter Szell
We are introduced to Dr. Christian Szell, a former Nazi war criminal living under an assumed identity. He is calm, elderly, polite—and utterly terrifying. Szell is obsessed with recovering diamonds stolen from him after World War II.
His arrival in New York marks the film’s tonal shift from thriller to outright psychological horror.
Betrayal and Confusion
Doc is assassinated, and Babe becomes the target of a violent conspiracy he doesn’t understand. He is hunted, manipulated, and isolated. Allies turn out to be enemies, and the institutions meant to protect him are compromised.
This section of the film emphasizes paranoia: Babe cannot trust anyone, including the government, strangers, or even his own assumptions.
The Torture Scene: “Is It Safe?”
Babe is kidnapped and subjected to one of the most infamous torture scenes in film history. Szell tortures Babe by drilling into his teeth without anesthesia, repeatedly asking, “Is it safe?”
What makes this scene horrifying is not just the physical pain, but its pointlessness. Babe doesn’t have the information Szell wants. Pain is applied not to extract truth, but to force submission.
This scene permanently cemented Marathon Man as a psychological horror classic.
Escape and Awakening
Babe escapes and finally begins to understand the scope of the conspiracy. He realizes that the diamonds, the Nazis, and his brother’s death are all connected. More importantly, he understands that survival now requires violence and decisiveness—traits he previously lacked.
His transformation from passive victim to active participant is one of the film’s core arcs.
Movie Ending
The final act takes place at a water treatment facility, an industrial and symbolic location representing purification and exposure.
Babe confronts Szell and forces him to ingest the diamonds he obsessively guarded. Szell, driven mad by greed and paranoia, attempts to escape but accidentally falls into a water processing system. The diamonds cause internal damage, and Szell dies violently, destroyed by the very wealth he committed atrocities to protect.
In the final scene, Babe reunites briefly with Elsa, the woman he believed he could trust. However, he realizes she is still connected to the conspiracy. Without hesitation, Babe kills her.
The film ends with Babe walking away alone. He is alive, but irreversibly changed. The ending offers no triumph—only survival. The cost is innocence, trust, and emotional safety.
This bleak conclusion reinforces the film’s message: evil doesn’t end cleanly, and surviving it doesn’t make you whole.
Are There Post-Credits Scenes?
No. Marathon Man does not include any post-credits or mid-credits scenes. The story ends definitively with its final shot.
Type of Movie
Marathon Man is a political thriller with strong psychological horror elements. It blends espionage drama with intense character-driven suspense, reflecting the moral anxiety of the 1970s.
Cast
- Dustin Hoffman – Thomas “Babe” Levy
- Laurence Olivier – Dr. Christian Szell
- Roy Scheider – Doc Levy
- Marthe Keller – Elsa Opel
- William Devane – Janeway
Film Music and Composer
The score was composed by Michael Small, whose minimalist and tense music avoids melodrama. The score subtly amplifies dread, allowing silence and ambient sound to heighten anxiety rather than overwhelm it.
Filming Locations
- New York City – Grounds the story in realism and urban paranoia
- Central Park & Harlem – Emphasize Babe’s isolation in public spaces
- Water treatment facility – Symbolizes cleansing, exposure, and moral reckoning
The use of real locations adds authenticity and reinforces the sense that danger exists everywhere.
Awards and Nominations
- Academy Award nomination: Best Supporting Actor (Laurence Olivier)
- Golden Globe nomination: Best Supporting Actor
- BAFTA nominations for acting and screenplay
Olivier’s performance is widely considered one of the greatest villain portrayals in cinema history.
Behind the Scenes Insights
- Dustin Hoffman famously stayed awake for days to prepare for torture scenes; Laurence Olivier reportedly told him, “Why don’t you just try acting?”
- Olivier was in poor health during filming but delivered an iconic performance
- William Goldman adapted his own novel, preserving its dark tone
- The dental torture scene caused widespread fear of dentists for years
Inspirations and References
- Based on William Goldman’s novel “Marathon Man” (1974)
- Inspired by real post-war Nazi escape networks
- Reflects 1970s American distrust of institutions after Watergate and Vietnam
Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes
No alternate endings were officially filmed. However, several scenes involving intelligence agency politics were trimmed to maintain pacing and mystery.
Book Adaptation and Differences
- The novel provides more internal monologue for Babe
- The film simplifies some espionage details
- Szell is portrayed as colder and more restrained in the film, making him more terrifying
Memorable Scenes and Quotes
Key Scenes
- The dental torture sequence
- Babe running through Central Park while being hunted
- The final confrontation at the water facility
Iconic Quotes
- “Is it safe?” – Dr. Szell
- “I’m not in your world. I’m just passing through.” – Babe Levy
Easter Eggs and Hidden Details
- Babe’s running mirrors his emotional escape mechanisms
- Szell’s politeness contrasts deliberately with his brutality
- Repeated imagery of mirrors emphasizes identity and deception
Trivia
- The film permanently changed how torture was depicted in thrillers
- Laurence Olivier reportedly disliked method acting
- The word “safe” appears obsessively throughout the script
Why Watch?
Watch Marathon Man if you want a thriller that respects your intelligence, unsettles you psychologically, and refuses easy comfort. It’s not fun—but it is unforgettable.
Director’s Other Works
- Midnight Cowboy (1969)
- Sunday Bloody Sunday (1971)
- The Day of the Locust (1975)
- Yanks (1979)
