The Lift (1983) De lift (original title)

Director:

Dick Maas

Writer:

Dick Maas (writer)

Release Date:

4 July 1985 (USA)

Genre:

Fantasy | Horror | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

Take the stairs, take the stairs. For God's sake, take the Stairs!!!

Plot:

A lift begins displaying some erratic behavior, like trapping some party goers and nearly suffocating them...

Plot Keywords:

Maintenance Man | Coffee Machine | Toy Repair | Abandonment | Breast Suckling

Awards:

2 wins

Cast

Huub Stapel	...	Felix Adelaar
Willeke van Ammelrooy	...	Mieke de Beer
Josine van Dalsum	...	Saskia Adelaar
Liz Snoyink	...	Vrouw in Lift
Wiske Sterringa	...	Vrouw in Lift
Huib Broos	...	Man in Lift
Pieter Lutz	...	Man in Lift
Johan Hobo	...	Ober
Dick Scheffer	...	Gérant
Matthias Maat	...	Ober
Ger van Groningen	...	Ober
Jan Anne Drenth	...	Nachtportier
Emma Onrust	...	Dochertje
Sydney Kuyer	...	Zoontje
Cor Witschge	...	Dagportier
Paul Gieske	...	Huismeester
Piet Römer	...	Beheerder
Serge-Henri Valcke	...	Psychiater
Onno Molenkamp	...	Blinde man
Manfred de Graaf	...	Makelaar
Agnes Schuch	...	Werkster
Gerard Thoolen	...	Nachtwaker 1
Kees Prins	...	Nachtwaker 2
Siem Vroom	...	Politie Inspecteur
Aat Ceelen	...	Rechercheur
Arnica Elsendoorn	...	Schoonzuster
Guus Hoes	...	Zwager
Ab Abspoel	...	Cher
Hans Dagelet	...	Collega
Isabelle Brok	...	Meisje bij Lift
Carola Gijsbers van Wijk	...	Maitresse
Theo Pont	...	Verpleger
Ad Noyons	...	Ex-Liftmonteur
Coby Timp	...	Receptioniste
Hans Veerman	...	Baas Rising Sun
Peer Mascini	...	Professor
Michiel Kerbosch	...	Schoonmaker
Luk van Mello	...	Baas
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Mariëlle Sprong	...	Ravensteijn's secretaresse

Directed by
Dick Maas

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Dick Maas		writer

Produced by
Matthijs van Heijningen	....	producer

Original Music by
Dick Maas

Cinematography by
Marc Felperlaan

Film Editing by
Hans van Dongen

Production Design by
Harry Ammerlaan

Set Decoration by
René Habes
Matthijs van Heijningen Jr.
Jan van den Berg
Hans Voors

Costume Design by
Jany Temime		(as Jany Hubar)

Makeup Department
Robert Stouthamer	....	special makeup effects artist

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Myrna van Gilst	....	assistant director

Art Department
Tom Zwaan	....	props

Sound Department
Georges Bossaers	....	sound mixer
Bert Koops	....	second sound
Bert Koops	....	sound recordist
Hans-Walter Kramski	....	sound effects
Ad Roest	....	adr mixer
Ad Roest	....	adr recordist
Ad Roest	....	foley mixer
Ad Roest	....	foley recordist
Ad Roest	....	sound mixer

Special Effects by
Leo Cahn	....	special effects
René Stouthamer	....	special effects

Camera and Electrical Department
Cor Roodhart	....	lighting technician
Erwin Steen	....	assistant camera
René Stouthamer	....	grip
Anne Taverne	....	still photographer
Alexander van der Meer	....	lighting assistant
Franc van Zutphen	....	lighting assistant
Jan Wich	....	clapper loader

Casting Department
Hans Kemna	....	casting advisor

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Yvonne De Boer	....	assistant costumes

Transportation Department
Eric Wobma	....	production driver

Other crew
Helen Blok	....	production secretary
Guurtje Buddenberg	....	production accountant
Puck de Leeuw	....	script girl
Jurriën Rood	....	script supervisor
Andre Sjouerman	....	shoot advisor
Mariëlle Sprong	....	caterer
Eric Wobma	....	general assistant

Thanks
Gaby Tjoe	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• First Floor Features
• Sigma Film Productions

Distributors

• Arcade Pictures (1983) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Tuschinski Film Distribution (1983) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Warner-Columbia Film (1984) (France) (theatrical)
• Warner-Columbia Films (1984) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Island Alive (1985) (USA) (theatrical) (subtitled)
• Arcade Movie Company (19??) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Argentina Video Home (1985) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Bridge Entertainment Group (200?) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Dice DVD (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Image Entertainment (laserdisc)
• Media Home Entertainment (19??) (USA) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Cineco  film laboratory
• Cinetone Studios  lighting equipment
• Cinetone Studios  sound recording
• Eastman Color  production services and facilities
• Optical Arthouse  titles and opticals

Also Known As:

"De lift" - Netherlands (original title)

Runtime:

Argentina:99 min | Sweden:99 min | USA:95 min | Netherlands:95 min

Country:

Netherlands

Language:

Dutch

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Argentina:16 | Finland:K-16 | France:-12 | Norway:16 (1984) | Sweden:15 | USA:R | West Germany:18 | Germany:16 | Iceland:16 | Italy:VM14 | Netherlands:16 | Australia:M | Portugal:M/16

Filming Locations:

Almere, Flevoland, Netherlands

Company:

First Floor Features

Trivia:

The movie was shot in 30 days and had a very small budget.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: When Felix arrives at the Office from 'Nieuwe Revu' we see the sound technician moving in the back of the van.

Quotes:

Head Waiter:These damn machines will be the death of us all some day!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Midnight Movie Review: Dick Maas on Sint (#1.28)" (2010)

An engrossing urban thriller in one environment we can't avoid.

I agree with John Hartl's review about the quality of this movie. It could easily have been silly, but it definitely is not. The last part, with Felix lit only by his industrial hand lamp in the enemy's own domain, is completely engrossing. The - quite sparse - music is eerily effective and the photography very good, as are the performances. In the version I saw, the dubbing is well done and convincing. Another winner from the Netherlands. About time we high risers took the lift seriously!