Running on Empty (1988)
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- PG-13
- 1h 56min
- Crime, Drama
- 09 Sep 1988 (USA)
- Movie
The eldest son of a fugitive family comes of age and wants to live his own life.
Director:
Writer:
Awards:
- Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 5 wins & 6 nominations.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Christine Lahti | ... |
Annie Pope
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| River Phoenix | ... |
Danny Pope
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| Judd Hirsch | ... |
Arthur Pope
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Jonas Abry | ... |
Harry Pope
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| Martha Plimpton | ... |
Lorna Phillips
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| Ed Crowley | ... |
Mr. Phillips
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| L.M. Kit Carson | ... |
Gus Winant
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| Steven Hill | ... |
Donald Patterson
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| Augusta Dabney | ... |
Abigail Patterson
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| David Margulies | ... |
Dr. Jonah Reiff
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| Lynne Thigpen | ... |
Contact at Eldridge St.
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| Marcia Jean Kurtz | ... |
School Clerk
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| Sloane Shelton | ... |
Mrs. Phillips
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Justine Johnston | ... |
Librarian
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| Herb Lovelle | ... |
Hospital Clerk
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| Bobo Lewis | ... |
Home Ec Teacher
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Ronnie Gilbert | ... |
Mrs. Taylor
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Leila Danette | ... |
Maid
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| Michael Boatman | ... |
Spaulding
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| Jenny Lumet | ... |
Music Girl
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William Foeller | ... |
Man at Meeting
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Carol Cavallo | ... |
Woman at Meeting
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| Alice Drummond | ... |
Mrs. Powell
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Joey Thrower | ... |
Catcher
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| Donna Hanover | ... |
Reporter
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Thomas Fraioli | ... |
Violinist
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Burke Pearson | ... |
Juilliard Man
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| Elzbieta Czyzewska | ... |
Juilliard Woman
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| Angela Pietropinto | ... |
English Teacher
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Daniel Dassin | ... |
Waiter
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
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Christian Daugherty | ... |
(uncredited)
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Skip Rose | ... |
Baseball Coach (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Sidney Lumet | ||
Written by
| Naomi Foner | ... | (written by) |
Produced by
| Griffin Dunne | ... | producer |
| Naomi Foner | ... | executive producer |
| Burtt Harris | ... | executive producer |
| Amy Robinson | ... | producer |
Music by
| Tony Mottola | ||
Cinematography by
| Gerry Fisher | ... | director of photography |
Editing by
| Andrew Mondshein | ||
Editorial Department
| Dawn Chiang | ... | apprentice editor |
| Dennis McNeill | ... | color timer |
| Richard J. Rossi | ... | assistant editor |
Casting By
| Todd Thaler | ... | (as Todd M. Thaler) |
Production Design by
| Philip Rosenberg | ||
Art Direction by
| Robert Guerra | ||
Set Decoration by
| Philip Smith | ||
Costume Design by
| Anna Hill Johnstone | ||
Makeup Department
| Bob Grimaldi | ... | hair stylist |
| Toy Van Lierop | ... | makeup department head |
Production Management
| Joseph M. Caracciolo Jr. | ... | production manager (as Joseph M. Caracciolo) |
| Lilith Jacobs | ... | post-production supervisor |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Joseph M. Caracciolo | ... | second assistant director (as Joe Caracciolo) |
| Burtt Harris | ... | first assistant director |
| Andrew Mondshein | ... | second unit director |
| Drew Ann Rosenberg | ... | additional second assistant director |
| Glen Trotiner | ... | additional second assistant director |
Art Department
| Hank Bauer | ... | head carpenter |
| John R. Ford | ... | props |
| James V. Gartland | ... | construction grip |
| Robert Griffon Jr. | ... | property master |
| John Oates Jr. | ... | set dresser |
| Kevin Oates | ... | set dresser |
| Siv Sandstrom | ... | art department coordinator |
| William Sohmer | ... | stand-by scenic artist |
| Richard A. Ventre | ... | master scenic artist |
| Joan Winters | ... | graphic designer |
Sound Department
| Marko A. Costanzo | ... | foley artist |
| Tom Fleischman | ... | re-recording mixer |
| Frank Graziadei | ... | sound recordist |
| Jane McCulley | ... | adr editor |
| Bitty O'Sullivan-Smith | ... | sound editor |
| Mark Rathaus | ... | supervising sound editor |
| James Sabat | ... | sound mixer (as James J. Sabat) |
| Louis Sabat | ... | sound boom |
| Ahmad Shirazi | ... | sound editor |
Stunts
| Mick O'Rourke | ... | stunt double |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Dan Brunner | ... | second assistant camera |
| Norman Buck | ... | key grip |
| Cary Fisher | ... | camera operator |
| Kerry Hayes | ... | still photographer |
| James Malone | ... | best boy |
| James McGrath | ... | dolly grip |
| William Ward | ... | gaffer |
| Ron Zarilla | ... | first assistant camera |
Casting Department
| Ed Arenas | ... | casting associate |
| Judie Fixler | ... | casting associate |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Lynette Bernay | ... | assistant costume designer |
| Bruce Catt | ... | wardrobe supervisor |
| Karen Whittaker | ... | wardrobe supervisor |
Location Management
| Stephen Danza | ... | location manager |
| Liza J. Harris | ... | location coordinator |
Music Department
| Michael Farrow | ... | scoring mixer (uncredited) |
Script and Continuity Department
| Mary Bailey | ... | script supervisor |
Transportation Department
| Thomas Reilly | ... | transportation captain |
Additional Crew
| Emily Appelson | ... | assistant to producers |
| Kara Baker | ... | production assistant |
| Gar Berke | ... | piano consultant |
| Liza J. Harris | ... | driving double |
| Deborah D. Johnson | ... | production accountant |
| Adrienne Kahn | ... | production secretary |
| Mark R. Lindsay | ... | sales representative (as Mark Lindsay) |
| George Wild Markham | ... | production assistant |
| Jane Raab | ... | production office coordinator |
| Lisa Rhodes | ... | production assistant |
| Michael Sporn | ... | title designer |
| Tim Williams | ... | production assistant |
| Cheryl Hill Powell | ... | production assistant (uncredited) |
| Melissa Smith | ... | sales and marketing coordinator (uncredited) |
| Del Spiva | ... | distribution coordinator (uncredited) |
Production Companies
Distributors
- Warner Bros. (1988) (United States) (theatrical)
- Columbia TriStar Film (1988) (West Germany) (theatrical)
- Constantin Film (1988) (Austria) (theatrical)
- Syncron Film (1988) (Norway) (theatrical)
- Toho-Towa (1988) (Japan) (theatrical)
- Warner Bros. (1988) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Filmes Lusomundo (1989) (Portugal) (theatrical)
- Finnkino (1989) (Finland) (theatrical)
- Motion Picture Group (MPG) (1989) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
- Warner Bros. Pictures (1989) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Argentina Video Home (1989) (Argentina) (VHS)
- CNR Video (1989) (Netherlands) (VHS)
- Showtime (1990) (Finland) (VHS)
- VCL Communications (1989) (West Germany) (VHS)
- Home Video Hellas (HVH) (1990) (Greece) (VHS)
- British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) (1994) (United Kingdom) (tv) (BBC Two)
- Yleisradio (YLE) (1994) (Finland) (tv)
- Argentina Video Home (2001) (Argentina) (DVD)
- Argentina Video Home (2001) (Argentina) (VHS) (re-release)
- Warner Home Video (2006) (Germany) (DVD)
- Warner Bros. Entertainment Finland (2007) (Finland) (DVD)
- HBO Max (2020) (United States) (video) (VOD)
- The Criterion Channel (2022) (United States) (tv) (streaming)
- MTV3 (2000) (Finland) (tv)
- Warner Home Vídeo (Brazil) (DVD)
- Warner Home Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Descriptive Video Works (descriptive video)
- International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) (this picture made under the jurisdiction of)
- Metrocolor (prints by)
- Michael Sporn Animation (titles)
- Panavision (lenses and Panaflex Camera by)
- Reeltime Creative (trailer music)
- Technicolor (color by)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
The Popes are a family who haven't been able to use their real identity for years. In the late 1960s, 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 older son wants his own life although he is aware that this would mean that either his parents would get caught, or that he would never see them again.
Written by Kenneth Chisholm |
| Plot Keywords | |
| 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. See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
| Certification |
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Additional Details
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Box Office
| Budget | $7,000,000 (estimated) |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | Director Sidney Lumet writes in his book "Making Movies" about an argument between River Phoenix and writer Naomi Foner. A scene in the movie concerns the character played by Phoenix being interrupted while practicing a classical piano solo. In the script, when he is caught, he breaks into a jazz riff to cover his "embarrassment" at being caught doing something serious. Phoenix fought hard against this, feeling that his character would never be embarrassed about working at the piano. Lumet was so impressed by the point Phoenix made, he shot the scene the way Phoenix wanted it. See more » |
| Goofs | During Danny's Juilliard audition, one of the school's admissions officers stated that he needed to supply them with SAT scores. Juilliard does not, and never has, required applicants to submit standardized test scores. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in Betrayed/Stealing Home/The Last Temptation of Christ/Married to the Mob/Hero and the Terror (1988). See more » |
| Soundtracks | Fire and Rain See more » |
| Quotes |
Arthur Pope:
[Last Lines]
Get the bike out of the back. [pause] Arthur Pope: Now, get on it. Michael: What are you talking about, dad... Arthur Pope: Get on the bike. You're on your own, kid. I want you to go to Juilliard. Michael: But, dad, I want to go with you. Arthur Pope: We'll see you again. You can be sure. [pause] Arthur Pope: Your mother has arranged things with your grandfather, alright- call him. And I think you have some friend's around here. Annie Pope: I love you, baby. Arthur Pope: We all love you. Now, go out there and make a difference. Your mother and I tried. And don't let anyone tell you any different. Harry Pope: [the family car circles 'Michael' before exiting down the road] Bye, Danny! See more » |