The Running Man (1963)

An Englishman with a grudge against an insurance company for a disallowed claim fakes his own death, but is soon pursued by an insurance investigator.

Director:

Carol Reed

Writers:

John Mortimer (screenplay), Shelley Smith (novel)

Stars:

Laurence Harvey, Lee Remick, Alan Bates

Nominated for 1 BAFTA Film Award.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Laurence Harvey	...	Rex
Lee Remick	...	Stella
Alan Bates	...	Stephen
Felix Aylmer	...	Parson
Eleanor Summerfield	...	Hilda Tanner
Allan Cuthbertson	...	Jenkins
Harold Goldblatt	...	Tom Webster
Noel Purcell	...	Miles Bleeker
Ramsay Ames	...	Madge Penderby
Fernando Rey	...	Police Official
Juanjo Menéndez	...	Roberto (as Juan Jose Menendez)
Eddie Byrne	...	Sam Crewdson
Colin Gordon	...	Solicitor
John Meillon	...	Jim Jerome
Roger Delgado	...	Spanish Doctor

Storyline

Hard up and with a grudge against insurance companies, English pilot Rex Black fakes his death and meets up with his wife and the money in Malaga, Spain when things have quieted down. But when the insurance investigator turns up, Rex starts a game of cat-and-mouse.

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Plot Keywords:

male objectification | bare chested male | insurance | insurance company | faking one's death | 

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Taglines:

Famed director Carol Reed focuses on naked fear!

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Certificate:

Approved

Did You Know?

Trivia

The aeroplane that Laurence Harvey attempts to escape in, a 1957 Jodel D117, is still flying in the UK.

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Goofs

During his getaway towards the end of the film, the rear view mirror of Rex's Lincoln Continental appears and disappears between long shots and close ups.

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Quotes

Stella Black: You love it, don't you? I mean, you love taking risks and teasing him because you think he's trying to catch you.
Rex Black: Shhhhh, please quiet.
Stella Black: You think you're far too clever for him and anyone else in the world, don't you? And you like that. Much more interesting than just us being together.

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Connections

Referenced in Seance on a Wet Afternoon (1964)

User Reviews

Solid suspenser

Watchable but somehow unmemorable suspense thriller from a major British director. The plot, cleverly written by John Mortimer, has some quite subtle twists and turns; the acting good. Laurence Harvey as a dislikeable insurance fraudster, Lee Merick is particularly fetchi9ng as his increasingly uncertain wife, Alan Bates gives his usual sensitive performance as investigator who might be on to them, all convince. But Carol Reed (director of such classics as The third Man, Odd Man Out, Oliver) never manages to give it quite enough urgency or edge. It all comes across as something of a pot-boiler in his career. The scenery in Spain and Gibraltar is atmospheric, but it's one of those films that relies just a bit too heavily on pleasing sunny locations.

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English Spanish French

Release Date:

October 1963 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Running Man

Filming Locations:

Bray, County Wicklow, Ireland

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures Corporation, Peet Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color (Eastman Color)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1