Lookin' to Get Out (1982)

Director:

Hal Ashby

Writers:

Al Schwartz (written by) and
Jon Voight (written by)

Release Date:

30 June 1983 (Australia)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

What they're doing is insane, immoral... and working!

Plot:

Two gamblers must leave New York City after one loses a lot of money. Doing what all gamblers in trouble would do...

Plot Keywords:

Gambler | Gambling | New York City | Disguise | Watching TV

Cast

Jon Voight	...	Alex Kovac
Ann-Margret	...	Patti Warner
Burt Young	...	Jerry Feldman
Bert Remsen	...	Smitty
Jude Farese	...	Harry (as Jude Ferrese)
Allen Keller	...	Joey
Richard Bradford	...	Bernie Gold
Stacey Pickren	...	Rusty - The Red-Headed Hooker
Samantha Harper	...	Lillian - Jerry's Ex-Wife
Fox Harris	...	Harvey - The Elevator Operator
Marcheline Bertrand	...	Girl in Jeep
Clyde Kusatsu	...	Parking Attendant - Gets the China Speech
Larry Flash Jenkins	...	Parking Attendant - Brings Up the Car (as Larry 'Flash' Jenkins)
Roger Rook	...	Poker Player
Bill Borsella	...	Poker Player
Howard Gray	...	Poker Player
Hank Robinson	...	Poker Player (as Henry Robinson)
Sig Frohlich	...	Poker Game Dealer (as Sigmond Frohlick)
Steven E. Pelzer	...	Paul - Rooms for Dean Martin
Ruth Manning	...	Shannon - Bernie Gold's Sect'y
Don Lake	...	Alfred Jordon - Registration Desk
Barbara Joyce Furman	...	Assistant at Registration Desk
Wiley Harker	...	Dr. Green - Hotel Doctor (as Willey Harper)
Barry Gootkind	...	Floorman - Says 'Hello' to Patti
Howard Witt	...	Sid Dorfman - Man Interrupted by Jerry While Talking to Patti
Peter Lind Hayes	...	Tourist at Registration Desk
Mary Healy	...	Tourist at Registration Desk
Siegfried & Roy	...	Magicians (as Siegfried and Roy Enterprises)
Kris Kremo	...	Juggler (as Kris Kemo)
Nicki Power	...	Ice Skater
Robbie Leland	...	Ice Skater
Angelina Jolie	...	Tosh - Patti's Daughter (as Angelina Jolie Voight)
Larry Alan Weisshart	...	Bellhop
Patrick O'Neill	...	Bartender - Double Vodka in Parisian Bar
Frank Bella	...	Maitre D'
Robert S. Aumen	...	Gate Guard - High Roller Suite
Richard Padgett	...	Gate Guard - High Roller Suite (as Dick Padgett)
Tony Hawkins	...	Bernie's Assistant - Airport
Lee H. Hickerson	...	Executive - Airport (as Lee Nickerson)
Tony Hawkson	...	Executive - Airport
Mike De Luna	...	Taxi Driver (as Michael De Luna)
Michael D. Misuraca	...	Taxi Driver (as Michael D. Miauraca)
Joseph Miller	...	Cashier - Gave Jerry the Money
Gloria Manos	...	Cashier
Martha Sheehan	...	Cashier (as Martha Sheehman)
Pam Parmelli	...	Cashier
John Ortstadt	...	Cashier
Roberta Greenberg	...	Cashier (as Robert Greenberg)
Myrtle Elizabeth Lolatte	...	Cashier (as Mayrle Elizabeth Lolaite)
Effie Karath	...	Woman at Bar
Cis Rundle	...	Waitress
Peter Kulas	...	Bartender
Robert Buckingham	...	Casino Manager (as Bob Buckingham)
James De Closs	...	Assistant (as Jim De Closs)
Kenneth L. Cohen	...	Pit Boss (as Ken Cohen)
Ron Skurow	...	Black Jack Dealer (as Ron Skuron)
Steve Vincent	...	Casino Manager
Danny Tucker	...	One-Eyed Waiter
David Welch	...	Paramedic with Glasses
Terry Fisher	...	Paramedic Without Glasses (as Terrence Fisher)
Jim Carey	...	Dancer - Backstage
Walter Mahofski	...	Dancer - Backstage (as Walter Cartier [Mohofski])
Lee Cornell	...	Dancer - Backstage
Robert Harwood	...	Dancer - Backstage
Michael Kean	...	Dancer - Backstage
Wendy Pauline Lucker	...	Dancer - Backstage
Elizabeth C. Hayden	...	Dancer - Backstage
Mark Willis	...	Dancer - Backstage
Maureen Owen	...	Dancer - Backstage
Marian Palmer	...	Dancer - Backstage
Dennis Casey Park	...	Dancer - Backstage
Kimball Davis	...	Dancer - Backstage
Geoffrey Goldfarb	...	Dancer - Backstage
Bruce Black	...	Dancer - Backstage
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Dan Caldwell
Jack Andreozzi	...	Henchman (uncredited)
Hal Ashby	...	Man Speaking on TV (uncredited)
Earl Chaney	...	Guard (uncredited)
Siegfried Fischbacher	...	Magician (uncredited)
Daniel D. Halleck	...	Man (uncredited)
Roy Horn	...	Magician (uncredited)
Gloria Morrison	...	Judy 'Hooker' (uncredited)
Bettie Robertson	...	Suzanne Somers (Look-A-Like) (uncredited)

Directed by
Hal Ashby

Writing credits
Al Schwartz		(written by) and
Jon Voight		(written by)

Produced by
Andrew Braunsberg	....	producer
Robert Schaffel	....	producer
Edward Teets	....	producer

Original Music by
Miles Goodman
Johnny Mandel

Cinematography by
Haskell Wexler		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Walton Dornisch
Éva Gárdos		(as Eva Gardos)
Janice Hampton
Robert C. Jones
Wayne Wahrman

Casting by
Lynn Stalmaster

Production Design by
Robert F. Boyle		(as Robert Boyle)

Art Direction by
James L. Schoppe		(as James Schoppee)

Set Decoration by
George Gaines

Makeup Department
Robert Dawn	....	makeup artist (as Bob Dawn)
Diane Pepper	....	hair stylist
Stephen Robinette	....	hair stylist (uncredited)

Production Management
Edward Teets	....	unit production manager
Stephen Traxler	....	production supervisor: second unit

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Paul Moen	....	second assistant director
Charles Myers	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Gary Clark	....	paint foreman (as Gary Clard)
Tim Donelan	....	swing gang
Gene Fukuzawa	....	labor foreman (as Gene Fukazawa)
Al Gaynor	....	graphic designer (as Albert Gaynor)
Al Gaynor	....	scenic designer (as Albert Gaynor)
Mike Higelmire	....	leadman (as Michael Higlemire)
Don High	....	set designer (as Donald High)
Bill Iiams	....	propmaker foreman (as William Iiams)
Roger Irvin	....	construction coordinator
Gary Kudroff	....	leadman
Pat Maresca	....	greensman
Ray Mercer Jr.	....	assistant property master (as Ray Mercer)
John A. Scott III	....	assistant property master (as John Scott)
Arthur Shippee	....	property master (as Arthur Shippee Jr.)
Robby Vandermark	....	standby painter
Sandy Veneziano	....	set designer

Sound Department
Crew Chamberlain	....	cable man
Lucy Coldsnow-Smith	....	sound editor (as Lucy Coldsnow)
Don Coufal	....	boom operator
Robert Knudson	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Buzz Knudsen)
Charles E. Moran	....	sound editor (as Charles Moran)
Richard Oswald	....	dialogue editor
Andrew Patterson	....	sound editor
Bruce Richardson	....	supervising sound editor (as Paul Bruce Richardson)
Jeff Wexler	....	sound mixer

Stunts
Bobby Bass	....	stunt person
Jophery C. Brown	....	stunt person (as Jophery Brown)
Fletcher Bryant	....	stunt person
Buzz Bundy	....	stunt driver: taxi up on its side
William H. Burton	....	stunt person (as Bill Burton)
Steven Chambers	....	stunt person (as Steve Chambers)
David R. Ellis	....	stunt person (as David Ellis)
Billy Hank Hooker	....	stunt person (as William Hank Hooker)
Buddy Joe Hooker	....	stunt choreographer
Ron Stein	....	stunt person
Janell Twomey	....	stunt person (as Jannell Twomey)
Walter Wyatt	....	stunt person

Camera and Electrical Department
Paul E. Borchardt	....	key grip (as Paul Eric Barchardt)
James F. Boyle	....	gaffer (as James Boyle)
Peter Davidian	....	electrical best boy
Ray De La Motte	....	camera operator
Dave Friedman	....	still photographer (as David Friedman)
Antonio V. Garrido	....	second company grip (as Tony Garrido)
Robert E. Gaynor	....	dolly grip (as Robert Gaynor)
John A. Hawn	....	rigging gaffer (as John Hawn)
Louis Mahler	....	video technician (as Lewis Mahler)
Edgar E. Mosquera	....	video operator (as Edgar E. Mosguera)
Michael G. Riba	....	third camera assistant (as Michael Riba)
Dianne Schroeder	....	special photographer
Guy Skinner	....	second camera assistant
Steven H. Smith	....	first camera assistant (as Steve Smith)
Garrett Brown	....	Steadicam operator (uncredited)
Andy Romanoff	....	louma crane technician (uncredited)
Steve Stafford	....	camera operator (uncredited)

Casting Department
Sylvia Fay	....	extra casting
Charlene Goldman	....	extra casting
Barbara Lambertson	....	extra casting (as Barbara Lamerston)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Thomas Costich	....	costumer (as Tom Costich)
Thomas S. Dawson	....	costumer (as Tom Dawson)
Kathleen McGregor	....	costumer
Vincent Sembera	....	tailor (as Vince Sembera)

Editorial Department
Mireille Machu	....	assistant editor
Catherine Peacock	....	editing assistant: video tape
Brian Ralph	....	negative cutter
Christopher Rouse	....	assistant editor
Gary Wright	....	post-production assistant
Melissa Wye	....	assistant editor
Tracy Granger	....	assistant film editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Miles Goodman	....	composer: additional music
Joel Moss	....	music recordist
George Doering	....	musician (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Bill Gray	....	transportation coordinator
Dan Riportella	....	transportation captain (as Danny Riportella)
Roger Wooge	....	transportation (uncredited)

Other crew
Enid Arias	....	personal consultant: Jon Voight (as Enid Watts Arias)
Charles Clapsaddle	....	assistant: Mr. Ashby
Concepta Fennell	....	assistant: Mr. Braunsberg
Terry Fisher	....	first aid (as Terrance Fisher)
Marjorie Gaines	....	assistant: Mr. Ashby
Marilynn Gross	....	assistant: Mr. Schaffel
James Herbert	....	location manager: Los Angeles
Deborah D. Johnson	....	assistant production accountant (as Debbie Johnson)
Lucile Jones	....	assistant: Mr. Ashby
Linda Sony Kinney	....	production coordinator (as Linda Sony)
George Masters	....	consultant: Ann-Margret
Ramon Pahoyo	....	craft service (as Ramone Pahoyo)
Sharon Poole	....	assistant: Mr. Schaffel
Colleen Rose	....	assistant: Mr. Voight
Marge Rowland	....	production accountant
Peter J. Silbermann	....	unit publicist (as Peter Silbermann)
Chip Taylor	....	story consultant
Stephen Traxler	....	production assistant (as Steve Traxler)
Cynnie Troup	....	script supervisor
Peggy Upton	....	assistant: Mr. Schaffel
Earl Wingard	....	unit publicist
Tommy Burns	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Sheryl Levine	....	pre-production coordinator (uncredited)
Sheryl Levine	....	production assistant: Mr. Voight (uncredited)
Craig Vincent	....	bodyguard: Angelina Jolie Voight (uncredited)

Thanks
Michael D. Haller	....	special thanks: for being here (as Michael Haller)
Robert C. Jones	....	special thanks: for being there
Steven E. Pelzer	....	special thanks and appreciation to for his invaluable assistance: representative, The MGM Grand Hotel (as Steve Pelzer)

Production Companies

• Lorimar Productions (presents)
• Northstar International (in association with)
• Voight / Schaffel Productions (in association with)

Distributors

• Paramount Pictures (1982) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1986) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Warner Home Video (2009) (Canada) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2009) (USA) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Dolby Laboratories  sound post-production
• Lynn Stalmaster & Associates  casting (as Lynn Stalmaster and Associates)
• MGM Grand  special thanks and appreciation to (as The MGM Grand Hotel)
• Pacific Title  titles and opticals
• Panavision  lenses and Panaflex camera (as Panavision®)

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for language and some nudity (director's cut)

Runtime:

105 min | USA:120 min (extended version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:K-12 | USA:R | Iceland:L | Australia:M | USA:R (director's cut)

Filming Locations:

Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

Company:

Lorimar Productions

Trivia:

Only movie to co-star real-life father, mother and daughter: Jon Voight, Marcheline Bertrand and Angelina Jolie.

Soundtrack:

Lookin' to Get Out

Energetic Tour-de-Force Actors' Movie

Because this film has been so stubbornly withheld from the home-video market, it has been years since the last time I saw it. Still, as a serious aficionado of fine acting, I still retain vivid memories of this lively flick and I can not understand all the negative reaction it received. The characters who populate this story are fascinating and memorably enacted by a superb cast. It would be little more than another typical caper flick were it not for the well-drawn weaknesses of the main characters which lead them inexorably into a high pressure situation from which they must try with all their might to escape. If you ever get to see this show, watch for the marvelous work of the numerous supporting players such as Richard Bradford. It is a deliciously glossy, stylish film but with a character-driven story that thoroughly engrossed me each time I saw it. It dances precariously between comedy and drama in a manner which I found intriguing and delightful. In view of all the bad reviews I have read about "Looking to Get Out" I deeply regret that it persists in being unavailable year after year. I would love to look at it again to try to figure out what causes so many folks to dislike it. Is it simply a matter of taste? I do not know.