Two-Minute Warning (1976)

A psychotic sniper plans a massive killing spree in a Los Angeles football stadium during a major championship game. The police, led by Captain Peter Holly (Charlton Heston) and SWAT ... See full summary »

Director:

Larry Peerce

Writers:

George LaFountaine (novel), Edward Hume (screenplay)

Stars:

Charlton Heston, John Cassavetes, Martin Balsam

Nominated for 1 Oscar.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Charlton Heston	...	Capt. Peter Holly
John Cassavetes	...	Sgt. Button
Martin Balsam	...	Sam McKeever
Beau Bridges	...	Mike Ramsay
Marilyn Hassett	...	Lucy
David Janssen	...	Steve
Jack Klugman	...	Sandman
Gena Rowlands	...	Janet
Walter Pidgeon	...	The Pickpocket
Brock Peters	...	Paul
David Groh	...	Al
Mitch Ryan	...	The Priest (as Mitchell Ryan)
Joe Kapp	...	Charlie Tyler
Pamela Bellwood	...	Peggy Ramsay
Jon Korkes	...	Jeffrey

Storyline

A psychotic sniper plans a massive killing spree in a Los Angeles football stadium during a major championship game. The police, led by Captain Peter Holly (Charlton Heston) and SWAT commander Sergeant Button (John Cassavetes), learn of the plot and rush to the scene. Still, they may be too late, as an all-star cast finds itself lined up in the sights of a gun-toting madman.

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Plot Keywords:

swat | police | stadium | sniper | sniper rifle | 

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Taglines:

For some...too much time to wait. For the rest...too little time to run.

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Genres:

Drama | Thriller

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

12 November 1976 (USA)

Also Known As:

Two Minute Warning

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum - 3911 S. Figueroa Street, Exposition Park, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Filmways Pictures, Universal Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

115 min 180 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The name of the sports stadium was the real-life Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The venue can be seen sporting Olympics Rings on its exterior wall adjacent to the arena's name. Los Angeles had unsuccessfully bidded for the Olympic Games in 1976 which was the year the film was released; they were held in Montreal, Canada. LA had hosted them in 1932, held them again in 1984 and had also unsuccessfully bidded to host them in 1980. At the time the movie was made and released, LA had not yet been elected as the 1984 Olympics Host city as the vote did not occur until 18th May 1978. Four years prior to this sniper stadium disaster movie, the Palestinian terrorist group Black September held Israeli athletes hostage at the Munich 1972 Summer Olympic Games, this being the subject of the Academy Award (Oscar) Winning documentary One Day in September.

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Goofs

Near the end of the movie, Sgt Button and Capt Holly are stalking the sniper in the tower where he is hiding. Visibility is almost nil because of darkness and the smoke from a smoke grenade, yet the two officers are wearing sunglasses. All this would have made it near impossible for them to see the sniper, yet Holly spots him immediately and shoots him.

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Quotes

Steve: He's a hell of a charmer. Just make sure his hair doesn't fall in your drink.

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Connections

References Ben Casey (1961)

User Reviews

my thoughts

I remember the made for TV version as a kid. Today was the first time I'd seen the original theater version. The differences were striking. I'm amazed at how many people let their politics color their views of these movies. I also think people over think things rather than just allowing themselves to be entertained. I for one am glad they didn't tell us much of anything about the sniper. While apparently unfathomable in the 70's it seems pretty plausible today. I was not present when this happened but a gunman came into my church and killed 6 or 7 people before killing himself. The authorities came to learn a lot of useless details about the shooter but little or nothing to explain his motives or would give any type of solace to the grieving survivors. It was just random, senseless violence, like the shooter in this movie. I'd liked to have had some more sympathetic victims and I couldn't get over how ill prepared the police where, but otherwise I liked this movie.