Endangered Species (1982)

About a retired New York cop on Vacation in America's West who is drawn into a female sheriff's investigation of a mysterious series of cattle killings.

Director:

Alan Rudolph

Writers:

Judd Klinger (story) (as Judson Klinger), Richard Clayton Woods (story)

Stars:

Robert Urich, JoBeth Williams, Paul Dooley

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Robert Urich	...	Ruben Castle
JoBeth Williams	...	Harriet Purdue
Paul Dooley	...	Joe Hiatt
Hoyt Axton	...	Ben Morgan
Peter Coyote	...	Steele
Marin Kanter	...	Mackenzie Castle
Gailard Sartain	...	Mayor
Dan Hedaya	...	Peck
Harry Carey Jr.	...	Dr. Emmer
John Considine	...	Burnside
Margery Bond	...	Judy Hiatt
Joseph G. Medalis	...	Lawyer
Patrick Houser	...	Chester
Alvin Crow	...	Deputy Wayne
Ned Dowd	...	Deputy Bobby

Storyline

Thriller about a New York ex-cop and an attractive female sheriff who fall in love while investigating a string of mysterious cattle mutilations in a small Colorado town. Urich is great as Reuben Castle, the retired alcoholic police lieutenant out visiting the town with his tomboy daughter. At first he tries to stay out of the case but finds himself involved after the mysterious death of his friend Joe Hiatt, the editor of the local paper whose theories about black helicopters have aroused the ire of cattle baron Ben Morgan. Trying miserably to stay sober, Castle finds himself back in danger and in love, as he and the sheriff work together to get to the bottom of the mystery, encountering incredible danger and resistance from the frightened locals.

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Plot Keywords:

female sheriff | cattle mutilation | conspiracy | sheriff | cattle | 

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Taglines:

What you don't know can kill you.

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Genres:

Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 September 1982 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Morte Vem do Céu

Filming Locations:

Colorado, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$624,041, 12 September 1982, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$1,474,249

Company Credits

Production Co:

Alive Enterprises, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The character Susan is played by Heather Menzies-Urich, co-star Robert Urich's off-screen wife. Menzies is best known as Louisa, one of the children in The Sound of Music (1965).

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Quotes

Joe Hiatt: You know in almost every case, bright lights in the sky, no tracks, strange noises...
Ruben Castle: UFOs, huh?
Joe Hiatt: Look pal, if it's UFOs, it's bigger than all of us. That's like saying God did it. But if it's not UFOs...

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Connections

Spoofed in Leisure Suit Larry: Magna Cum Laude (2004)

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Soundtracks

BOOZERS ARE LOOSERS
Composed and Performed by Hoyt Axton
Courtesy of Jeremiah Records

User Reviews

excellent and unorthodox film about conspiracy theory-type stuff

this is a fascinating film. I remember it vividly as my father took me to see it when I was about 12. Come to think of it, my parents took me to see some really odd films when I was growing up in the early 80s. Before I was even thirteen my parents took me to see such films as "Heavy Metal", "Eating Raoul", and "Blow Out". What the hell were they thinking? lol.

Anyways, this film is about cattle mutilation and delves into the world of conspiracy theories involving black helicopters, satanic underground networks, and all that other stuff people were starting to get worked up about in the early 80s.

Robert Urich plays an investigator from the big city who comes to the rural town where the mutilations are happening. With him is his delinquent teenage daughter (who is quite good. whatever happened to that young actress??). Urich also becomes romantically entangled with the local female sheriff played by JoBeth Williams.

I have to give special mention to a couple of things. This film (in my opinion) is easily the best that Alan Rudolph has ever done. He's always been somewhat of a cult director but I never found his films very impressive. But "Endangered Species" is just superb. If you're going to create a film about conspiracy theories, this is the way to do it, folks. By NOT spelling everything out for the audience. But suggesting a great deal. By NOT treating the audience as though they are idiots. The cinematography is also very impressive, as is the droning, disturbing score. A definite winner! I used to have a copy of this on VHS and I gave it away a few years back. I'm still kicking myself for doing that!