The Prize of Peril (1983)

In a futuristic society, contestants pit their survival skills against each other in a fight to the death for cash prizes, and the contest is aired live on television.

Director:

Yves Boisset

Writers:

Robert Sheckley (story "The Prize of Peril"), Yves Boisset (scenario)

Stars:

Gérard Lanvin, Michel Piccoli, Marie-France Pisier

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Gérard Lanvin	...	François Jacquemard
Michel Piccoli	...	Frédéric Mallaire
Marie-France Pisier	...	Laurence Ballard
Bruno Cremer	...	Antoine Chirex
Andréa Ferréol	...	Élisabeth Worms
Jean Rougerie	...	Président commission
Jean-Claude Dreyfus	...	Bertrand
Jean-Pierre Bagot	...	Alexandre
Henri-Jacques Huet	...	Victor Segal
Dragan Stueljanin	...	Roederer
Steve Kalfa	...	Édouard
Zlata Numanagic	...	Jacqueline
Julien Bukowski	...	Arnaud
Gabrielle Lazure	...	Marianne
Catherine Lachens	...	Madelaine

Storyline

In a futuristic society, contestants pit their survival skills against each other in a fight to the death for cash prizes, and the contest is aired live on television.

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Plot Keywords:

television | manhunt | helicopter | dystopia | foreign language adaptation | 

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Genres:

Action | Drama | Sci-Fi | Thriller

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Did You Know?

Trivia

Yves Boisset sued Twentieth Century Fox for copycat because of the movie The Running Man (1987), starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, which the screenplay was exactly the same as his own film. Some documents of the case were lost in a plane crash in the New York bay.

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Quotes

Laurence Ballard: Better than any opinion poll, your response tells me how you care for The Prize of Danger, and I thank you all. Some people blame us and denounce us for producing this kind of show, just tell them you demand shows like The Prize of Danger. CTV is here to serve you. We give you the shows you want. I know you like good shows, I know you want more blood, more violence and gore, that's what we give you! The next Prize of Danger will be even more spectacular. I promise you that! The rules will be ...

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Connections

Version of Das Millionenspiel (1970)

User Reviews

excellent French variation on "The Running Man"

Even though the version I saw on video was dubbed, this is still a really well-made and relevant film about violence and the media. "The Running Man" with Arnold Schwarzenegger is a big pile of s--t compared to this film. (I wonder if Steven King ripped off the Robert Sheckley novel that this movie's based on for his 'Bachman' book.) One of the guys hunting down the hero is played by the butcher from "Delicatessen"; he gets his in a particularly nasty fashion (recalling F.Murray Abraham's demise in "The Name of the Rose"). The video is out of print (Lightning), but if you can track it down it's well worth the time and effort.

Details

Country:

France Yugoslavia

Language:

French

Release Date:

26 January 1983 (France)

Also Known As:

The Prize of Peril

Filming Locations:

Belgrade, Serbia

Company Credits

Production Co:

Avala Film, Swabie Production, TF1 Films Production

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1