52 Pick-Up (1986)

Director:

John Frankenheimer

Writers:

Elmore Leonard (novel)
Elmore Leonard (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

7 November 1986 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

Greed. Extortion. Revenge.

Plot:

A secret fling with between a man and his mistress leads to blackmail and murder.

Plot Keywords:

Murder | Blackmail | Husband Wife Relationship | Female Nudity | Nervous Breakdown

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Roy Scheider	...	Harry Mitchell
Ann-Margret	...	Barbara Mitchell
Vanity	...	Doreen
John Glover	...	Alan Raimy
Robert Trebor	...	Leo Franks
Lonny Chapman	...	Jim O'Boyle
Kelly Preston	...	Cini
Doug McClure	...	Mark Arveson
Clarence Williams III	...	Bobby Shy
Alex Henteloff	...	Dan Lowenthal
Michelle Walker	...	Counter Girl
Philip Bartko	...	Test Site Worker
Tom Byron	...	Party Goer
Herschel Savage	...	Party Goer (as Harvey Cowen)
Ron Jeremy	...	Party Goer (as Ron Jeremy Hyatt)
Amber Lynn	...	Party Goer
Sharon Mitchell	...	Party Goer
Ines Ochoa	...	Party Goer
Allyson Palmeter	...	Party Goer
Katherine Poland	...	Party Goer
Debra Satell	...	Party Goer
Amy White	...	Party Goer
Charles Bowden	...	Factory Worker
Marc Castenada	...	Factory Worker
Mike Caruso	...	Factory Worker
Steven Clawson	...	Factory Worker
Christopher Cory	...	Factory Worker
Maurice Jenkins	...	Factory Worker
John Kahnen	...	Factory Worker
Bobby Ponce	...	Factory Worker
Ray Vela	...	Factory Worker
Robin Bronfman	...	Injured Driver
Debra Berger	...	O'Boyle's Wife
Laisa Carrie	...	Janet
Blackie Dammett	...	Drug Dealer
Barbara Ferris	...	Lisa
John Francis	...	Policeman
Conroy Gedeon	...	James Boyer
Bill Gratton	...	Ed Salvon
Jai M. Jefferson	...	Patron
Lenora Logan	...	Lady in Hall
Mark M. Mayuga	...	Passerby
Lorrie Lovett	...	Nude Model
Sandra Perron	...	Nude Model
Barbara Summers	...	Nude Model
William John Murphy	...	Grady (as William J. Murphy)
Anthony Palmer	...	Tom
Frank Sivero	...	Vendor
Arlin Miller	...	Celebrity Voice Impersonation
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Barbara Dare	...	Party Goer (uncredited)
Jamie Gillis	...	Party Goer (uncredited)
Bill Kucera	...	Campaign Worker (uncredited)
Cara Lott	...	Party Goer (uncredited)
Randy West	...	Party Goer (uncredited)

Directed by
John Frankenheimer

Writing credits
Elmore Leonard		(novel)
Elmore Leonard		(screenplay) and
John Steppling		(screenplay)

Produced by
Yoram Globus	....	producer
Menahem Golan	....	producer
Henry T. Weinstein	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Gary Chang

Cinematography by
Jost Vacano		(photography)
Stephen Ramsey		(uncredited)

Film Editing by
Robert F. Shugrue

Casting by
Louis DiGiaimo		(as Lou DiGiaimo)

Production Design by
Philip Harrison		(as Phillip Harrison)

Art Direction by
Russell Christian

Set Decoration by
Max Whitehouse

Costume Design by
Ray Summers

Makeup Department
Dale Brady	....	prosthetic lab technician
Rob Burman	....	prosthetic lab technician (as Robert T. Burman)
Norma Collins	....	hair stylist (as Norma Bass)
Hallie D'Amore	....	makeup artist
Vered Hochman	....	makeup artist
Dee Mansano	....	makeup artist
Dee Mansano	....	special makeup effects supervisor
Moni Mansano	....	chief prosthetics makeup

Production Management
Jeffrey Silver	....	production manager
Michael R. Sloan	....	post-production supervisor
Rony Yacov	....	executive in charge of production

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Bea Ellen Cameron	....	assistant director intern
Scott Cameron	....	second assistant director
Jodi Ehrlich	....	second assistant director
Bradley M. Gross	....	first assistant director
Roger La Page	....	first assistant director: second unit

Art Department
Michael Paul Clausen	....	leadman (as Michael Clausen)
Joseph C. Fama	....	carpenter
David L. Glazer	....	property master (as David Glazer)
Mark 'Digger' Green	....	assistant property master (as Mark Green)
Bill Hall	....	scenic artist
Hal Martin	....	set dresser
Sarah Burdick Stone	....	assistant set decorator (as Sarah Burdick)
Peter A. Tullo	....	second assistant props

Sound Department
Rick Alexander	....	sound re-recording mixer
Dwayne Avery	....	sound editor
Duncan Burns	....	sound editor
Michael C. Casper	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Michael Casper)
Terry Chambers	....	sound editor
Paul B. Clay	....	supervising sound editor (as Paul Clay)
Rick Crampton	....	sound editor
Thomas Paul Croce	....	foley artist
Alfred T. Ferrante	....	sound recordist
Robert Fitzgerald	....	sound editor (as Bob Fitzgerald)
Mark Goodermote	....	boom operator
Tommy Goodwin	....	adr mixer
Tommy Goodwin	....	foley mixer
Nils C. Jensen	....	sound editor (as Nils Jensen)
Jack Keath	....	adr supervisor
Andy MacDonald	....	sound re-recording mixer
Ed Novick	....	sound mixer
Tally Paulos	....	adr supervisor
Kevin Rockey	....	foley artist
Greg Stacy	....	sound editor
Marty Stein	....	sound editor
Bruce Stubblefield	....	sound editor
Casey Troutman	....	foley artist
Clancy T. Troutman	....	supervising sound editor

Special Effects by
Eric Allard	....	special effects coordinator
Philip Bartko	....	special effects crew
Thomas Mertz	....	special effects crew (as Tom Mertz)
Gary Zink	....	special effects

Stunts
Phil Adams	....	stunts
Simone Boisseree	....	stunts
Jerry Brutsche	....	stunts
Richard E. Butler	....	stunts (as Richard Butler)
Erik Cord	....	stunts
Janeen Davis	....	stunts
Scott Dockstader	....	stunts
Ted Grossman	....	stunt coordinator
Ted Grossman	....	stunts
Bob Harris	....	stunts
Bob Herron	....	stunts (as Robert Herron)
Hubie Kerns Jr.	....	stunts
Hubie Kerns	....	stunts
Alan Oliney	....	stunts
Ron Oliney	....	stunts (as Ronald Oliney)
Ross Reynolds	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Brian W. Armstrong	....	second assistant camera (as Brian Armstrong)
Alan Caso	....	camera operator
Jim Crandell	....	additional electrician
Stuart E. Cropley	....	electrician (as Stuart Cropley)
Mark Davison	....	first assistant camera
David Dubois	....	best boy electrician
John Farr	....	electrical rigger
Eyal Geva	....	second assistant camera
Nathaniel Goodman	....	camera loader
Anette Haellmigk	....	first assistant camera
Frank M. Holgate	....	camera operator: helicopter camera (as Frank Holgate)
Ian Kincaid	....	gaffer
Richard Kuhn	....	best boy grip
Jesse Mather	....	electrician
Brian H. Reynolds	....	grip (as Brian Reynolds)
Philip Sloan	....	key grip
Suzanne Tenner	....	still photographer
Ronald Woodward	....	grip (as Ronald Woodard)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Frances Harrison Hays	....	costume supervisor (as Frances Hays)
Philip Miglino	....	costumer

Editorial Department
Ulla Hoeller	....	first assistant editor (as Ulla Höller)
Omneya 'Nini' Mazen	....	post-production coordinator
Angelo Russo	....	color timer
Jordan Smith	....	second assistant editor
Anne-Marie Vitello	....	negative cutter
Ron Vitello	....	negative cutter

Music Department
Pete Anthony	....	music arranger
Sarah Nean Bruce	....	spherical sound 3D audio recording assistant (as Sarah N. Bruce)
Ken Caillat	....	music engineer
Paula Erickson	....	music supervisor
Mike Pfiefer	....	music mixer

Transportation Department
Edward Flotard	....	transportation captain
Jimmy Jones	....	transportation coordinator
Joel Renfro	....	transportation coordinator
Jean Spray	....	transportation co-captain

Other crew
Alicia Alexander	....	location manager
Wenden K. Baldwin	....	title designer
Caroline Baron	....	production coordinator
Howard Brandy	....	unit publicist
Mady Manson Burza	....	first assistant accountant (as Madalyn Burza)
Bea Ellen Cameron	....	production assistant (as B.C. Cameron)
Tom Capps	....	production assistant
Kristi Frankenheimer	....	assistant location manager
Whitney R. Hunter	....	location scout (as Whitney Hunter)
Ron Jeremy	....	consultant
Candace Lowell	....	craft service
Nelson McCormick	....	production assistant
Don Orlando	....	production auditor
Ross Reynolds	....	helicopter pilot
Sonny Ritscher	....	production assistant
Fred Roth	....	production assistant
Renate Schneuer	....	script supervisor
Kyle Seidenbaum	....	title designer
Walter Shipley	....	location scout (as Walt Shipley)
Chuck Simon	....	production executive
Joe Straw	....	production accountant

Thanks
Ron Jeremy	....	acknowledgment: film clip courtesy of (as Ron Jeremy Hyatt)

Production Companies

• Cannon Group

Distributors

• Cannon Film Distributors (1986) (USA) (theatrical)
• Cannon Group (1986) (USA) (theatrical)
• Hoyts Distribution (1987) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Oy Europa Vision AB (1987) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Sandrew Film & Teater (1987) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Scotia-Cannon (1987) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Media Home Entertainment (1987) (USA) (VHS)
• VMP (1987) (West Germany) (VHS)
• Vestron Video International (1987) (Belgium) (VHS)
• Vestron Video International (1987) (Netherlands) (video)
• Nelonen (1998) (Finland) (TV)
• Esselte Video (1990) (Finland) (VHS)
• FS Film Oy (2004) (Finland) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2004) (Germany) (DVD)
• Pan-Canadian Film Distributors (198?) (Canada) (theatrical)
• América Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• RCA/Columbia-Hoyts Home Video (19??) (Australia) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera equipment provided by
• The Keylite P.S.I. Group  production services
• Universal Studios Sound Facilities  sound post-production
• f-Stop  titles and opticals

Also Known As:

Runtime:

110 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (TVC)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Ultra Stereo

Certification:

West Germany:18 (re-release) | West Germany:18 (video rating) (cut) | Iceland:16 | Finland:K-16 (cut) (1989) | Finland:K-18 (cut) (1987) | Sweden:15 | New Zealand:R18 | Portugal:M/16 | Italy:VM18 | Argentina:16 | Australia:R | Norway:18 | UK:18 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

14312 Western Ave, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Cannon Group

Trivia:

Porn stars Amber Lynn, 'Sharon Mitchell' and Ron Jeremy appear in the film in the party sequence.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: When Harry Mitchell walks into the adult theater, you not only see the reflection of the camera man, but you also see the reflection of the boom mic in the open glass doors for a moment.

Quotes:

Alan Raimy:I could be walking into something.
Harry:Buddy, you could be walking into surgery.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Los Angeles Plays Itself (2003)

Soundtrack:

Gotta Have You

Underrated Film of 1986

Seems out of place in time where the main emphasis in American films were on action and horror. 52 Pick Up(1986) is a film that's more suited to the middle years of the film noir genre during the mid 1940s. Many old and modern themes are put together to create a gripping and well acted thriller. Its roots are deep in Film Noir traditions and notions.

The main villain is one of the most memorable heavies in thrillers of the last twenty years. What makes the film so compelling are the realistic behavior of the villains who are into to something that's way over their heads. The main villain, Alan Raimy is a cool talking but vicious blackmailer and murderer who goes into a war a nerves with nemesis, Harry Mitchell. He is truly a frightening villain unlike in many crime thriller who's can explode at anytime or any second.

52 Pick Up(1986) is based on a novel by Elmore Leonard whose work has been adapted into the big screen or television. In the 1980s most of the Elmore Leonard based features were noirish, serious, and violent films..I.E., 52 Pick Up(1986), Stick(1985), Glitz(1987), and Cat Chaser(1989). During the 1990s films based on Elmore Leonard's work tended to be more lighter and less sleezy and serious like for example, Get Shorty(1995), Jackie Brown(1997), Touch(1996), Out of Sight(1998), and the made for TV movie Pronto(1998). 52 Pick Up(1952) is one of my favorite films based on the crime novels of Elmore Leonard.

The snuff murder sequence involving the murder of Cini played by Kelly Preston is chilling presented. Similiar to the scenes of snuff that the main character sees in 8MM(1998). A disturbing moment as disturbing as the Family massacre and torture home video of Henry:Portrait of a Serial Killer(1986) from that same year. Realisticly directed with emotional impact by director, John Frankenheimer.

Filled with a good or excellent plot twist at every turn of the story. The Plot twists in 52 Pick Up(1986) unlike in Reindeer Games(2000) are more believable and well toned. Its the kind of plot twists shown in 52 Pick Up(1986) that shows Elmore Leonard's strengths as a writer and a master of surprising plot twists. My favorite plot twist ocurrs at the end of the motion picture.

Many of the actors of this motion picture give tight convincing performances that supplements the brilliantly crafted direction of John Frankenheimer. Roy Scheider gives his character of Harry Mitchell a combination of human vererability and mental toughness. Ann Margret pulls some surprises as the dissappointed but understanding wife, Barbara Mitchell. John Glover puts on a charismatic performance as the ruthless but suave Alain Raimy.

Carried by mood and attitude for the whole duration of the motion picture. Strong mood is what makes or breaks a Film Noir or crime thriller. 52 Pick Up(1986) has enough mood to last two films. The mood in here is so tense to the point of glass breaking and walls shaking.

There are no heroes in the world of 52 Pick Up, only Criminals and survivals. Harry Mitchell is the ultimate anti hero that is part of Film Noir lore. He is akin to many anti heroes played by Robert Mitchuim, Kirk Douglus, and other tough guys of the Film Noir period. The toughest of tough guys portrayed by Roy Scheider in his long career.

Clarence Williams 3 plays a character which he would do a varation of in the horrible Reindeer Games(2000). He was much better in 52 Pick Up(1986) than he is in Reindeer Games(2000). The blackmail aspect of 52 Pick Up(1986) appears in Reindeer Games with pathetic results. Directed with gritt and intensity by the talented but inconsistent John Frankenheimer.

Kelly Preston brings to her role a sense of naivity and tragedy all in one package. The final moments are nail biting in the tradition of nail biting crime thrillers. Overlooked film that is the type of film rarely made today in Hollywood in our PC world. 52 Pick Up(1986) shows that a crime thriller is more than action set pieces and flashy actors.