The Vanishing (1988) Spoorloos (original title)

Director:

George Sluizer

Writers:

Tim Krabbé (novel)
Tim Krabbé (screenplay)
(more)

Release Date:

27 October 1988 (Netherlands)

Genre:

Mystery | Thriller

Plot:

Rex and Saskia, a young couple in love, are on vacation. They stop at a busy service station and Saskia is abducted. After three years and no sign of Saskia, Rex begins receiving letters from the abductor.

Plot Keywords:

Abductor | Love | France | Cottage | Kidnapping

Awards:

7 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Bernard-Pierre Donnadieu	...	Raymond Lemorne
Gene Bervoets	...	Rex Hofman
Johanna ter Steege	...	Saskia Wagter
Gwen Eckhaus	...	Lieneke
Bernadette Le Saché	...	Simone Lemorne
Tania Latarjet	...	Denise Lemorne
Lucille Glenn	...	Gabrielle 'Gaby' Lemorne
Roger Souza	...	Manager
Caroline Appéré	...	Cashier
Pierre Forget	...	Farmer Laurent
Didier Rousset	...	TV Journalist
Raphaëline Goupilleau	...	Gisele Marzin (as Raphaëline)
Robert Lucibello	...	Teacher
David Bayle	...	Lemorne (16 Years)
Doumee	...	Lady 'Prisunic' (as Doumée)
Eric Jacquet	...	Pump Attendant
Aziz Djahnit	...	Pump Attendant
Linda Wise	...	English Tourist
Ian Magilton	...	English Tourist
Mieke De Groote	...	Belgian Tourist
Jean Grandeau	...	German Tourist
Faustine Wuensche	...	Little Girl (as Faustine Wünsche)
Ghislaine Gazaix	...	Hitchhiker
M. Martinez	...	Cafe Owner
François Guizerix	...	Cop and Sports Commentator
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Reinier Verhoef	...	Evert (5 jaar) (uncredited)

Directed by
George Sluizer

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Tim Krabbé		novel "The Golden Egg"
Tim Krabbé		screenplay
George Sluizer		adaptation

Produced by
Anne Lordon	....	producer
George Sluizer	....	producer

Original Music by
Henny Vrienten

Cinematography by
Toni Kuhn

Film Editing by
Lin Friedman
George Sluizer

Art Direction by
Santiago Isidro Pin

Costume Design by
Sophie Dussaud

Makeup Department
Léone Noël	....	makeup artist
Beppie van den Berg	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Anne Lordon	....	production supervisor
Dirk Schreiner	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Natasa Hanusová	....	first assistant director (as Natasa Hanusova)
Anouk Sluizer	....	second assistant director

Art Department
William Abello	....	sets and props
Sophie Bastide	....	assistant props
Jacques Fhima	....	assistant props
Eric Lussaud	....	set builder
Hassan Osfourd	....	set builder
Philippe Renucci	....	sets and props
Cor Spijk	....	art director: Holland
Serge Vassal	....	set builder

Sound Department
Stefan Kamp	....	assistant sound editor
Joop Pieëte	....	sound re-recording mixer
Piotr van Dijk	....	sound
Jac Vleeshouwers	....	sound assistant

Camera and Electrical Department
Gerard Keller	....	best boy electric
Kees Kroese	....	electrician
Jutka Rona	....	still photographer
Beat Scheidegger	....	chief electrician
Jan van den Nieuwenhuyzen	....	clapper loader
Albert van der Wildt	....	additional camera operator
Appie Vermeeren	....	grip
Lex Verspeek	....	still photographer
Jan Wich	....	additional camera operator
Jan Wich	....	assistant camera
Thijs Wijdeveld	....	key grip

Casting Department
François Guizerix	....	casting: France
Jeannette Snik	....	casting advisor: Holland

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Caroline Hartman	....	dresser

Other crew
Jean-Claude Bernière	....	production assistant
Frédéric Bouquet	....	production assistant
Lydia De Koning	....	caterer: Holland
Farideh Fardjam	....	acting coach
Lin Friedman	....	production coordinator
François Guizerix	....	production assistant
Henri Steen	....	location manager: Holland
Leonie Valckx	....	continuity
Trix van Alphen	....	publicity assistant
Elizabeth Visser	....	sponsoring
Guillaume Voire	....	production assistant

Production Companies

• Argos Films
• Golden Egg
• Ingrid Productions
• MGS Film
• Movie Visions

Distributors

• Meteor Film Productions (1988) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Pathé (1989) (France) (theatrical)
• Tara (1990) (USA) (theatrical) (subtitled)
• Fox/Lorber Video (1991) (USA) (VHS)
• Criterion Collection, The (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Umbrella Entertainment (2003) (Australia) (DVD)
• Sandrew Metronome Distribution (2005) (Finland) (DVD)
• NCA Pictures (Brazil) (VHS)

Also Known As:

"Spoorloos" - Netherlands (original title)

Runtime:

107 min

Country:

Netherlands | France

Language:

Dutch | French | English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:K-11 (2005) | Iceland:16 | Portugal:M/16 | Spain:13 | France:-12 | Netherlands:16 | UK:12 | USA:Unrated | West Germany:16 | Singapore:PG | Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Buitenveldert, Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, Netherlands

Company:

Argos Films

Trivia:

The central plot of the film (and the novel on which it is based) is from an archetype Urban Legend related to the Paris Exposition of 1901. A woman and her daughter travel to Paris for the exhibition, and whilst the woman unpacks, the daughter goes to a nearby shop. When she returns to the hotel, the mother is gone, and no one in the hotel remembers having seen her. The idea also formed for the basis for Alfred Hitchcock's The Lady Vanishes (1938), Terrence Fisher's So Long at the Fair (1950), Robert Fuest's And Soon the Darkness (1970) and Philip Leacock's Dying Room Only (1973) (TV).

Goofs:

Continuity: When in the car with his daughter, Raymonde leans over and locks the passenger door, but seconds later the button is no longer pushed down.

Quotes:

Raymond Lemorne:My daughter was bursting with pride. But I thought that her admiration wasn't worth anything unless I could prove myself absolutely incapable of doing anything evil. And as black cannot exist without white, I logically conceived the most horrible deed that I could envision right at that moment. But I want you to know, for me killing is not the worst thing.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Try Before You Die: Episode #1.4" (2005)

You won't want to let your loved ones out of your sight after this film

There aren't too many scenarios like this one. The original version and the Hollywood remake of this film were both directed by the same man, George Sluizer. As I understand from popular opinion, this is one film that was fine the first time round, and not well received on the second go. I cannot fairly compare them, and I have no more desire to see the remake of "Spoorloos" than I do the remake of "La Femme Nikita", namely "The Point Of No Return".

I saw the original version upon the strong recommendation of a newspaper reviewer proclaiming it one of the most disturbing films they'd ever seen. The photograph of a young couple about to be torn apart in the paper reeled me in.

A pleasant holiday excursion goes horribly wrong when a man's lady friend goes missing at a crowded rest stop. He grasps at straws in desperation as very little can be done because few clues or leads exist. The abduction is arbitrary and nearly flawless.

The film was indeed well done and what struck me the most was the focus on that of the villain. It is a portrayal of a normal, respectable family man who trains himself in meticulous detail for an abduction. His cold, calculating approach is probably the most frightening aspect. His inhumanity is difficult to comprehend.

Many film endings can be shocking and may stick with you forever, and for a lot of people that is certainly the case with this film. That's why I was surprised to learn that the TV commercials for this film gave away the ending. However it didn't ruin the film for me.

The suspense and chilling setting of this film makes it hard to forget. The viewer constantly wondering, "What would I do?" or "How would I cope?". Impossible questions we all hope we'll never find the answer to.

Of course, keep a few handy responses in mind should you watch this with your better half when they ask the inevitable, almost rhetorical question, "What would you do if I went missing and you couldn't find me?"

"I'd surely die, dear."