The eldest son of a fugitive family comes of age and wants to live a life of his own.
Director:
Sidney LumetWriter:
Naomi Foner
From metacritic.com
Jacob Tremblay, star of Good Boys, compares his family to an infamous reality TV show and picks an unusual Star Wars dream role.
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Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Christine Lahti | ... | Annie Pope | |
| River Phoenix | ... | Danny Pope | |
| Judd Hirsch | ... | Arthur Pope | |
 |
Jonas Abry | ... | Harry Pope |
| Martha Plimpton | ... | Lorna Phillips | |
| Ed Crowley | ... | Mr. Phillips | |
| L.M. Kit Carson | ... | Gus Winant | |
| Steven Hill | ... | Donald Patterson | |
|
|
Augusta Dabney | ... | Abigail Patterson |
| David Margulies | ... | Dr. Jonah Reiff | |
| Lynne Thigpen | ... | Contact at Eldridge St. | |
| Marcia Jean Kurtz | ... | School Clerk | |
| Sloane Shelton | ... | Mrs. Phillips | |
|
|
Justine Johnston | ... | Librarian |
| Herb Lovelle | ... | Hospital Clerk | |
Edit
Plot Summary
|
Add Synopsis
Storyline
The Popes are a family who haven't been able to use their real identity for years. In the late sixties, the parents set a weapons lab afire in an effort to hinder the government's Vietnam war campaign. Ever since then, the Popes have been on the run with the authorities never far behind. Today, their eldest son wants a life of his own although he is aware that would mean that his parents would either get caught or he will never see them again. Written by Kenneth Chisholm <kchishol@execulink.com>
Taglines:
In 1971, Arthur and Annie Pope blew up a napalm lab to protest the war... Ever since then they have been on the run from the FBI. They chose their lives. Now their son must choose his.Parents Guide:
View content advisory »
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Details
Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
9 September 1988 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
Die Flucht ins Ungewisse See more »Edit
Box Office
Budget:
$7,000,000 (estimated)Gross USA:
$2,835,116Company Credits
Show more on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
MonoColor:
Color (Technicolor)Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1
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See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
The plot is similar to Quantum Leap: Animal Frat - October 19, 1967 (1990) where in the original history a woman blows up a building at a university that she thought was unoccupied, so the person inside was killed as a result, and the woman spent the rest of her life on the run. See more »Goofs
As they stop at a gas station on the run from authorities, one of the characters is shown removing a Delaware license plate from the front of the gray van. Delaware has never issued nor required front-mounted plates. See more »Quotes
Michael: Aren't we supposed to question authority? You taught me that! Who do you think you are, General Patton?See more »
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I saw this movie when it was first released on video and was astounded that it was not nominated for Best Picture over lesser fare like Working Girl. I was 14 at the time and the conclusion of the movie was the first time I ever cried while watching a film. It's been 16 years and only four other movies have had that affect on me (Shadowlands, Philadelphia, In America, Return of the King). Watching it with my wife tonight (her first time seeing it) and I still cried at the conclusion.
This movie, more than any other, even Stand By Me, makes me miss the adult actor that River Phoenix might have become. We have been lucky enough to see the fine actors that Sean Penn, Johnny Depp and Tom Cruise have become, but River might have
surpassed them all. He most assuredly had the potential.
I have seen thousands of movies now, have devoted myself to watching every film by 100 great directors (even the horrible ones) and Sidney Lumet has rewarded me as I have re-watched such classics as Network, 12 Angry Men and Serpico, but this might be his best film. Christine Lahti's performance is letter on perfect and she should have won the Oscar (wasn't nominated). I am glad the Academy got the two most important nominations correct: River and the screenplay.
This is a perfect movie for teens as they can understand the growing pains that River's character is going through and a perfect movie for adults as well, as they can understand what is threatening to tear the family apart.