Talk Radio (1988)

A rude, contemptuous talk show host becomes overwhelmed by the hatred that surrounds his program just before it goes national.

Director:

Oliver Stone

Writers:

Stephen Singular (book), Eric Bogosian (play)

Stars:

Eric Bogosian, Ellen Greene, Leslie Hope

3 wins & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Eric Bogosian	...	Barry
Ellen Greene	...	Ellen
Leslie Hope	...	Laura
John C. McGinley	...	Stu
Alec Baldwin	...	Dan
John Pankow	...	Dietz
Michael Wincott	...	Kent / Michael / Joe
Linda Atkinson	...	Sheila Fleming
Robert Trebor	...	Jeffrey Fisher / Francine
Zach Grenier	...	Sid Greenberg
Tony Frank	...	Dino
Harlan Jordan	...	Coach Armstrong
Bill Johnson	...	Fan #1
Kevin Howard	...	Fan #2
Anna Levine	...	Woman at Basketball Game / Denise

Storyline

An acerbic radio talk show host based in Dallas starts what could be an important few days when he discovers that his controversial late night show is about to be "picked up" by a nationwide network of radio stations. However, all is not perfect for him, because on top of troubles with his love life and fears that the management of the network will try to alter the content of his show he has to cope with a neo-nazi group who have been angered by his forthright opinions.

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Plot Keywords:

radio | hatred | radio station | neo nazi | radio talk show | 

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Taglines:

Words can kill...

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA Canada

Language:

English

Release Date:

13 January 1989 (USA)

Also Known As:

As Vozes da Ira

Filming Locations:

Building One, Studios at Las Colinas - 6301 North O'Connor Road, Irving, Texas, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$4,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$80,547, 26 December 1988

Gross USA:

$3,468,572

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$3,468,572

Company Credits

Production Co:

Cineplex Odeon Films, Ten-Four Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

110 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Star Eric Bogosian received an 'introducing' credit on at least one of the movie's trailers.

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Goofs

KGAB's radio tower is shown to be in Downtown Dallas. Most radio stations in the Dallas-Fort Worth area are in Cedar Hill, in between Dallas and Fort Worth. While there are exceptions depending on the power of the radio station, if KGAB were as large a station as depicted, its tower would be in Cedar Hill.

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Quotes

Barry: Who's the schlub?

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Connections

References 60 Minutes (1968)

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Soundtracks

Telephone & Rubber Band
Written by Simon Jeffes
Performed by Penguin Cafe Orchestra (as The Penguin Cafe Orchestra)
Courtesy of E.G. Records

User Reviews

A masterpiece of shadows and doom

A top notch drama enhanced by Stone's camera work. The story involves the meteoric rise and fall of a popular shock-jock. The main character's ego and opinions drip out of his pores like sweat on a hot afternoon. Stone's camera sweeps and glides around the radio studio like a hungry panther. His use of reflections turns up the heat until the whole world starts to warp and melt around the main character as his world starts to crumble. Bogosian's dialogue is sharp but sometimes preachy. The voices over the telephone seem brainwashed and generic but I think that was done with purpose to enhance the DJ's view of his audience as being mindless followers. The technical work on this film is what does it for me. It adds up to a fine film.