Fortress (1992)

Director:

Stuart Gordon

Writers (WGA):

Troy Neighbors (story) &
Steven Feinberg (story) ...
(more)

Release Date:

3 September 1993 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

A Prison of the Future. A High-Tech Hell. Built to Hold Anything... Except an Innocent Man.

Plot:

A futuristic prison movie. Protagonist and wife are nabbed at a future US emigration point with an illegal baby during population control...

Plot Keywords:

Escape | Laser | Prisoner | Pickaxe | One Man Army

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

Christopher Lambert	...	John Henry Brennick
Kurtwood Smith	...	Prison Director Poe
Loryn Locklin	...	Karen B. Brennick
Clifton Collins Jr.	...	Nino Gomez (as Clifton Gonzalez Gonzalez)
Lincoln Kilpatrick	...	Abraham
Jeffrey Combs	...	D-Day
Tom Towles	...	Stiggs
Vernon Wells	...	Maddox
Carolyn Purdy-Gordon	...	Zed-10 (voice)
Alan Zitner	...	Claustrophobic Prisoner
Denni Gordon	...	Karen's Cellmate
Eric Briant Wells	...	Border Guard
Dragicia Debert	...	Bio Scanner Guard
Heidi Stein	...	Pregnant Woman
Harry Nurmi	...	Guard #1
Peter Lamb	...	Guard #2
Troy Hunter	...	Guard #3
Peter Marshall	...	Travel Authorization Guard
Michael Simpson	...	Medical Trustee
Tracy Martin	...	Woman Prisoner
Annika Thomas	...	Brennick Baby
Sam Copping	...	Brennick, Age 3
Kiralee	...	Dream Girl
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Warwick Capper	...	Braindead Prisoner (uncredited)

Directed by
Stuart Gordon

Writing credits (WGA)
Troy Neighbors		(story) &
Steven Feinberg		(story)
Troy Neighbors		(screenplay) &
Steven Feinberg		(screenplay) &
David Venable		(screenplay) and
Terry Curtis Fox		(screenplay)

Produced by
Graham Burke	....	executive producer
Greg Coote	....	executive producer
John Davis	....	producer
Irene Dobson	....	line producer
Steven Feinberg	....	associate producer
John Flock	....	producer
Michael Lake	....	co-producer
Troy Neighbors	....	associate producer
Neal Nordlinger	....	co-producer
Terence Ryan	....	executive producer (as Terry Ryan)

Original Music by
Frédéric Talgorn		(as Frederic Talgorn)

Cinematography by
David Eggby

Film Editing by
Tim Wellburn		(as Timothy Wellburn)

Casting by
Allison Cowitt
Mike Fenton		(as Michael Fenton)

Production Design by
David Copping

Art Direction by
Simon Murton
Diann Wajon

Costume Design by
Terry Ryan

Makeup Department
Margaret Archman	....	hair stylist
Margaret Archman	....	makeup artist
Jason Baird	....	special makeup effects assistant
Robert Clark	....	special makeup effects artist (as Bob Clark)
Robert Clark	....	special makeup project supervisor (as Bob Clark Roark Prod)
Christine Miller	....	hair stylist
Christine Miller	....	makeup artist
Karla O'Keefe	....	supervising hair stylist
Karla O'Keefe	....	supervising makeup artist
Debra Stehlik	....	hair stylist
Debra Stehlik	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Neville Mason	....	unit manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Todd Fellman	....	fourth assistant director
Nikki Long	....	second assistant director
Charles Rotherham	....	first assistant director
Adam Spencer	....	third assistant director

Art Department
Rosslyn Abernethy	....	art department coordinator
Chris Buchinsky	....	storyboard artist
Timothy Burgard	....	storyboard artist (as Tim Burgard)
Derrick Chetwyn	....	property buyer
Michael Chorney	....	scenic artist
John Daniell	....	stand-by props
Michael Dempsey	....	stunt construction
David Duffin	....	scenic artist (as Dave Duffin)
Paul Dulieu	....	property buyer
Andrew Gardiner	....	construction foreman
Greg Hajdu	....	on-set carpenter
Kim Howard	....	carpenter
Michael Iacono	....	assistant stand-by props
Mark Jones	....	carpenter
Noel McCartney	....	carpenter
John O'Brien	....	assistant carpenter
John Parker	....	construction manager
Wayne Porter	....	stunt construction
David Russell	....	storyboard artist
Marty Scurrah	....	assistant carpenter (as Martin Scurrah)
Derek Wyness	....	scenic artist

Sound Department
James Ashwill	....	foley mixer (as Jim Ashwill)
James Beshears	....	supervising sound editor
Lance Brown	....	sound designer
Paul Clark	....	sound recordist
Gary Gegan	....	sound re-recording mixer
Lewis Goldstein	....	dialogue editor
Alan Howarth	....	supervising sound editor
Matthew Iadarola	....	supervising re-recording mixer
Jason King	....	sound effects editor
Anne Laing	....	sound assistant
Paul Menichini	....	sound editor
Paul Menichini	....	sound effects editor
John Rotondi	....	sound engineer: Y4
Alicia Stevenson	....	foley artist
Tim Towers	....	cable person
Craig Walmsley	....	boom operator

Special Effects by
Robert Blalack	....	special effects
Kevin Bratovic	....	special effects assistant
David P. Crowe	....	special effects assistant (as David Crowe)
Bob Hicks	....	special effects assistant
Paul Jennings	....	assistant pyrotechnician
Alan Maxwell	....	pyrotechnician
Kent Miklenda	....	effectsman
David Pride	....	mechanical effects
Tad Pride	....	special effects supervisor
Matt Sloan	....	special effects crew
Arthur Spink Jr.	....	effectsman
Trish Wallace	....	special effects secretary (as Trisha Wallace)

Visual Effects by
Bob Ahmanson	....	mechanical effects crew
Blondel Aidoo	....	production coordinator: visual effects
Scott Alexander	....	chief modelmaker
Ori Artman	....	CGI automation
Roger Ames Berger	....	digital effects editor
Beth Block	....	optical supervisor
Rebecca Cambruzzi	....	model crew
Michael Chorney	....	3D computer graphics art director
Maureen Coyle	....	ink and paint: visual effects
Kristin Culkin	....	visual effects painter
Humberto De Luna	....	model crew
Omei Eaglerider	....	model crew
David Emerson	....	optical camera operator
Chris Fholer	....	ink and paint: visual effects
Anthony Forzaglia	....	facility manager: visual effects
Michael Gaffney	....	visual effects assistant
Paul Gantner	....	visual effects gaffer
Paul Gentry	....	visual effects supervisor
Geoffrey Hall	....	first assistant camera: visual effects
Phillip Hartmann	....	mechanical effects crew (as Phil Hartman)
Bruce D. Hayes	....	mechanical effects crew (as Bruce Hayes)
Nancy Ann Jones	....	model crew
Michael Karp	....	motion programmer/ac
Thomas Kay	....	model crew
Brian Longbotham	....	digital effects director
Rebecca McKinsey	....	model crew
Rebecca McKinsey	....	on-set modelmaker
Joyce Parent	....	visual effects production accountant
Mike Petzold	....	model crew
Nancy Rushlow	....	visual effects producer
Tom Seymour	....	mechanical effects crew
Yishai Shapir	....	CGI automation
David B. Sharp	....	minatures supervisor
Pamela Sharp	....	model crew
Sandy Shingleton	....	ink and paint: visual effects
David Spencer	....	visual effects setup
Steve Stamatikois	....	computer graphics
Robert Stromberg	....	matte artist (as Robert R. Stromberg)
Matt Ullman	....	miniatures production assistant (as Mathew Ullman)
Matt Ullman	....	runner: visual effects (as Mathew Ullman)
Ted Van Dorn	....	visual effects painter (as Ted Van Doorn)
Pam Vick	....	rotoscope artist
Brian Vining	....	computer graphics
George Vrattos	....	visual effects setup
Carlton Walker	....	visual effects production assistant
Wyatt Weed	....	model crew
Thomas Zell	....	chief modelmaker

Stunts
Russell Allan	....	stunts
Judy Allen	....	stunts
Chris Anderson	....	stunts
Ric Anderson	....	stunts
Glenn Boswell	....	stunt coordinator
Glenn Boswell	....	stunts
Richard Boué	....	stunts
Mitch Dean	....	stunts
Collin Dragsbaek	....	stunts (as Colin Dragsbaek)
Johnny Hallyday	....	stunts
Bob Hicks	....	stunts
Lou Horvath	....	stunt double: Christopher Lambert
Lou Horvath	....	stunts
Phil Meacham	....	stunts
Josef Schwaiger	....	assistant stunt coordinator
Josef Schwaiger	....	stunts
Bernadette Van Gyen	....	stunts
Marijke Rikki van Gyen	....	stunt assistant (as Rikki Van Gyen)
Marijke Rikki van Gyen	....	stunt double (as Rikki Van Gyen)
Don Vaughn	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Mark Abrahams	....	second grip
Laurie Balmer	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Andrew Conder	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera (as Andrew Condor)
Phil Cross	....	Steadicam operator (as Philip M. Cross)
Phil Cross	....	camera operator
Phil Cross	....	camera operator: "b" camera (as Philip M. Cross)
David Eggby	....	camera operator
Derry Field	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera
Murray Head	....	lamp operator
Tony Holtham	....	gaffer
Iain Mathieson	....	lamp operator (as Ian Mathieson)
Gary McNamara	....	assistant grip
Matthew Meyer	....	video playback operator
Pat Nash	....	key grip
Trevor Ripper	....	best boy electric
Adrien Seffrin	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera
Cary Vignal	....	third grip

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Peter Bevan	....	costume supervisor
Phil Eagles	....	costume supervisor
Sally Marshall	....	costume assistant
Helen Mather	....	stand-by wardrobe
Phillip Moritz	....	costume armor
Penny Neilson	....	seamstress
Jason Steele	....	costume assistant
Paul Warren	....	stand-by wardrobe

Editorial Department
Jeanine Chiavlo	....	first assistant editor: Australia (as Jeanine Chialvo)
Trish Graham	....	second assistant editor: Australia
Karen Kory	....	first assistant editor: USA
Andreya O'Reilly	....	second assistant editor: Australia
Stas Tagios	....	apprentice editor
Noelleen Westcombe	....	second assistant editor: USA

Music Department
Bill Black	....	associate music editor
Virginia S. Ellsworth	....	music editor
Barry Levine	....	music supervisor
Frédéric Talgorn	....	conductor

Other crew
Lynn Barker	....	production executive
Brian Burgess	....	location manager
Sophie Fabbri-Jackson	....	script supervisor (as Sophie Fabbri Jackson)
Johnny Hallyday	....	safety officer
Lisa Javelin	....	stand-in
Tricia McInally	....	assistant accountant (1992)
Sharon Miller	....	production coordinator
Bettina Mittendorfer	....	stand-in (as Bettina Mitsdorffer)
Jacobus Rose	....	production executive
Will Shanasy	....	stand-in
Neal Thompson	....	title designer
Douglas Yellin	....	production executive

Production Companies

• Davis Entertainment (presents) (as Davis Entertainment Company)
• Village Roadshow Pictures (presents)
• Fortress Films

Distributors

• Cinépix Film Properties (CFP) (1993) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Films (1993) (France) (theatrical)
• Dimension Films (1993) (USA) (theatrical)
• Filmayer (1993) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Meteor Film Productions (1993) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Roadshow Entertainment (1993) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Artisan Home Entertainment (1999) (USA) (DVD)
• C/FP
• DVD Vidéo (1999) (France) (DVD)
• Echo Bridge Home Entertainment (2011) (USA) (DVD)
• Live Home Video (1995) (USA) (VHS)
• Live Home Video (1999) (USA) (DVD)
• RCV Home Entertainment (199?) (Netherlands) (VHS) (retail)
• RCV Home Entertainment (2005) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Roadshow Entertainment Video (Australia) (VHS)
• Still Entertainment (199?) (Netherlands) (VHS) (rental)
• Top Tape (Brazil) (VHS)
• Transeuropa Video Entertainment (TVE) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Videosonic Arts (1993) (Greece) (VHS)
• Vivivideo (Italy) (VHS)

Special Effects

• Modern VideoFilm (special digital effects: mind wipe sequence)
• Praxis Film Works

Other Companies

• Maura Fay Group  casting: Australia

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for strong violence and language, and for sexuality

Runtime:

95 min

Country:

Australia | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

Finland:K-16 (cut) | France:-12 | Germany:18 | Netherlands:16 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R | Argentina:13 | Finland:K-18 (uncut) | Australia:M | Iceland:16 | Finland:K-15 (uncut DVD version) | Portugal:M/16 | Chile:18

Filming Locations:

Queensland, Australia

Company:

Davis Entertainment

Trivia:

Richard E. Grant was considered for the role of Prison Director Poe, which ultimately went to Kurtwood Smith.

Goofs:

Continuity: When the movie starts, John has short hair. When he wakes up after being "brain dead" for 4 months, his hair has grown way too much; about a year's worth.

Quotes:

Karen B. Brennick:What are you?
Prison Director Poe:I am enhanced.
Karen B. Brennick:You're not human. You're...
Prison Director Poe:A monster? A freak? The Mentel Corporation has transformed me into a more efficient human being. Once a month, I absorb amino acids, wasting neither food nor fuel. When my kind are in the majority, there will be no more world hunger, no overpopulation.
Karen B. Brennick:You don't sleep, you don't eat... You can't make love, can you?
Prison Director Poe:But I can love.
Karen B. Brennick:Are there others like you?
Prison Director Poe:Not many as advanced, but yes. I was one of Mentel's first babies. It was very special.
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay (2004) (VG)

Soundtrack:

DIE KUNST DER FUGE BWV 1080

Another under-rated film!

Well, here we have another brilliant Christopher Lambert movie but once again it's very underrated. Lambert stars as John Brennick he is an innocent prisoner in a futuristic high-tech prison trying to escape with his wife, there's lots of special effects and blood and guts in this fantastic film. The acting is very good, even though I haven't heard of them apart from Lambert. If you've seen "Lock-Up" starring Stallone, you'll love this!

Overall a brilliant and very entertaining movie, with some surprises in it. My advice is to see this movie, it's good!

Jonathan Horner.