JohnDoe
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Deliverance (1972) - Trailer Included
Deliverance
DVD Cover
Writer:James Dickey
Starring:Jon Voight, Burt Reynolds, Ned Beatty, Ronny Cox, Bill McKinney, Billy Redden
"Sometimes you have to lose yourself 'fore you can find anything." - Lewis
The Duelling Banjo’s are ceaselessly parodied and the “squeal like a pig” line has become pop culture lore, but it’s the tackling of complex issues and unblinking dedication to believable fiction that endear Deliverance with the label classic.
"Talk about genetic deficiencies-isn't that pitiful?" - Bobby
On the surface this is a thrilling man versus nature adventure film. Four city folk decide to canoe down the soon to be dammed Cahulawassee River. Looking forward to the physical and mental challenge, they seek an escape from the rigid boundaries that society and relationships force on all “civilised” men.
"Because they're buildin' a dam across the Cahulawassee River; they're gonna flood a whole valley, Bobby, that's why. Dammit, they're drownin' a river; they're drownin' a river, man." - Lewis
The rough and ready Alpha male Lewis (Burt Reynolds) thrives in living off the land and prides himself on his ability in the wild. The other three are softer, Drew (Ronny Cox) is a gentle musician looking for something unique, Ed (Jon Voight) is a pacifist who admires Lewis’ skills but questions the price of isolation. The chubby Bobby (Ned Beatty) is just happy to be included.
Idylic and blissful to begin, soon this controlled weekend jaunt of male bonding collapses into a desperate struggle for survival, where surpressed emotions trigger conscious fears that expose our brutal animal instincts.
"What we, uh, "re-quire" is that you get your god-damn asses up in them woods."- Mountain Man
I really dont think this was in my contract
John Doe says:
Challenging and shocking audiences upon release, Deliverance is still unsettling to the most hardened voyeur. There is an authentic realism, an embracing of the world in which the story is set that makes you wonder where the facts end and the fiction begins.
Admired Director John Boorman (Excalibur, Point Blank, The General, Hell in the Pacific) creates unyielding tension through steady pacing and focused storytelling with imagery. Frenzied scenes of violent confrontation astound in context because of the intellectualising and etheral calm that preceeded them.
The script by James Dickey is an insightful examination of man’s arrogance, disrespect and destruction of the planet and its inhabitants. Told with a humanity that digs deep into the motivations for our cultural programming and primal urges, definitions of right and wrong.
The cinematography is visually honest, shot and edited with a precise eye to capture real life moments of dangerous spectacle and human interaction. There is a luscious splendour even to the ugliest moments and the minimalist sound design comes into embolden the cinematic flavour.
As with all films of this type, the casting and performances are what invest us in the story or reduce it to the realms of a good premise misguided. Casting local folk as extras on location fills out the convincing background and there is always something to be studied onscreen.
Encouraged to improvise, all the actors contribute to the dramatic balance.
Burt Reynolds (Boogie Nights, Longest Yard, Shamus, 100 Rifles, White Lightning, Hustle, the End) has never been this good again. Dominating the screen with a testosterone ease, all the players did their own stunts (climbing, rafting etc) and the man without his moustache actually busted his coccyx on the rapids.
Jon Voight (Runaway Train, Midnight Cowboy, U-Turn, Coming Home, the Odessa File, Catch 22, Conrack) is at his powerful best with a character pushed beyond his limits.
Making his debut is Ned Beatty (Superman, Network, Silver Streak, All the Presidents Men, Hopscotch, the Big Easy), his harmless appearance looks like he was bullied from the day he entered a schoolyard. Working perfectly as the hanger on allowed to play with the big boys not because of companionship but out of compassion.
The normally villainous Ronny Cox (Robocop, Beverly Hills Cop, Total Recall) as Drew plays against type as an introspective artist looking to link with the wilds and communicate through melody.
John Doe put this one on straight after Apocalypto because both films share similar celluloid sensibilities. These are singular visions that add a resonating texture to entertainment that infinitely thrills and excite but also forces the viewer to think about the inner psyche.
The DVD:
Transfer: 2:35:1 Widescreen/Dolby Digital 5.1
Extras: NIL – A commentary or making of and interviews would be most welcome but at the moment even the US edition is pretty scant of features.
See the original trailer here
Below you can watch the famous Duelling Banjos scene.
Man, I love your reviews ...
You pick the best quotes ...
Pick up on the essence of the film itself ...
And, when you review one of my favourite all time films ... ?
Even better ...
David ...
Film & TV on DVD
Im flattered you dig my work and appreciate a few choice quotes.
Deliverance really is a great screenplay, both with it's organic dialogue and taut structure.
Always cool to meet someone who appreciates the core of this powerful film.
Horrorphile
And boy what a film!!! Arguably Boorman's best. And easily Reynolds best work.
The novel by James Dickey is one of my favourite novels, a tour-de-force in fact.
What's with some of these bonefide classics getting the zilch treatment on DVD, it beggers belief sometimes!
From The Home Front
Enviro Warrior
Dream Herald
Esoteric Bookshop
The Tube Blog
Soon to be damned?
;o)
This movie knocked my socks off when I first saw it (except maybe for the dodgy day-for-night stuff ;o)
Frightening stuff. I've never been able to stand Reynolds in anything before or after. This is the only thing he's in that I can watch.
Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak
Surreal Short Stories
Celebrity Obsession
Great review. One of the genuinely great movies. Great acting, great screenplay. Bloody frightening too.
Kylie
Film & TV on DVD
Banjo's almost seem to infer a lack of intellect in a mixed gene pool too since this film...
Hi Bryn, agree totally,
The original art work barged its way into the psyche, the novel is a tightly wound gem and it is criminal that their are no extras on the DVD.
Hi Lilla,
I think this is a film that put a lot of people of camping for fear of having to "squeal like a pig" for supper.
Hi Yoda,
The river will be dammed and the men are damned indeed. You didnt like Burt in Boogie Nights?
Hi Cib,
This movie is why Im so nervous about going to Tasmania...
Thanks for the kind words Paul, maybe one day I will have my own movie show.
Kylie W,
it appears this is a film that freaked out as many people as Jaws, it the surreal conclusion that drives home everything before it.
Hi Dave,
thanks for dropping by, I really appreciate the encouragement. Now go rent it.
Film & TV on DVD
The mountain men ride on teh fat boy still has the same forboding it did as a kid and that hand is an image I too will never forget.
Great to see you again.
Dean Teaster’s Ghost Town “The Movie” is an 1800’s western set in the Great Smoky Mountains of North Carolina. It’s a story of love, hate, revenge, honor. It showcases the most famous villains of all time from John Boorman’s “Deliverance” filmed in 1972. Voted number one movie villains of all time in “Maxim Magazine”, 2005, Bill McKinney and Herbert “Cowboy” Coward scared audiences with their mountain man delivery that struck fear in millions of movie goers. They were reunited in this film after 37 years. Warner Brothers recently re-released Deliverance in HD DVD, just in time for the release of Ghost Town “The Movie”
PRNewsWire News Releases
Published: 01/28/08 12:33 PM EST
Released By:
Ghost Town: The Movie
LANSING, Mich., Jan. 28 /PRNewswire/ -- Dean Teaster's "Ghost Town: The Movie" has signed a domestic distribution agreement with Barnholtz Entertainment in Calabasas, California. "Ghost Town: The Movie" reunites villains Bill McKinney and Herbert "Cowboy" Coward for the first time since the release of John Boorman's 1972 classic movie "Deliverance."
(Photo: Really Long Link )
The mountain men go head-to-head in a Western tale of Smoky Mountain revenge, love and family honor, all told in the setting of late 1800's western North Carolina.
Dean Teaster's "Ghost Town: The Movie" stars Herbert "Cowboy" Coward, Bill McKinney, DJ Perry, Rance Howard, Renee O'Connor, and country music stars Sammy Kershaw and Stella Parton.
"Ghost Town: The Movie" was filmed at the famous Ghost Town in the Sky theme park in Maggie Valley, North Carolina. A late-2008 release is planned for the United States and Canada.
Film & TV on DVD
Doubt it will come to Oz except as a straight to DVD though.
You're absolutely right about the screenplay - it is so strong. With so much going on in the background Dickey still managed to keep the central narrative nice and tight - awesome.
Film & TV on DVD
I hadn't read the comments on this thread since writing this , they do seem to all have a very personal touch in teh way the film affects them.
Without that script the film could have easily become simple exploitation...
Film & TV on DVD