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

Publicity for this picture declared that there was one sniper, thirty-three exit gates and 91,000 people. In the film's source book, the stadium had 75,000 people.

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Goofs

Capt Holly (Charlton Heston) twice refers to the sniper's weapon as an "automatic rifle" (a rifle that continues to fire as long as the trigger is held back). But the weapon is actually a semi-automatic (in which only one shot is fired per trigger pull). A real policeman would not have made such a mistake in basic firearm nomenclature.

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Quotes

Janet: I was on the same plane as you. I couldn't help but notice how attractive you are. You know you have a very beautiful mouth?
Steve: Yeah, so do you, but it's big. You go away, lady, or I'll call a cop.
Janet: I am a cop.
Steve: Well, then kiss me, I'm crazy about cops.

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Connections

Referenced in The Break-Up (2006)

User Reviews

The superstar Charlton Heston in a thrilling movie

Plot: A psycho with a big ass rifle places himself over the scoreboard at a big football game. It's Capt. Peter Holly's job to get him down from there.

I can't understand why this movie got such a poor grade here at IMDB? Who could ever say that Charlton Heston wasn't the coolest guy on the face of the earth. And take my word for it I'm not one of those hollywood suckers I like independent films and all that but this movie really shows this the mega superstar that is Charlton Heston in his golden years. But it isn't just Mr Heston who makes this movie great, the story is thrilling all the way through as you await the snipers first shot and the crowds reaction. An intelligent movie about the power of one insane man. Ps Look out for Walter Pidgeon ( the aged pick pocket ) know from such roles as Dr Morbius in the scifi classic Forbidden Planet and as Capt. Alan Thorndike in Fritz Lang's masterpiece Man Hunt. DS