Runaway Train (1985)

Director:

Andrey Konchalovskiy

Writers:

Djordje Milicevic (screenplay) &
Paul Zindel (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

6 December 1985 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

Once it starts, nothing can stop it!

Plot:

Two escaped convicts and a female railway worker find themselves trapped on a train with no brakes and nobody driving.

Plot Keywords:

Prison | Train | Prisoner | Escape | Freight Train

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 2 wins & 5 nominations

Cast

Jon Voight	...	Oscar 'Manny' Manheim
Eric Roberts	...	Buck McGeehy
Rebecca De Mornay	...	Sara
Kyle T. Heffner	...	Frank Barstow
John P. Ryan	...	Warden Ranken
T.K. Carter	...	Dave Prince
Kenneth McMillan	...	Eddie MacDonald
Stacey Pickren	...	Ruby
Walter Wyatt	...	Conlan
Edward Bunker	...	Jonah
Reid Cruickshanks	...	Al Turner (as Reid Cruikshanks)
Dan Wray	...	Fat Con
Michael Lee Gogin	...	Short Con
John Bloom	...	Tall Con
Hank Worden	...	Old Con (as Norton E. 'Hank' Warden)
John Otrin	...	Cat Con
Norman Alexander Gibbs	...	Queen Con
Dennis Ott	...	Guard
Don Pugsley	...	Guard
John Fountain	...	Guard
Wally Rose	...	Announcer
Danny Trejo	...	Boxer (as Daniel Trejo)
Big Yank	...	Trainer
Tommy 'Tiny' Lister	...	Black Guard (as Tom 'Tiny' Lister)
Dana Belgarde	...	Prison Guard
Diane Erickson	...	Sue Majors
Larry John Meyers	...	Pulasky
Don McLaughlin	...	Foreman Cassidy
Vladimir Bibic	...	Fireman Wright
William Tregoe	...	Rogers (as William Tregoe Jr.)
Loren Janes	...	Engineer Eastbound 12
Obie Weeks	...	Head Brakeman
John-Clay Scott	...	Conductor Eastbound 12 (as John Clay Scott)
Robert M. Klempner	...	Cushman
Carmen Filpi	...	Signal Maintainer
Phillip Earl	...	1st Crewman
Tom Keenan	...	2nd Crewman
Tony Epper	...	Hitman
Jerry Brainum	...	Bodybuilder
Duey Thomasick	...	Emergency Worker
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
John K. Anderson	...	Inmate (uncredited)
Dick Durock	...	Fight Guard (uncredited)
Dennis Franz	...	Cop (uncredited)
Charlie Messenger	...	Yardworker (uncredited)
John Richard Petersen	...	Camera Man (uncredited)
Benjamin Rivera	...	Prison Inmate (uncredited)
Harris D. Smithe	...	Willard (uncredited)
David Stompro	...	Jonson (uncredited)

Directed by
Andrey Konchalovskiy		(as Andrei Konchalovsky)

Writing credits
Djordje Milicevic		(screenplay) &
Paul Zindel		(screenplay) &
Edward Bunker		(screenplay)
Akira Kurosawa		(based on a screenplay by)
Ryûzô Kikushima		story
Hideo Oguni		story

Produced by
Richard Garcia	....	line producer
Yoram Globus	....	producer
Menahem Golan	....	producer
Robert A. Goldston	....	executive producer
Mati Raz	....	associate producer
Henry T. Weinstein	....	executive producer (as Henry Weinstein)
Robert Whitmore	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Trevor Jones

Cinematography by
Alan Hume

Film Editing by
Henry Richardson

Casting by
Robert MacDonald

Production Design by
Stephen Marsh

Art Direction by
Joseph T. Garrity

Set Decoration by
Anne Kuljian

Costume Design by
Katherine Dover		(as Kathy Dover)

Makeup Department
Allan A. Apone	....	special makeup designer
Lilly Benyair-Gart	....	makeup artist
Dee Mansano	....	hair stylist (as Dee Monsano)
Moni Mansano	....	hair styles supervisor
Moni Mansano	....	makeup supervisor
Garner Owen III	....	hair stylist: second unit
Garner Owen III	....	makeup artist: second unit

Production Management
Sue Baden-Powell	....	executive in charge of production
Christopher Pearce	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jack Cummins	....	first assistant director
Nancy King	....	second assistant director
Max Kleven	....	second unit director: Alaska
Michael D. Pariser	....	first assistant director: second unit (as Michael Pariser)

Art Department
Peter Borck	....	property master: second unit
Peter Borck	....	set decorator: second unit
Jay Burkhart	....	scenic artist: Alaska
Mike Carr	....	lead carpenter: second unit
David B. Clark	....	set painter
Dorree Cooper	....	assistant set dresser
Phil Davidson	....	art department assistant: second unit
Kelly Deco	....	head scenic artist
Catherine Dixon	....	set painter
Susan Emshwiller	....	set dresser
Lisa Finkbohner	....	set painter
Stephen Homsy	....	assistant art director
Kara Lindstrom	....	assistant set dresser
Colin Macrae	....	art department assistant: second unit
Robin L. Miller	....	property master
Alan Munro	....	storyboard artist
Phil Peters	....	construction coordinator
Gary Schoeneck	....	scenic artist: Alaska
Douglas Schwartz	....	art department assistant: second unit
Stephen Andrew Schwartz	....	property assistant
Suzette Sheets	....	art department assistant
Mick Strawn	....	construction coordinator: second unit
Pat Tagliaferro	....	assistant art director
Christina Volz	....	lead art department assistant
Michael Wymore	....	lead carpenter
Kini Kay	....	set builder (uncredited)
Pat Tagliaferro	....	construction coordinator (uncredited)

Sound Department
Ken Beauchene	....	boom operator
Roy Burge	....	assistant sound effects editor
Peter Culverwell	....	assistant sound effects editor
Martin Evans	....	dialogue editor
Nigel Galt	....	adr editor
Michael Hart	....	electronic sound effects editor
John Hayward	....	post-production re-recording mixer: Pinewood Studios
Alan Howarth	....	electronic sound effects
Ken J. Johnson	....	train sound effects
Jim Roddan	....	sound editor
Neal Thomas	....	sound mixer: second unit
Susumu Tokunow	....	sound mixer
Chris David	....	stereo sound consultant: Dolby (uncredited)
Lee Strosnider	....	sound mixer (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Tassilo Baur	....	special effects: second unit
Ray Brown	....	special effects: second unit
Steve Cates	....	assistant special effects
Phil Davidson	....	special effects assistant: second unit
Rick Josephsen	....	special effects
Colin Macrae	....	special effects assistant: second unit
Eric Pifer	....	assistant special effects
Keith Richins	....	special effects
Bob Riggs	....	special effects: second unit
Douglas Schwartz	....	special effects assistant: second unit
W. Wayne Walser	....	assistant special effects

Visual Effects by
Ermando Biamonte	....	crash sequence: Cannon Visual Effects
Craig Chandler	....	optical effects (uncredited)
Alan Church	....	optical camera (uncredited)
Jim Danforth	....	matte artist (uncredited)
Jim Danforth	....	matte photographer (uncredited)

Stunts
John Casino	....	stunts
Carl Ciarfalio	....	stunts (as Carl Nick Ciarfalio)
Doc Duhame	....	stunts
Dick Durock	....	stunts
Stefan Gudju	....	stunts
Chuck Hicks	....	stunts
Terry Jackson	....	stunts
Loren Janes	....	stunt coordinator
Mike Johnson	....	stunts
Jean Malahni	....	stunts
John-Clay Scott	....	stunts
Russell Solberg	....	stunts
Bob Terhune	....	stunts
Jim Dunn	....	stunt performer (uncredited)
Terry Jackson	....	stunt double: Eric Roberts (uncredited)
Gene LeBell	....	stunts (uncredited)
Jean Malahni	....	stunt double: Rebecca DeMornay (uncredited)
Russell Solberg	....	stunt double: Jon Voight (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Gale M. Adler	....	still photographer
Paul Ayers	....	grip
Ray Bilger	....	electrician
Bob Bremner	....	gaffer
Don Burgess	....	director of photography: second unit
Dwight Campbell	....	key grip
Alan Caso	....	second assistant camera
Stephen Crawford	....	best boy
Mark Davison	....	second assistant camera
Richard Foreman Jr.	....	still photographer
Warren Fox	....	electrician
Mike Frift	....	camera operator
Anthony Gaudioz	....	first assistant camera: second unit
Geoffrey Griffin	....	best boy grip: second unit
Steve Grnya	....	grip: second unit
Simon Hume	....	first assistant camera
Tony Jefferson	....	grip: second unit
Paul Laufer	....	camera loader
Dwight Joseph Lavers	....	best boy grip (as Dwight La Vers)
Michael LaViolette	....	electrician
Julio Macat	....	second assistant camera
Tommy Magglos	....	first assistant camera
Colin Manning	....	dolly grip
Tom Priestley Jr.	....	camera operator: second unit
Richard 'Rico' Sands	....	key grip: second unit (as Rick Sands)
Scott Sproule	....	grip: second unit
Greg Tavenner	....	grip
Kevin Wadowski	....	grip
John Zumpano	....	electrician
Mark A. Shelton	....	electrician (uncredited)

Casting Department
Perry Bullington	....	casting associate
Charlie Messenger	....	extras casting (as Charles Messanger)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Jacqueline Johnson	....	key costumer (as Jackie Johnson)
Garner Owen III	....	wardrobe: second unit
Beth Sheldon	....	costumer (as Beth Holmes)

Editorial Department
Clement Barclay	....	second assistant editor
Keith Corder	....	second assistant editor
Peter Dansie	....	first assistant editor
Paul Elman	....	second assistant editor
Dan Engstrom	....	second assistant editor
Roy Helmrich	....	first assistant editor
Omneya 'Nini' Mazen	....	post-production coordinator
Peter Weatherley	....	additional editor

Music Department
Paul Hulme	....	music recording mixer: C.T.S. Studios
Trevor Jones	....	conductor

Transportation Department
Mike Davis	....	driver
Edward Flotard	....	driver
Bruce Hauer	....	driver
James Jones Sr.	....	driver
Jimmy Jones	....	transportation coordinator (as James P. Jones)
Joe 'Stinky' Killian	....	driver
Ted Mehous	....	transportation captain
Larry Shephard	....	driver
Robert Skogerboe	....	driver: honeywagon
John Yarbrough	....	driver

Other crew
Jim Bachelor	....	production assistant: second unit
Connie Barzaghi	....	script supervisor
Jim Bauman	....	first aid: second unit
Howard Brandy	....	publicity coordinator
Heather Buchanan	....	production assistant: second unit
Phillip Christon	....	location manager (as Phil Christon)
Sasha Dillon	....	craft service
Lynnda Donelson	....	set nurse
Anita Dreike	....	assistant: Mr. Konchalovsky
Marc S. Fischer	....	production auditor
Amy J. Hall	....	production assistant: second unit
Lynn Harrison	....	assistant cook: second unit
Harry Hauss	....	helicopter pilot: second unit
Ted Hewitt	....	railroad coordinator: second unit
Raymond Hirsch	....	assistant video technician
Richard Holley	....	helicopter pilot: second unit, Alaska (as Rick Holley)
Carol Howerton	....	production secretary: second unit
Soren Jensen	....	helicopter pilot: second unit
Mark Jones	....	production assistant: second unit
Robert M. Klempner	....	railroad consultant
Saskia Lodder	....	set nurse
Marilyn Maney	....	production secretary
Peter Manos	....	location auditor: second unit
Mary McLaglen	....	production coordinator
Brian McMillan	....	animal trainer
Sharon Morov	....	production secretary
Kassie O'Connell	....	production coordinator: second unit
Norman Pomeroy	....	control room consultant
Dennis Rose	....	cook: second unit
Jay Scherick	....	production assistant
Laura Smith	....	production assistant: second unit
Zachary Spoon	....	production assistant: second unit
Rena Sternfeld-Allon	....	script supervisor (as Rina Sternfeld)
Rena Sternfeld-Allon	....	script supervisor: second unit (as Rina Sternfeld)
Sean Toohey	....	production assistant: second unit
William Weppler	....	first aid: second unit
Kathryn Loraine Hibbs	....	accountant (uncredited)
Larry Litton	....	location manager (uncredited)
Chuck Simon	....	production executive (uncredited)
Danny Trejo	....	boxing coach: Eric Roberts (uncredited)

Thanks
Richard Holley	....	film dedicated to the memory of (as Rick Holley)

Production Companies

• Golan-Globus Productions
• Northbrook Films

Distributors

• Cannon Group, The (1985) (USA) (theatrical)
• Scotia International Filmverleih (1986) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Shochiku-Fuji Company (1986) (Japan) (theatrical)
• MGM/UA Home Video (1987) (USA) (VHS) (pan and scan)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1989) (USA) (TV)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1996) (USA) (VHS)
• MGM Home Entertainment (1998) (Canada) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (1998) (USA) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2004) (Germany) (DVD)
• Production Center of Andrei Konchalovsky (2014) (Russia) (DVD) (CIS)
• Stormovie (2005) (Italy) (DVD)
• América Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• Cannon Film Distributors Ltd. (UK)
• Cannon Releasing Corp.
• Hoyts Distribution
• Pan-Canadian Film Distributors (Canada)
• RCA/Columbia-Hoyts Home Video
• Video Medien Pool (VMP) GmbH (198?) (West Germany) (VHS)

Special Effects

• Makeup Effects Laboratories

Other Companies

• Alaskan Film Commission  thanks
• Alaskan Railroads  thanks
• B.A.P. Railroads  thanks
• Camera Effects  titles and opticals
• Five Star Set Services  set construction: second unit
• G.S.C./Optical Film Effects  opticals
• Inter Video  video playback
• Joe Dunton & Company  camera equipment provided by
• Joe Dunton Cameras America  camera equipment provided by
• Lee Lighting  lighting
• Montana Film Office  special thanks
• Pinewood Studios  post-production
• Sapex Scripts  post-production script services
• Serrurier & Associates  set construction: second unit
• Studios CTS  music recording and mixing
• The Keylite P.S.I. Group  production equipment and facilities
• Weinstein/Skyfield-Polymuse Inc.  in charge of production

Also Known As:

Runtime:

111 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Rankcolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Canada:18A (Ontario) | Iceland:16 | Singapore:NC-16 | Peru:14 | Portugal:M/12 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Chile:14 | Finland:K-18 | Norway:16 (cut) | Norway:18 | South Korea:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R | West Germany:16

Filming Locations:

Montana, USA

Company:

Golan-Globus Productions

Trivia:

Eric Roberts worked out for several months prior to filming to put on 30 pounds of muscle.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: Prior to the train crashing through the wall, we see a head-on view from the locomotive. Looking over to the right, you'll see a group of people (possibly the crew and cameraman) amassed by the wall, waiting to see this destructive stunt occur.

Quotes:

Jonah:[while talking with Manny about Buck] He's a pretty good youngster. Besides that, he pushes the laundry cart.
[followed by Jonah and Manny laughing out loud]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Rebel Set (#5.19)" (1992)

Soundtrack:

'Gloria' in D Major by Vivaldi

A modest masterpiece

The stock title promises action and suspense, and we get that, but with a story by Akira Kurosawa, expert direction by Russian émigré Andrei Konchalovsky and superior lensing by Alan Hume, we get a study of what defines a man.

John Voight and the vastly underrated Eric Roberts play two cons who escape from a hellish gulag and board a train with no driver. Their struggle to stop the train and battle their own inner demons is the movie.

Konchalovsky creates a cold, alien, ethereal world inside the train that, in the oddest way, provides a haven for self-examination for the two leads. Rebecca de Mournay is layered into the mix, as is the indefatigable John P. Ryan as a prison warden who risks death to return his charges to custody, but the movie belongs to Voight and Roberts who both bring tremendous humanity to their finely sketched characters.

The final image is as powerful as cinema gets and marks RUNAWAY TRAIN as a modest masterpiece.

Though often criticized for producing cheap rubbish, the Cannon Group, in fact, also produced many fine films including this, 52 PICK-UP and MARIA'S LOVERS (also Konchalovsky).