The Fugitive (1993)

Dr. Richard Kimble, unjustly accused of murdering his wife, must find the real killer while being the target of a nationwide manhunt led by a seasoned U.S. Marshal.

Director:

Andrew Davis

Writers:

Jeb Stuart (screenplay), David Twohy (screenplay)

Stars:

Harrison Ford, Tommy Lee Jones, Sela Ward

Won 1 Oscar. Another 12 wins & 37 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Harrison Ford	...	Dr. Richard Kimble
Tommy Lee Jones	...	Samuel Gerard
Sela Ward	...	Helen Kimble
Julianne Moore	...	Dr. Anne Eastman
Joe Pantoliano	...	Cosmo Renfro
Andreas Katsulas	...	Sykes
Jeroen Krabbé	...	Dr. Charles Nichols (as Jeroen Krabbe)
Daniel Roebuck	...	Biggs
L. Scott Caldwell	...	Poole
Tom Wood	...	Newman
Ron Dean	...	Detective Kelly
Joseph F. Kosala	...	Detective Rosetti (as Joseph Kosala)
Miguel Nino	...	Chicago Cop #1
John Drummond	...	Newscaster
Tony Fosco	...	Chicago Cop #2

Storyline

A well respected Chicago surgeon Dr. Richard Kimble has found out that his wife, Helen, has been murdered ferociously in her own home. The police found Kimble and accused him of the murder. Then, Kimble (without Justifiable Reason) was tried, convicted, and sentenced to death. However, on the way to prison, Kimble's transport crashed. Kimble escapes and is now on the run. Deputy Samuel Gerard from Chicago takes charge of the chase of Kimble. Meanwhile, Kimble takes up his own investigation to find who really killed his wife, and to lure Gerard and his team into it as well.

---

Plot Keywords:

one armed man | on the run | u.s. marshal | surgeon | chicago illinois | 

---

Taglines:

A murdered wife. A one-armed man. An obsessed detective. The chase begins.

---

Genres:

Action | Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for a murder and other action sequences in an adventure setting

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook

Country:

USA

Language:

English Polish Spanish

Release Date:

6 August 1993 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Fugitive

Filming Locations:

Blue Ridge Mountains, North Carolina, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$44,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$23,758,855, 8 August 1993

Gross USA:

$183,875,760

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$368,875,760

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros., Kopelson Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

130 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Stereo (4 channels)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Harrison Ford and producers argued over whether Kimble should be sentenced to death or life in prison. They filmed the scene both ways. In the end, the producers won out.

---

Goofs

Altitude of the police chopper when Gerard says "We've got him now" while landing outside of the tunnel.

---

Quotes

[first lines]
Detective Kelly: Come on Doc.

---

Crazy Credits

Near the end of the end credits, there is a scene showing fireworks going off over the Chicago skyline.

---

Alternate Versions

In the 2001 DVD release, a crew member's face has been digitally removed from the train-wreck aftermath. In previous transfers of the film, a crew members's face is looking back at the camera when Kimble peers up at the train wreck from the creek. This error has resurfaced on the Blu-ray version.

---

Connections

Referenced in Suits: Pilot (2011)

---

Soundtracks

The Thrill Is Gone
(1951)
Written by Roy Hawkins and Rick Darnell
Performed by B.B. King and Bobby Bland
Courtesy of MCA Records

User Reviews

One of the best action movies of the decade; Ford and Jones are in top form.

Nothing is more thrilling to see than two characters with superior intelligences, pitting their wits against each other. A thriller does not require a great deal of plot or techno-babble to be involving or complex, although many distributors of blockbusters today seem to think so. For these reasons, "The Fugitive" is a huge blessing for a movie critic such as I. I was just thrilled by the excitement, the performances by Harrison Ford and Tommy Lee Jones, and the whole Hitchcockian aura that this sensational film delivered. Even though we have been seeing too many films based on television series come out lately, "The Fugitive" is certainly not one of those that we can add to that routine bushel.

Ford is Dr. Richard Kimble, a vascular surgeon who is wrongfully accused for the brutal murder of his wife (Sela Ward), and therefore sentenced to be executed. After escaping from a bus crash/trash collision, he finds himself running from the Chicago police and especially the U.S. Marshall service, led by Lt. Gerard (Oscar-winner Tommy Lee Jones). At the same time, Kimble attempts to prove his innocence and in turn discover who did kill his wife. What ensues is a tangled web of medical conspiracies, along with a search for a notorious "one-armed man." As I have stated, this is a simple plot that requires no superficial decoration.

Ford, who has always been a less dramatic presence in movies and more of a subtle but affected persona, fits the part of Kimble perfectly. With this role, the last thing required is a melodramatic actor that sticks out like a sore thumb. Ford casually settles into the role of the man on the run, bringing intelligence and style to a less ostentatious character. Jones, who has never really been considered a headliner until now, creates a character that is extremely humorous but also calmly diligent. His only goal is to carry out the task he is assigned to, and nothing will stand in his way, least of all a rivaling police force or Richard Kimble himself. One of the fascinating Hitchcockian elements of the film is how it allows its audience to not be able to take sides. We are constantly rooting for both Ford and Jones when either of them come into perspective. We familiarize with both of them and are amused by both equally. The film's finale, which I won't dare give away, satisfies both sides of this rooting coin.

I have not previously been a fan of the director Andrew Davis's work, but with this entry, he certainly has sparked my interest. With such films as "Under Siege," "Code of Silence," and "Above the Law," he has been able to work with action stars that are both larger than life (Seagal, Norris). Here, he uses more intrigue and atmosphere to reach his audience, building suspense and excitement through simple film tools rather than things blowing up or guns going off (However, there is a phenomenal opening crash scene to boot). With quick pacing, a never-a-dull-moment storyline, and great actors, "The Fugitive" ranks itself as one of the best action films of this decade, and definitely one of the best films of 1993. Rating: Four stars.