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 Thomson	...	Woman at Basketball Game / Denise (as Anna Levine)

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.

---

Plot Keywords:

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

---

Taglines:

Words can kill...

---

Genres:

Drama

---

Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

Many audiences likened star newcomer Eric Bogosian to actor Elliott Gould.

---

Goofs

The first threatening letter addressed to Barry Champlain finishes with the wrongly written sentence: "Your dead" instead of "You're dead".

---

Quotes

Barry: Talk Radio! It's the last neighborhood in town, people just don't talk to each other anymore!

---

Connections

Referenced in Jersey Girl (2004)

---

Soundtracks

KGAB Radio ID's
Written & Arranged by Otis Conner and Whitey Thomas
Produced by Otis Conner
Recorded at The Otis Conner Companies Studio, Dallas, Texas
Additional KGAB Music Backgrounds Provided by APM

User Reviews

More ranting from Olly

Probably one of his lesser known films, it suffers from the same lack of exposure as Salvador in that its actually one of his best.

Written by and starring Eric Bogosian, Talk Radio tells the story of an opinionated radio phone-in host who upsets the wrong kind of listener. The film is important, and has much to say on the issues of free speech and just how free it should be, and you can easily tell that it started life as a stage play. Know what you're getting into before you sit down to watch it and you'll be fine.

There isn't much to the acting really as Bogosian pretty much steals the film, he wrote and is given licence to rant, I couldn't take my eyes off him and that was part of the fascination many of the listeners had; the people who hated him wouldn't turn off in-case they missed something.

Not for everyone, but a very good drama and overall a very good film.

Details

Country:

USA Canada

Language:

English

Release Date:

13 January 1989 (USA)

Also Known As:

Talk Radio

Filming Locations:

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 Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1