JohnDoe
Bryn
Brenton
Vanishing Point (1971) - Trailer Included
Vanishing Point
Last Months Empire magazine featured an interview with Quentin Tarantino talking about his Grindhouse feature Death Proof. Amongst assorted other things he said that his goal is to top the auto action in cited cult favourites like Vanishing Point and Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry. ( Three films have the same model Dodge Challenger centre stage)
JD doesn’t need to be asked twice, let’s revisit the original Vanishing Point, a film that serves as a benchmark beside, Bullitt and Rendezvous or Two Lane Black and The French Connection
Vanishing Point DVD
Director: Richard C Sarafian
Starring: Barry Newman, Cleavon Little, Dean Jagger, Paul Koslo
“And there goes the Challenger, being chased by the blue, blue meanies on wheels. The vicious traffic squad cars are after our lone driver, the last American hero, the electric centaur, the, the demi-god, the super driver of the golden west! Two nasty Nazi cars are close behind the beautiful lone driver. The police numbers are gettin' closer, closer, closer to our soul hero, in his soul mobile, yeah baby! They about to strike. They gonna get him. Smash him. Rape... the last beautiful free soul on this planet.” – Super Soul
Carrying on the anti establishment, social commentary of Easy Rider, Vanishing Point is a existential chase film with a battle cry message. Capturing the aura of the open road and American landscape. This thundering film has death tempting stunt work paradoxically encased in gentle, atmospheric lingering looks at the essence freedom.
The minimalist plot and dialogue launch an enigmatic, ex-race Driver, ex-cop, ex-vet Koslowski (Dean Jagger) into taking a fatalistic gamble. The wager, drive a super charged Dodge Challenger from Colorado to San Francisco in less than 15 hours.
His first stop is a drug dealer, he scores some high grade amphetamines which he promptly chomps and pops. Foot slammed to the floor, a trail of rubber in his wake the U.S highway transforms into an outlet for daring speed, momentum bordering on perpetual.
All Koslowski wants to do is drive fast, but his need for velocity is soon the catalyst for a massive police pursuit. The law in the rear view mirror, he careens towards the horizon as the manhunt escalates. A hip DJ, Super Soul is blind but sees the birth of a legend and reports on one tough sucker and his wheels, “sticking it to the man.”
Manoeuvring his machine to skilfully evade all comers, whether it’s a rich mid life crisis sufferer in an E Type jag or a naked blonde hippie chick on a bike, Kowalski has seen the dark, corrupt side of life and wants to escape all society’s rules.
“Hey Kowalski, you out there?” – Super Soul
The mighty Dodge Challenger aiming high
John Doe says:
Don’t make the mistake of seeing this as a Smokey and the Bandit forerunner, Vanishing Point is about a lot more than chewing lots of fuel and there are no gags or slapstick moments.
“Burning rubber in all four gears”, jamming you into your seat is only half the story, the other side is a reflection on the collapse of modern civilization, culture clashes, racism and bigotry.
There is a very definite pilot of the cast and crew and Director Richard C Sarafian establishes a spontaneity that runs from beginning to end.
A minor masterpiece, there is a non staged reality that makes this film all the more impressive. Scenes of interaction or reflection have a life and could be from a dramatic tragedy, yet they fit into the fabric of this emotively constructed mood piece. Amazingly bold use of stillness brings a transcendental meditative poignancy that elevates it to art.
The high octane, actual speed action is adrenalin pumping, fender smashing, visualized full metal jacket poetry. The brief moments of pause supply character moments.
The contemplative cinematography during down time serves to amp up the sense of movement with every bumper eye POV shot and bone crunching feats of insanity behind the wheel.
Lingering shots of the gorgeous, barren deserts are daunting. Infinitely vacant scenery is decorated with a tiny spec, an automobile touring across its untouched beauty. There is something observational about our world in what we see.
The acting is a little dodgy (bad car pun) in places, but Barry Newman owns his part. Independence in his eyes and passive defiance in his body language, he broods well achieving mythic status. (Viggo Mortensen played the role in a 90's remake)
The energetic Cleavon Little (Blazing Saddles) adds an extra spark of excitement and Dean Jagger (The Kremlin Letter, Game of Death, Alligator) is convincingly eccentric.
John Doe can only imagine the heart pounding thrills of seeing this back in the day at a drive-in on the big screen. Thankfully the DVD is a quality transfer that lets fans much tarnished and worn VHS be replaced by a near perfect picture and sound.
The DVD:
Transfer: 1:85:1 Widescreen/Dolby Digital 2.0
Extras: Trailer
A stand alone trailer that shows you all you need to know.
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Although this movie was made a LONG time ago, it kicks butt!!!!!!!!
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I had no idea they remade it? Yikes! I do like Viggo though, I can kinda see him as Al ... Damn these remakes of untouchable cult classics though!
I love the DVD cover art!
Film & TV on DVD
Seen them, own the DVD and watch them often, way cool to have another person who appreciates them. It was a toss up between this and DIRTY MARY CRAZY LARRY, another cracker.
Hi Cib,
Vanishing Point is a benchmark in the chase genre but also stands as a cult classic because of its message. You may like it, I'm not sure.
Hi Bryn,
Yeah the remake tried hard, but failed...Viggo was great though...Totally agree that this is the kind of cult gem that should be left alone because it was so of its time and place.