Missing (1982)

When an idealistic American writer disappears during the Chilean coup d'état in September 1973, his wife and father try to find him.

Director:

Costa-Gavras

Writers:

Costa-Gavras (screenplay), Donald E. Stewart (screenplay) (as Donald Stewart)

Stars:

Jack Lemmon, Sissy Spacek, Melanie Mayron

Won 1 Oscar. Another 9 wins & 18 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jack Lemmon	...	Ed Horman
Sissy Spacek	...	Beth Horman
Melanie Mayron	...	Terry Simon
John Shea	...	Charles Horman
Charles Cioffi	...	Captain Ray Tower
David Clennon	...	Consul Phil Putnam
Richard Venture	...	U.S. Ambassador
Jerry Hardin	...	Colonel Sean Patrick
Richard Bradford	...	Andrew Babcock
Joe Regalbuto	...	Frank Teruggi
Keith Szarabajka	...	David Holloway
John Doolittle	...	Dave McGeary
Janice Rule	...	Kate Newman
Ward Costello	...	Congressman
Hansford Rowe	...	Senator

Storyline

In September1973, in Chile, the American journalist Charles Horman arrives in Valparaiso with his friend Terry Simon to meet his wife Beth and bring her back to New York with him. However, they are surprised by the military coup d'état sponsored by the US Government to replace President Salvador Allende and Charles is arrested by the military force. His father Ed Horman, a conservative businessman from New York, arrives in Chile to seek out his missing son with Beth. He goes to the American Consulate to meet the Consul that promises the best efforts to find Charles while the skeptical Beth does not trust on the word of the American authorities. The nationalism and confidence of Ed in his government changes when he finds the truth about what happened with his beloved son.

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Plot Keywords:

american | military | coup | chile | missing | 

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Taglines:

Charlie Horman thought that being an American would guarantee his safety. His family believed that being Americans would guarantee them the truth. They were all wrong.

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | History | Mystery | Thriller

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Spanish French

Release Date:

12 March 1982 (USA)

Also Known As:

Desaparecido

Filming Locations:

Gran Hotel de la Ciudad de Mexico, Calle 16 de Septiembre Zocale, Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico

Box Office

Gross USA:

$14,000,000

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$14,986,793

Company Credits

Production Co:

PolyGram Filmed Entertainment, Universal Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

122 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The movie was voted one of the ten best films of 1982 by the National Board of Review.

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Goofs

In the scene where Jack Lemmon is at the State Department early in the movie trying to get information about Charlie, there is the presidential portrait of Richard Nixon on the wall in the background and a more personal photo of him on Marine One on the credenza behind the desk. That photograph, with fingers in the V-peace sign, was taken upon his final departure from the White House in 1974 and could not have been on someone's desk in 1973.

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Quotes

Silvio: You Americans, you always assume you must do something before you can be arrested.

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Connections

References Citizen Kane (1941)

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Soundtracks

Missing (Opening Theme)
Written and performed by Vangelis

User Reviews

This film changed my life

I was 17 when I first saw the film in 1982 and I can say, that it changed my life. Up to that I believe in my own government an I believe in the US, as a strong friend of all democratic countries. After this film I'd never take the things for real. I questioned everything and this is good. Use your mind, try to get informations from all sides. I think Chile is one reason, that the US doesn't sign the treaty for the international court, because guys like Kissinger had to be scared, that he has to take responsability for Chile and Vietnam. Everything was said of the great performance of the actors in this film. This is the best political thriller ever made.