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Philadelphia Experiment

Original title: The Philadelphia Experiment
  • 1984
  • Tous publics
  • 1h 42m
IMDb RATING
6.1/10
16K
YOUR RATING
Nancy Allen and Michael Paré in Philadelphia Experiment (1984)
Watch Trailer [EN]
Play trailer2:54
1 Video
67 Photos
AdventureDramaRomance

A United States Navy destroyer escort participates in a Navy "invisibility" experiment that inadvertently sends two sailors forty years into the future.A United States Navy destroyer escort participates in a Navy "invisibility" experiment that inadvertently sends two sailors forty years into the future.A United States Navy destroyer escort participates in a Navy "invisibility" experiment that inadvertently sends two sailors forty years into the future.

  • Director
    • Stewart Raffill
  • Writers
    • Michael Janover
    • William Gray
    • Wallace C. Bennett
  • Stars
    • Michael Paré
    • Nancy Allen
    • Eric Christmas
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.1/10
    16K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Stewart Raffill
    • Writers
      • Michael Janover
      • William Gray
      • Wallace C. Bennett
    • Stars
      • Michael Paré
      • Nancy Allen
      • Eric Christmas
    • 86User reviews
    • 41Critic reviews
    • 44Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 2 nominations

    Videos1

    Trailer [EN]
    Trailer 2:54
    Watch Trailer [EN]

    Photos67

    La guerre de l'espace (1977)
    Nancy Allen and Michael Paré in Philadelphia Experiment (1984)
    Nancy Allen and Michael Paré in Philadelphia Experiment (1984)
    Philadelphia Experiment (1984)
    Philadelphia Experiment (1984)
    Nancy Allen and Michael Paré in Philadelphia Experiment (1984)
    Philadelphia Experiment (1984)
    Joe Dorsey and James Edgcomb in Philadelphia Experiment (1984)
    Debra Troyer in Philadelphia Experiment (1984)
    Bobby Di Cicco and Debra Troyer in Philadelphia Experiment (1984)
    Nancy Allen in Philadelphia Experiment (1984)
    Michael Paré, Vivian Brown, and Bobby Di Cicco in Philadelphia Experiment (1984)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Michael Paré
    Michael Paré
    • David Herdeg
    Nancy Allen
    Nancy Allen
    • Allison Hayes
    Eric Christmas
    Eric Christmas
    • Dr. James Longstreet
    Bobby Di Cicco
    Bobby Di Cicco
    • Jim Parker
    Louise Latham
    Louise Latham
    • Pamela
    Kene Holiday
    Kene Holiday
    • Major Clark
    • (as Kene Holliday)
    Joe Dorsey
    Joe Dorsey
    • Sheriff Bates
    Michael Currie
    Michael Currie
    • Magnussen
    Stephen Tobolowsky
    Stephen Tobolowsky
    • Barney
    Gary Brockette
    Gary Brockette
    • Adjutant…
    Debra Troyer
    Debra Troyer
    • Young Pamela
    Miles McNamara
    • Young Longstreet
    • (as Miles Mc Namara)
    Ralph Manza
    Ralph Manza
    • Older Jim
    James Edgcomb
    James Edgcomb
    • Officer Boyer
    Glenn Morshower
    Glenn Morshower
    • Mechanic
    Rodney Saulsberry
    Rodney Saulsberry
    • Doctor
    Vivian Brown
    • Ma Willis
    Stephanie Faulkner
    • TV Newscaster #1
    • Director
      • Stewart Raffill
    • Writers
      • Michael Janover
      • William Gray
      • Wallace C. Bennett
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    6.4
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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Back in 1980, AVCO Embassy Pictures asked John Carpenter, who served as an executive producer on this film, to write and direct this film after the successes of La Nuit des masques (1978) and Fog (1980). However, Carpenter showed them New-York 1997 (1981) (which he wrote years earlier), and they did that instead.
    • Goofs
      David and Jimmy's hairstyles are not characteristic of those found in the 1940s, particularly for Sailors. This is also true for several of the other men seen during this time period in the film.
    • Quotes

      Jim Parker: Isn't that - water up ahead?

      David Herdeg: No. This is a desert. And that's a mirage.

      Jim Parker: [later, walking through the flooded plain] How much longer you think this mirage is gonna last?

    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: The Philadelphia Experiment/Purple Rain/Careful, He Might Hear You/After the Rehearsal (1984)
    • Soundtracks
      In the Mood
      Music by Joe Garland

      Published by Shapiro, Bernstein and Co., Inc.

    User reviews86

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    6/10
    Fantastic experiment during WWII winds up throwing two sailors into future world
    Based on an "actual event" that took place in 1943 and set during WW2 , a ¨Philadelphia experiment¨ about invisibility and involving an anti-radar goes wrong , causing an USS naval battleship -Navy Destroyer Escort- to disappear from the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard , Virginia , by means of a warp time . A pair of sailors (stars Michael Pare and Bobby DiCicco) find themselves thrown into a temporary hole and sent 40 years into the future . Then they find in modern world of 1984 and a cataclysm that threatens to destroy it and change the course of history . Meanwhile , they meet a beautiful girl(costars Nancy Allen) who help them .

    This is a far-fetching but acceptable story about two sailors traveling forward in time to just to discover weird incidents and save the world . Reportedly (?) based on a true events that are developed with intrigue , suspense , thrills and noisy action . Familiar but satisfying and agreeable Sci-Fi yarn . Just amusement enough to cover production gaps and some flaws . Fine special effects for that time and liking performances by the leads manage to keep this one afloat . Good support cast as Louise Latham and Stephen Tobolowsky , among others . Colorful cinematography by Dick Bush and atmospheric musical score by Wannberg. The motion picture was professionally directed by Stewart Raffill . He's an expert on adventure genre as ¨Across the Great Divide¨ , ¨Sea Gypsies¨ and science fiction as ¨Ice pirates¨ , ¨Mc and Me¨ and of course this one . It's followed by an inferior sequel titled ¨Philadelphia experiment II ¨ with Brad Johnson . Rating : Acceptable and passable fare although better viewed in big screen .
    helpful•27
    7
    • ma-cortes
    • Nov 30, 2009

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    FAQ20

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 16, 1985 (France)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • The Philadelphia Experiment
    • Filming locations
      • Charleston, South Carolina, USA
    • Production companies
      • New World Pictures
      • Cinema Group Ventures
      • New Pictures Group
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $6,400,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $8,103,330
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $1,877,000
      • Aug 5, 1984
    • Gross worldwide
      • $8,103,330
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 42 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.78 : 1

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