Frantic (1988)

In a hotel room in Paris, a doctor comes out of the shower and finds that his wife has disappeared. He soon finds himself caught up in a world of intrigue, espionage, gangsters, drugs and murder.

Director:

Roman Polanski

Writers:

Roman Polanski, Gérard Brach,

Stars:

Harrison Ford, Betty Buckley, Emmanuelle Seigner

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Harrison Ford	...	Dr. Richard Walker
Betty Buckley	...	Sondra Walker
Emmanuelle Seigner	...	Michelle
Djiby Soumare	...	Taxi Driver
Dominique Virton	...	Desk Clerk
Gérard Klein	...	Gaillard
Stéphane D'Audeville	...	Bellboy
Laurent Spielvogel	...	Hall Porter
Alain Doutey	...	Hall Porter
Jacques Ciron	...	Le Grand Hotel Manager
Roch Leibovici	...	Bellboy 2
Louise Vincent	...	Tourist
Patrice Melennec	...	Hotel Detective Le Grand Hotel
Ella Jaroszewicz	...	Restroom Attendant
Joëlle Lagneau	...	Florist

Storyline

A doctor and his wife go to Paris for a medical conference. While showering, his wife disappears. His lack of language, and the odd way she disappeared makes it nearly impossible for him to find any official help in his search as he enters the punk/drug culture to find out what has happened to her.

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Plot Keywords:

doctor | police | shower | drugs | espionage | 

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Taglines:

Danger. Desire. Desperation.

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA France

Language:

English French

Release Date:

26 February 1988 (USA)

Also Known As:

Búsqueda frenética

Filming Locations:

Lady Liberty Statue, Allée des Cygnes, Paris 16, Paris, France

Box Office

Budget:

$20,000,000 (estimated)

Gross:

$17,637,950 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros, Mount Company, The

Technical Specs

Runtime:

120 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Harrison Ford thought that "Frantic" was a misleading title for the film as the script didn't have a frantic pace. He suggested that "Moderately Disturbed" would be a more appropriate title. Roman Polanski wasn't amused.

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Goofs

In the airport scene with Michelle, Walker is terrified that the drug-sniffing dogs will find dope in their suitcase. Michelle assures Walker that there are no drugs, and the dogs walk by calmly. Walker seems to have forgotten that he's carrying at least a gram of cocaine in his pocket, which the police dogs don't notice either.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Sondra Walker: Do you know where you are?
Richard Walker: No, it's changed too much.

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Crazy Credits

The opening and closing credits scroll over the streets of Paris.

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Connections

References The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956)

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Soundtracks

"Chicago Song"
Performed by David Sanborn
Written by Marcus Miller
Courtesy of Warner Bros. Records
By Arrangement with Warner Special Products

User Reviews

"Frantic" is a vibrant thriller of Polanski.

The assistance to a conference in Paris gives you the doctor "Richard Walken" and his wife, relive their honeymoon. In the hotel room when Richard sale bath after a shower, discovers that his wife has disappeared. Now, in a city that unknown, without speaking not a word of French and agonizingly alone, "Walken" undertake the search. As the only track he has a number of phone pointed in a box of matches, and from there the fabric will be complicating becoming for the protagonist in a nightmare.

The pace of the film is very high and the hyphen meets its goal, which is a story that works and entertains. The film is supported by the thriller, mixing the style of Hitckcock with his own Polanski.

Harrison Ford makes an excellent interpretation in this movie, perhaps one of its best interpretations. Harrison Ford makes one of his best characters and credible in his role as doctor who launches to rescue his wife,

The film has a good number of memorable scenes : as the principle of the movie, the scene of the roof, and the unforgettable dance plays Emmanuelle Seigner. It has a beautiful photography; with those wet streets and very focused that are the stamp of Polanski. The music of Morricone is magnificent.

"Frantic" is a vibrant thriller from beginning to end where Polanski meets across one of the basic guidelines of the genre: create thriller from characters of the daily life,