The Edge (1997)

User Rating:

6.6/10   

Director:

Lee Tamahori

Writer (WGA):

David Mamet (written by)

Release Date:

26 September 1997 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Action | Adventure | Thriller

Tagline:

They were fighting over a woman when the plane went down. Now, their only chance for survival is each other.

Plot:

A billionaire and two other men are stranded, unequipped, by a plane crash in a dangerous wilderness. How many will survive to be rescued?

Plot Keywords:

Photo Shoot | Bear | Mind Game | Crash | Model

Cast

Anthony Hopkins	...	Charles Morse
Alec Baldwin	...	Robert Green
Elle Macpherson	...	Mickey Morse
Harold Perrineau	...	Stephen
Bart the Bear	...	The Bear
L.Q. Jones	...	Styles
Kathleen Wilhoite	...	Ginny
David Lindstedt	...	James
Mark Kiely	...	Mechanic
Eli Gabay	...	Jet Pilot
Larry Musser	...	Amphibian Pilot
Brian Arnold	...	Reporter
Bob Boyd	...	Reporter
Kelsa Kinsly	...	Reporter
Gordon Tootoosis	...	Jack Hawk
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Randy Birch	...	(uncredited)
Larry Lefebvre	...	(uncredited)
Brian Steele	...	Bear, attack sequence (uncredited)

Directed by
Lee Tamahori

Writing credits (WGA)
David Mamet		(written by)

Produced by
Art Linson	....	producer
Lloyd Phillips	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Jerry Goldsmith

Cinematography by
Donald McAlpine		(as Donald M. McAlpine)

Film Editing by
Neil Travis

Casting by
Donna Isaacson

Production Design by
Wolf Kroeger

Art Direction by
Richard Harrison

Set Decoration by
Janice Blackie-Goodine

Costume Design by
Julie Weiss

Makeup Department
Christine Beveridge	....	makeup designer
Iloe Flewelling	....	key hair stylist
Carl Fullerton	....	makeup artist: Alec Baldwin
Gail Kennedy	....	makeup artist
Rick Provenzano	....	hair stylist: Alec Baldwin
Rob Hinderstein	....	makeup artist (uncredited)
Elaina P. Schulman	....	hair stylist (uncredited)

Production Management
Lynne Bespflug	....	unit manager
Grace Gilroy	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Simon Board	....	second assistant director
James W. Gavin	....	second unit director: aerial unit
Janet Holden	....	second second assistant director
Kevin Leslie	....	third assistant director
Philip A. Patterson	....	first assistant director
Michele Williams	....	trainee assistant director

Art Department
Alfred A. Arndt	....	construction foreman (as Alf Arndt)
Rob Arndt	....	head carpenter
Pierre Bartlette	....	construction foreman
Tara Bartlette	....	set dresser
Sean Blackie	....	assistant set decorator
Brent Borrowman	....	stand-by painter
Scott Cameron	....	set dresser
Penny A. Chalmers	....	buyer
John Dambrauskas	....	scenic carpenter
Laurie Dobbie	....	second assistant property master
Jason Eskeland	....	first assistant property master
Ken Friss	....	property assistant
Gerald Gerlinsky	....	scenic carpenter
Dean Goodine	....	property master
Collin Grant	....	storyboard artist
Greg Kenny	....	scenic carpenter
Robert LaPrell	....	construction coordinator
Alan Marks	....	scenic painter
Bill McMahon	....	draftsman (as George 'Bill' McMahon)
Justin Onofriechuk	....	on-set dresser
Quincy Paglaro	....	art department trainee
Melodi Petrigo	....	art department coordinator (as Melodi Petrigo-McGill)
Paul S. Power	....	storyboard artist (as Paul Power)
Gary Clayton Ripley	....	head scenic painter (as Gary Ripley)
Bruce Shibley	....	lead dresser
Donovan Stilwell	....	set dresser
Allan Stinson	....	sculptor
Nicholas Tattersfield	....	sculptor
Noeleen Tobin	....	set dresser
David Trainor	....	prop builder (uncredited)
James Weeks	....	carpenter (uncredited)

Sound Department
Paul Apted	....	assistant sound editor
David A. Arnold	....	sound editor (as David Arnold)
James Ashwill	....	foley mixer
Eric Batut	....	sound mixer (as Eric J. Batut)
Bill W. Benton	....	sound re-recording mixer
Steve Bissinger	....	sound editor
Ted Caplan	....	sound editor
Chris Carpenter	....	sound re-recording mixer
Blake R. Cornett	....	assistant sound editor (as Blake Cornett)
John T. Cucci	....	foley artist (as John Cucci)
Dave Kulczycki	....	sound editor (as David Kulczycki)
Linda Lew	....	foley recordist
Harry B. Miller III	....	adr supervisor
Dan O'Connell	....	foley artist
Michael Playfair	....	boom operator
Steve F. Price	....	post-production sound production assistant
Robert Renga	....	sound recordist
Charleen Richards	....	adr mixer
Roy Seeger	....	assistant sound editor
Denis St. Amand	....	stage engineer
Donald Sylvester	....	foley supervisor
Paul Urmson	....	sound editor
J.D. Ward	....	sound recordist
Jay Wilkinson	....	supervising sound editor
John Motyer	....	boom operator (uncredited)

Special Effects by
John Alexander	....	animal movement consultant: Animated Engineering Inc.
Chris Atkinson	....	special effects aerial rigger
Perry Beckham	....	special effects rigger
A. Robert Capwell	....	artist: Animated Engineering Inc. (as Rob Capwell)
Tamara Carlson	....	artist: Animated Engineering Inc.
Mitchell J. Coughlin	....	artist: Animated Engineering Inc. (as Mitchell Coughlin)
Jill Crosby	....	artist: Animated Engineering Inc.
Gord Davis	....	hydraulics designer
Dave Dunaway	....	special effects aerial rigger (as Dave 'Too Tall' Dunaway)
Deborah Galvez	....	artist: Animated Engineering Inc.
James Hayes	....	artist: Animated Engineering Inc.
Mecki Heussen	....	bear mechanical coordinator: Animated Engineering Inc.
Mark Hull	....	artist: Animated Engineering Inc.
William Huntley	....	artist: Animated Engineering Inc.
Karen Lafler	....	artist: Animated Engineering Inc.
David Lane	....	special effects aerial rigger
Nick Lawson	....	special effects shop foreman
Gary Minielly	....	special effects best boy
Dave Nelson	....	animatronic bear creator: Animated Engineering Inc. (as David Nelson)
Fiona Nelson	....	artist: Animated Engineering Inc.
Eve Niemand	....	artist: Animated Engineering Inc. (as Eve Neimand)
Timothy Ralston	....	bear hydraulic designer: Animated Engineering Inc.
Scott Stofer	....	special effects first assistant
Norman Tempia	....	animatronic bear creator: Animated Engineering Inc.
Mike Vézina	....	special effects coordinator
Lynne Watson	....	artist: Animated Engineering Inc.
Amy Whetsel	....	artist: Animated Engineering Inc. (as Amy Whetzel)

Visual Effects by
Andrea Adams	....	computer graphics: Peerless Camera Co. Ltd.
Martin Body	....	effects camera: Peerless Camera Co. Ltd.
Cosmas Paul Bolger Jr.	....	digital effects supervisor: Digital Filmworks
Jon Campfens	....	motion control co-supervisor
Steve Cutmore	....	digital compositing: Peerless Camera Co. Ltd.
Ditch Doy	....	computer graphics: Peerless Camera Co. Ltd.
Kent Houston	....	visual effects supervisor
Christopher Leone	....	compositor: Digital Filmworks
Peter W. Moyer	....	senior compositor: Digital Filmworks
Tim Ollive	....	computer graphics: Peerless Camera Co. Ltd.
Susi Roper	....	visual effects coordinator: Peerless Camera Co. Ltd.
David Smith	....	optical camera
Kurt E. Soderling	....	visual effects camera operator (as Kurt Soderling)
John Swinnerton	....	effects camera: Peerless Camera Co. Ltd.
Kitty Veevers	....	digital compositing: Peerless Camera Co. Ltd.
Trevor Withers	....	effects camera: Peerless Camera Co. Ltd.
Dean Yurke	....	digital artist
Dean Yurke	....	digital compositing: Peerless Camera Co. Ltd.
John D.B. Cox	....	motion control operator (uncredited)

Stunts
David Alexander	....	water safety coordinator
Joe Dodds	....	stunts (as Joe A. Dodds)
Alex Green	....	stunts
Gaston Howard	....	stunts
Ernie Jackson	....	stunts
Doug Seus	....	bear stunts
Scott J. Smith	....	bear stunts
Gary Tacon	....	stunts
Betty Thomas	....	stunt coordinator
Clint Youngreen	....	bear stunts
Alex Green	....	stunt double: Anthony Hopkins (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
John Adshead	....	key grip: Calgary
Allan Belyea	....	grip (as A.R.W. 'Allan' Belyea)
Carrie Bews	....	camera trainee
Russel Bowie	....	second assistant camera
Gary Bridges	....	underwater camera technician
Kirk Chiswell	....	first assistant camera: additional photography
John Clothier	....	camera operator
Roch Daigle	....	grip
Jeffrey Delaney	....	electric trainee
Vete Dorchak	....	gaffer: Canada
Guy W. Elliott	....	electrician (as Guy Elliott)
Wayne Goodchild	....	key grip
Dylan Goss	....	aerial first assistant camera (as Dylan Gross)
Paul Guenette	....	underwater focus puller (as E. Paul Guenette)
Michael Hall	....	first assistant camera: additional photography
Chris Hansen	....	underwater assistant camera
Pauline Heaton	....	underwater camera operator
Don Johnson	....	grip
David Kelly	....	first assistant camera: additional photography (as Dave Kelly)
Chris Kosloski	....	grip trainee
Burton 'Joe' Kuchera	....	rigging gaffer
Doug Lavender	....	second assistant camera (as Doug 'Spike' Lavender)
Joseph Lederer	....	still photographer
Corey Lee	....	best boy grip
Joachim Martin	....	camera operator: additional photography (as Joachim 'Jock' Martin)
Larry Marwick	....	camera trainee
Richard G. Mason	....	underwater camera operator (as Rick Mason)
Steve Mathis	....	gaffer: USA
Armin Matter	....	camera operator: additional photography
Patrick McArdle	....	first assistant camera
Ken McGuire	....	camera remote technician
Tim Milligan	....	dolly grip
Chooch Paglaro	....	assistant video assist operator
Thom Ryan	....	first assistant camera: additional photography
John Sanderson	....	video assist operator
Clint Silzer	....	grip
Kurt E. Soderling	....	aerial camera operator (as Kurt Soderling)
Timothy Robin Spencer	....	first assistant camera: additional photography (as Tim Spencer)
Christopher G. Sprague	....	electrician (as Chris Sprague)
John Trapman	....	aerial first assistant camera
Roger Vernon	....	director of photography: second unit
Chris Wiseman	....	grip
Rick Youck	....	best boy electric
Chris Banting	....	grip (uncredited)
Blair Bourque	....	trainee grip (uncredited)
Russel Bowie	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera (uncredited)
Regan Enderl	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Kurt E. Soderling	....	camera operator: additional photography (uncredited)
Kurt E. Soderling	....	director of photography: second unit (uncredited)

Casting Department
Stuart Aikins	....	casting: Vancouver
Gail Goldberg	....	casting associate
Christian Kaplan	....	casting associate
Diane Randle	....	extras casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Myron Baker	....	dresser: Mr. Baldwin
Gail Johns	....	seamstress
Rose Johnson	....	costumer
Parker Poole	....	costumer (as C. Parker Poole)
B.J. Rogers	....	costume supervisor
Arthur Rowsell	....	dresser: Mr. Hopkins
Arthur Rowsell	....	wardrobe master
Vanessa Terino	....	costumer

Editorial Department
Gary Burritt	....	negative cutter
Nicolas De Toth	....	first assistant film editor (as Nicolas de Toth)
J. Michael Giles	....	second assistant film editor: Canada
Cary 'C.P.' Levine	....	post-production assistant
Dennis McNeill	....	color timer (as Denny McNeill)
Nora O'Brien	....	post-production coordinator
Dov Samuel	....	first assistant film editor: Canada
Ken Terry	....	second assistant film editor
Michael J. Wechsler	....	assistant film editor
Thor Roos	....	color timer: dailies (uncredited)

Music Department
Andy Bass	....	music recordist
Robert Bayless	....	assistant music editor (as Bob Bayless)
Bruce Botnick	....	music mixer
Bruce Botnick	....	music recordist
Alexander Courage	....	orchestrator
Sandy DeCrescent	....	music contractor (as Sandy De Crescent)
Chuck Domanico	....	musician: bass
Marc Gebauer	....	scoring crew
Jerry Goldsmith	....	conductor
Jerry Goldsmith	....	orchestrator
Kenneth Hall	....	music editor (as Kenny Hall)
Michael Lang	....	musician: piano (as Mike Lang)
Steve Schaeffer	....	musician: drums
Jay Selvester	....	scoring crew

Transportation Department
Jake Callihoo	....	transportation coordinator
Arnold Holmes	....	transportation captain
Danny C. Klepper	....	transportation co-captain
Stan Stefaniuk	....	transportation co-captain

Other crew
Jill Antal	....	assistant accountant
Darrell Armstrong	....	paramedic
Larry Becker	....	projectionist
Barry Blanchard	....	mountain safety coordinator
Tanis Booth	....	production assistant
Cameron Boutin	....	production assistant
Mandy Butler	....	payroll accountant
Silver Butler	....	film runner
Janice Caputo	....	representative: American Humane Society
Nancy Carrow	....	production coordinator
James Cieslak	....	production assistant
Darragh Croyle	....	assistant: Lee Tamahori
Robert Dawson	....	title designer
Karen Eisenstadt	....	production accountant
Lynn Elston	....	post-production accountant
Alice Ferrier	....	production coordinator
Elizabeth Ferrier	....	assistant production coordinator
Nicole Florian	....	production assistant
Aida Gaboyan	....	assistant: Lloyd Phillips
Mike Gibney	....	production assistant
Jattinder Gill	....	production assistant
Diana Gould	....	production assistant
Peter Gurr	....	security captain
Donald Hansard Sr.	....	projected effects (as Don Hansard Sr.)
Patricia Jagger	....	script supervisor: aerial unit
David Kampman	....	production assistant
Jason Lawrence	....	production assistant
Jason Lewis	....	production assistant
Brenda McCormick	....	assistant production coordinator
Neil McDaniel	....	underwater technician
Brooke K. McGill	....	production assistant
Ray McMillan	....	rear screen projection supervisor
Yvonne Melville	....	production coordinator
Adam Morden	....	production assistant
Lee Anne Muldoon	....	unit publicist
Brion Paccassi	....	projected effects
Gregory J. Pace	....	assistant: Alec Baldwin
Rino Pace	....	location manager
James Paradis	....	underwater safety coordinator
Tim Pochay	....	mountain safety
Chris Pugh	....	production assistant
Rodger Retzer	....	production assistant
Patti Roberts-Nelson	....	executive assistant: Art Linson (as Patti Roberts Nelson)
David Rock	....	post-production accountant
S. Steven Sach	....	assistant location manager
Amanda Scarano	....	production assistant
Doug Seus	....	bear owner
Doug Seus	....	bear trainer
Lynne Seus	....	assistant bear trainer
Scott J. Smith	....	assistant bear trainer
Andrew Sparke	....	production assistant
Brian Steele	....	bear double
Mark Voyce	....	assistant location manager
Christine Wilson	....	script supervisor
Smith Wordes	....	choreographer
Clint Youngreen	....	assistant bear trainer
Debbie Betson	....	animal trainer (uncredited)
Christine Bonnem	....	location manager (uncredited)
Maureen 'Mo' Crutchfield	....	post-production accountant (uncredited)
Howard Horwitz	....	production assistant (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Art Linson Productions

Distributors

• Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation (1997) (USA) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox de Argentina (1997) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (1997) (USA) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox of Germany (1998) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Fox Video (1998) (Germany) (VHS)
• Gativideo (1998) (Argentina) (VHS)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (2001) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Fox Video (2001) (Germany) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (Brazil) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2006) (USA) (DVD)
• Abril Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• Filmes Castello Lopes (Portugal)
• Hispano Foxfilms S.A.E. (Spain)
• UGC-Fox Distribution (UFD) (France)

Special Effects

• Cinesite (scanning services)
• Digital Filmworks (additional digital film services)
• Peerless Camera Company (visual effects)

Other Companies

• Animated Engineering Inc.  animatronic bear
• Calgary R/C Hanger Hobby Shop  builders of damaged DeHavilland Beaver
• Cantara Construction Corporation  log construction
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  cranes
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  dollies
• Doug Seus' Wasatch Rocky Mountain Wildlife  Bart the Bear
• Jo Anne Kane Music Services  music preparation
• Location Caterers  catering
• Loop Troop  adr voice casting
• One Step Up  foley
• Pacific Title  titles and opticals
• Pacific Titles & Optical  opticals
• RCA Victor  soundtrack
• Sapex Scripts  post-production services
• Sharpe Sound Studios  sound transfers
• Todd-AO Scoring Stage  music recording and mixing
• Todd-AO Studios (West)  adr mixer
• Twentieth Century Fox Sound Department  re-recording services
• William F. White International  chapman cranes and dollies

Also Known As:

Bookworm (USA) (working title)
The Wild (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for language and some adventure gore/violence.

Runtime:

117 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Argentina:13 | Peru:14 | USA:R (certificate #35275) | Iceland:14 | Iceland:16 (video rating) | South Korea:15 | Australia:M | Belgium:KT | Finland:K-16 | Germany:12 (w) | Portugal:M/12 (Qualidade) | Singapore:NC-16 | Spain:T | Sweden:15 | UK:15

Filming Locations:

Alberta, Canada

Company:

Art Linson Productions

Trivia:

This film inspired a highly successful TV reality show of the same name in Brazil, where participants were selected from normal people, including executives, graduates and clerks, left in a wild and deserted area of Brazilian landscape and had to survive using techniques similar to the ones mentioned by Anthony Hopkins's character.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: As Morse is backing up at the stream, prior to slaying the bear, his face seems to be computer generated on the body.

Quotes:

Charles Morse: [Indicating the dead bear] A month ago old smoky here would have reared up, you probably would've called your lawyer.
Charles Morse: [Wryly] Nah, I wouldn't do that to an animal.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Film Geek (2005)

Soundtrack:

Happy Birthday

Excellent film

What's so good about this picture? Well, it's actually very well shot and some very nice writing by Mamet.

Many people probably haven't even heard of this picture, the title is uninspiring but the film isn't.

The direction is superb, the widescreen frame is filled with details and characters use the 2.35:1 scope very well. The film is shot with the cinema screen in mind, not pan and scan. The photography is beautiful, the landscape comes alive, sometimes it steals the picture away from the characters.

The acting is fine, but sometimes a bit more meat was required in the middle of the picture. I don't think the actors had enough depth, but overall not bad.

The picture is about survival and that's all I will say.

The final frames are disappointing, should've been handled better.

The director did a terrific job capturing the Alaska terrain.

As usual, please view this picture in widescreen otherwise people you would have only seen 57% of the picture. There is only one way to enjoy the photography, and that's in widescreen.