Vanishing Point (1971 film)
| Vanishing Point | |
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Theatrical release poster
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| Directed by | Richard C. Sarafian |
| Produced by |
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| Screenplay by |
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| Story by | Malcolm Hart |
| Starring | |
| Music by | |
| Cinematography | John A. Alonzo |
| Edited by | Stefan Arnsten |
| Distributed by | 20th Century Fox |
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Release date
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Running time
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98 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $1,585,000 |
| Box office | $12,442,673 |
| Vanishing Point | |
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| Soundtrack album by Various Artists | |
| Released | March 13, 1971 |
| Recorded | 1970 |
| Genre | Country, pop, rock |
| Length | 40:51 |
| Label |
A&M Amos Records |
| Producer |
Pete Carpenter Mike Post Jimmy Bowen Tom Thacker |
| Professional ratings | |
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| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |
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Vanishing Point is a 1971 American action road movie directed by Richard C. Sarafian and starring Barry Newman, Cleavon Little, and Dean Jagger.
The film is notable for its scenic film locations across the American Southwest and its social commentary on the post- mood in the United States.
A car delivery driver, Kowalski (Barry Newman), arrives in Denver, Colorado late Friday night with a black Chrysler Imperial. The delivery service clerk, Sandy (Karl Swenson), urges him to get some rest, but Kowalski insists on getting started with his next assignment to deliver a white 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T 440 Magnum to San Francisco by Monday. Before leaving Denver, Kowalski pulls into a biker bar parking lot around midnight to buy Benzedrine pills to stay awake for the long drive ahead. He bets his dealer, Jake (Lee Weaver), that he will get to San Francisco by 3:00 pm "tomorrow", even though the delivery is not due until Monday. (Distance between the towns is approximately 1,200 miles (1,900 km) by road).
Kowalski is a Medal of Honor Vietnam War veteran and former race car driver and motorcycle racer. He is also a former police officer, who was dishonorably discharged in retaliation for preventing his partner from raping a young woman. Haunted by the surfing death of his girlfriend, Vera, Kowalski now exists on adrenaline.
Driving west across Colorado, Kowalski is pursued by two motorcycle police officers who try to stop him for speeding. Recalling his days as a motorcycle racer, he forces one officer off the road and eludes the other officer by jumping across a dry creek bed. Later, the driver of a Jaguar E-Type convertible pulls up alongside Kowalski and challenges him to a race. After the Jaguar driver nearly runs him off the road, Kowalski overtakes him and beats the Jaguar to a one-lane bridge, causing the Jaguar to crash into the river. Kowalski checks to see if the driver is okay, then takes off, with police cars in hot pursuit.
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Wikipedia