Vanishing Point (1971)

Director:

Richard C. Sarafian

Writers:

Malcolm Hart (story)
Guillermo Cabrera Infante (screenplay)
(more)

Release Date:

13 March 1971 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Drama

Tagline:

It's the maximum trip... at maximum speed.

Plot:

Kowalski works for a car delivery service. He takes delivery of a 1970 Dodge Challenger to take from Colorado to San Fransisco...

Plot Keywords:

Cars | Colorado | Dodge | Naked Woman | Highway Patrol

Cast

Barry Newman	...	Kowalski
Cleavon Little	...	Super Soul
Dean Jagger	...	Prospector
Victoria Medlin	...	Vera Thornton
Paul Koslo	...	Charlie, Young Nevada Patrolman
Robert Donner	...	Collins, Older Nevada Patrolman (as Bob Donner)
Timothy Scott	...	Angel
Gilda Texter	...	Nude Motorcycle Rider
Anthony James	...	Male Hitchhiker #1, in Front Seat
Arthur Malet	...	Male Hitchhiker #2, in Back Seat
Karl Swenson	...	Sandy McKees, Argo's Attendant
Severn Darden	...	Rev. J. 'Jessie' Hovah
Delaney Bramlett	...	J. Hovah's Singer (as Delaney & Bonnie and Friends)
Bonnie Bramlett	...	J. Hovah's Singer (as Delaney & Bonnie and Friends)
Lee Weaver	...	Jake, Kowalski's Denver Connection
Cherie Foster	...	Girl #1
Valerie Kairys	...	Girl #2
Tom Reese	...	Sheriff
Owen Bush	...	Communications Officer
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Charlotte Rampling	...	Hitchhiker (scenes deleted)
John Amos	...	Super Soul's Engineer (uncredited)
Val Avery	...	Police Officer (uncredited)
Rita Coolidge	...	J. Hovah's Singer (uncredited)
David Gates	...	Piano Player at Revival Meeting (uncredited)

Directed by
Richard C. Sarafian

Writing credits
Malcolm Hart		(story outline)
Guillermo Cabrera Infante		(screenplay) (as Guillermo Cain)
Barry Hall		uncredited

Produced by
Michael Pearson	....	executive producer
Norman Spencer	....	producer

Cinematography by
John A. Alonzo

Film Editing by
Stefan Arnsten

Art Direction by
Dennis J. Parrish		(uncredited)

Set Decoration by
Glen Daniels
Jerry Wunderlich

Makeup Department
Del Acevedo	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Francisco Day	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Dick Glassman	....	assistant director (as Richard Glassman)

Art Department
Dennis J. Parrish	....	property master (as Dennis Parrish)

Sound Department
William Edmondson	....	sound mixer (as Bill Edmondson)
Tom Edwards	....	sound mixer
Theodore Soderberg	....	sound mixer

Stunts
Louie Elias	....	stunt coordinator (as Louis Elias)
Carey Loftin	....	stunt coordinator (as Cary Loftin)
Max Balchowsky	....	stunts (uncredited)
Joe Brooks	....	stunts (uncredited)
James W. Gavin	....	aerial stunts (uncredited)
Bill Hickman	....	stunts (uncredited)
Carey Loftin	....	stunt double (uncredited)
Carey Loftin	....	stunt driver (uncredited)

Casting Department
Michael McLean	....	casting supervisor

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Ed Wynigear	....	wardrobe master

Music Department
Jimmy Bowen	....	music producer
Jimmy Bowen	....	music supervisor
Pete Carpenter	....	musical associate
Tom Thacker	....	musical associate

Other crew
Michael McLean	....	associate: Mr. Sarafian
Iain Quarrier	....	creative associate
Maurice Unger	....	production administrator

Production Companies

• Cupid Productions
• Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Distributors

• Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation (1971) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1977) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Fox Film (1971) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Fox-Stockholm Film Distribution (1971) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation (1975) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2002) (UK) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• CBS/Fox (USA) (VHS)
• CBS/Fox (USA) (laserdisc)
• Svensk Filmindustri (SF) (2006) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Svensk Filmindustri (SF) (2008) (Sweden) (DVD) (Blu-ray)

MPAA:

Rated R for sensuality/nudity and drug content. (1998 re-rating)

Runtime:

99 min | UK:106 min

Country:

USA | UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

France:U | Iceland:L | Germany:16 (re-rating) (2008) | Singapore:PG | USA:R (re-rating) (1998) | Australia:M | Canada:14A | Finland:K-16 | Norway:16 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:GP (original rating) | West Germany:18 (original rating)

Filming Locations:

Austin, Nevada, USA

Company:

Cupid Productions

Trivia:

There were actually four 440 Challenger R/Ts and one 383 Challenger R/T, which was an automatic with green interior. This one was used for some exterior shots and it pulled the 1967 Camaro up to speed so the Camaro could hit the bulldozers. As confirmed by property master Dennis J. Parrish, all of the cars were NOT originally white. They were just painted white for the film. During the scene where Kowalski has a flat tire, you can see green paint in the dents.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When the first motorcycle cops attempt to pull Kowalski over, the wind is flapping the cop's holster upward, showing it to be empty.

Quotes:

Super Soul: Hey Kowalski, you out there?

Movie Connections:

Featured in Wanderlust (2006) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Dear Jesus God

simply one of the best car movies of all time.........

the plot summary covers the story and yes! there is a story wrapped around one long car chase. the speed is real, the NOISE is real, that Challenger leaves black lines on the road........ I saw it when it was first released (when I was young and silly) and then spent 15 years trying to track down a Video copy of the movie (made more difficult as it had to be a PAL copy). I got the video in the '90s and still watch this amazing film. People rave about the chase sequence in Bullitt or The French Connection. Vanishing Point takes that excitement and extends it. Simply a great car movie for those who like a great car movie.... watch it