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The Philadelphia Experiment

  • 19841984
  • PGPG
  • 1h 42m
IMDb RATING
6.1/10
15K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Nancy Allen and Michael Paré in The Philadelphia Experiment (1984)
Watch {VideoTitle}
Play trailer2:54
1 Video
64 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.

IMDb RATING
6.1/10
15K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Stewart Raffill
  • Writers
    • Michael Janover
    • William Gray
    • Wallace C. Bennett
  • Stars
    • Michael Paré
    • Nancy Allen
    • Eric Christmas
Top credits
  • Director
    • Stewart Raffill
  • Writers
    • Michael Janover
    • William Gray
    • Wallace C. Bennett
  • Stars
    • Michael Paré
    • Nancy Allen
    • Eric Christmas
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 76User reviews
    • 38Critic reviews
    • 44Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 2 nominations

    Videos1

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

    Photos64

    War in Space (1977)
    The Philadelphia Experiment (1984)
    Nancy Allen and Michael Paré in The Philadelphia Experiment (1984)
    The Philadelphia Experiment (1984)
    Nancy Allen and Michael Paré in The Philadelphia Experiment (1984)
    The Philadelphia Experiment (1984)
    The Philadelphia Experiment (1984)
    The Philadelphia Experiment (1984)
    Nancy Allen in The Philadelphia Experiment (1984)
    Michael Paré, Vivian Brown, and Bobby Di Cicco in The Philadelphia Experiment (1984)
    Nancy Allen, Michael Paré, and Bobby Di Cicco in The Philadelphia Experiment (1984)
    Michael Paré and Bobby Di Cicco in The Philadelphia Experiment (1984)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Michael Paré
    Michael Paré
    • David Herdegas David Herdeg
    Nancy Allen
    Nancy Allen
    • Allison Hayesas Allison Hayes
    Eric Christmas
    Eric Christmas
    • Dr. James Longstreetas Dr. James Longstreet
    Bobby Di Cicco
    Bobby Di Cicco
    • Jim Parkeras Jim Parker
    Louise Latham
    Louise Latham
    • Pamelaas Pamela
    Kene Holiday
    Kene Holiday
    • Major Clarkas Major Clark
    • (as Kene Holliday)
    Joe Dorsey
    Joe Dorsey
    • Sheriff Batesas Sheriff Bates
    Michael Currie
    Michael Currie
    • Magnussenas Magnussen
    Stephen Tobolowsky
    Stephen Tobolowsky
    • Barneyas Barney
    Gary Brockette
    Gary Brockette
    • Adjutantas Adjutant…
    Debra Troyer
    • Young Pamelaas Young Pamela
    Miles McNamara
    • Young Longstreetas Young Longstreet
    • (as Miles Mc Namara)
    Ralph Manza
    Ralph Manza
    • Older Jimas Older Jim
    James Edgcomb
    • Officer Boyeras Officer Boyer
    Glenn Morshower
    Glenn Morshower
    • Mechanicas Mechanic
    Rodney Saulsberry
    Rodney Saulsberry
    • Doctoras Doctor
    Vivian Brown
    • Ma Willisas Ma Willis
    Stephanie Faulkner
    • TV Newscaster #1as TV Newscaster #1
    • Director
      • Stewart Raffill
    • Writers
      • Michael Janover(screenplay)
      • William Gray(screenplay)
      • Wallace C. Bennett(story by)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

    Storyline

    Edit
    In 1943, the United States tests an anti-radar system to make the U.S. Navy ships invisible to the enemy. Dr. James Longstreet uses his experiment in the destroyer escort USS Eldridge that disappears from Philadelphia. The sailors David Herdeg and his best friend Jim Parker are projected to 1984, where they meet Allison Hayes. They unsuccessfully try to contact their base and out of the blue Jimmy disappears in a hospital. Allison helps David to visit Jimmy's wife Pamela, but Jimmy refuses to see him. Now David's only hope is meeting Dr. James Longstreet to learn what to do. Will he succeed? —Claudio Carvalho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
    time travelexperiment gone wrongsecret experimentrace against timehole in the sky147 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • Will you survive?
    • Genres
      • Adventure
      • Drama
      • Romance
      • Sci-Fi
      • Thriller
    • Certificate
      • PG
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      This film is widely believed to be based on a real-life and ill-fated experiment with invisibility and force fields in the 1940s. However, to the best of any factual knowledge, no such experiment ever occurred, and the story was the work of an eccentric loner, Carl Allen, who sent notes on the "experiment" to the government in the 1950s, and whose story was later leaked. Despite the lack of any factual evidence, the story has become an urban legend, and favorite of conspiracy theorists, who point to the lack of evidence as proof that it's being covered up.
    • 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 reviews76

    Review
    Top 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•22
    7
    • ma-cortes
    • Nov 30, 2009

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 3, 1984 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • L'expérience de Philadelphie
    • 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
      • $21,000,000 (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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