When Time Ran Out... (1980)

An active volcano threatens a south Pacific island resort and its guests as a power struggle ensues between the property's developer and a drilling foreman.

Director:

James Goldstone

Writers:

Gordon Thomas (based on the novel "The Day the World Ended" by), Max Morgan Witts (based on the novel "The Day the World Ended" by)

Stars:

Paul Newman, Jacqueline Bisset, William Holden

Nominated for 1 Oscar.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Paul Newman	...	Hank Anderson
Jacqueline Bisset	...	Kay Kirby
William Holden	...	Shelby Gilmore
Edward Albert	...	Brian
Red Buttons	...	Francis Fendly
Barbara Carrera	...	Iolani
Valentina Cortese	...	Rose Valdez (as Valentina Cortesa)
Veronica Hamel	...	Nikki
Alex Karras	...	Tiny Baker
Burgess Meredith	...	Rene Valdez
Ernest Borgnine	...	Tom Conti
James Franciscus	...	Bob Spangler
John Considine	...	Webster
Sheila Allen	...	Mona
Pat Morita	...	Sam

Storyline

Tourists are surprised by a volcanic eruption in a lonesome hotel in the Caribic. The hotel owner ignores all warnings and advises his guests to wait for a rescue team. Only a small group follows expert Hank to reach higher regions. They start an adventurous journey across the island.

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Plot Keywords:

volcanic eruption | 1980s | pacific ocean | pacific island | hotel | 

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Taglines:

An all-star cast is on the run when Mother Nature blows her top!

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Drama | Thriller

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

Canada USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

28 March 1980 (USA)

Also Known As:

Earth's Final Fury

Filming Locations:

Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort and Spa - 78-128 Ehukai Street, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$20,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$1,400,994, 30 March 1980

Gross USA:

$3,763,988

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$3,763,988

Company Credits

Production Co:

International Cinema, Warner Bros.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

121 min 141 min (video) 109 min (DVD)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Toward the end of his life, Paul Newman confessed in interviews that this was the only film he ever did solely for the money. He called it "that volcano movie" and said that he and most of the cast knew it would be a bomb from day one. Many believe that part of his salary from this movie was used as seed money for a salad dressing business he was setting up with A.E. Hotchner, with 100% of the profits, after taxes, going to educational and charitable organizations. Newman's Own, established in 1982, has raised over $260 million for charities all over the world, and continues to grow and prosper.

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Goofs

An oil rig drilling into the side of a volcano triggers the eruption. Oil fields are not found on or near active volcanoes; there isn't enough time between eruptions for any petroleum products to form or be deposited.

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Quotes

Hank Anderson: It's bad down here but it's worse up there!

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Alternate Versions

There are at least three versions of this film, the original 121 minutes vesion, a cut 104 minutes one, and a 141 minutes expanded video home version

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Connections

Featured in Sneak Previews: The Postman Always Rings Twice/All Night Long/Galaxina/Back Roads/Private Eyes (1981)

User Reviews

Oh, that volcano isn't going to erupt.

Yes, this is the typical 70's all-star disaster flick. Though this one was made in 1980. This one, however, was not a hit. When "The Towering Inferno" was in theaters, it made over 100 million at the box office. When this one was at theaters, it made less than 2 million. Part of the problem is that it doesn't look much like a movie for the theater. In fact, when I first saw it, I thought it was a made for television movie. I think most of the budget in this one went to the stars, and not nearly enough went into special effects. The story in this one is typical of a volcano movie as it has someone trying to warn people that the volcano is going to erupt. Of course no one believes them and then an eruption occurs. We have people getting fried, and a select group trying to head for safety. Along the way they have to cross a bridge, and it turns out there is someone who has a special ability to be put in use here like the character in "The Poseidon Adventure" who was an excellent swimmer. This one has some good qualities though and if you have nothing else to do it may be worth a look-see, but it is definitely nothing special.