Speed (1994)

A young police officer must prevent a bomb exploding aboard a city bus by keeping its speed above 50 mph.

Director:

Jan de Bont

Writer:

Graham Yost

Stars:

Keanu Reeves, Dennis Hopper, Sandra Bullock

Won 2 Oscars. Another 17 wins & 20 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Keanu Reeves	...	Jack Traven
Dennis Hopper	...	Howard Payne
Sandra Bullock	...	Annie
Joe Morton	...	Capt. McMahon
Jeff Daniels	...	Harry
Alan Ruck	...	Stephens
Glenn Plummer	...	Jaguar Owner
Richard Lineback	...	Norwood
Beth Grant	...	Helen
Hawthorne James	...	Sam
Carlos Carrasco	...	Ortiz
David Kriegel	...	Terry
Natsuko Ohama	...	Mrs. Kamino
Daniel Villarreal	...	Ray
Simone Gad	...	Bus Passenger #1

Storyline

When a young Los Angeles police department, Special Weapons and Tactics (S.W.A.T.) officer called Jack Traven angers retired Atlanta police department bomb squad member Howard Payne, by foiling his attempt at taking hostages stuck in an elevator with a bomb, Payne in retaliation arms a bus with a bomb that will explode if it drops below 50 miles per hour. With the help of spunky passenger Annie, Jack and his partner Detective Harry Temple try to save the people on the bus before the bomb goes off, while also trying to figure out how Payne is monitoring them.

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Plot Keywords:

bus | bomb | time bomb | public transport | police | 

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Taglines:

Get ready for rush hour.

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

(Rated R for violence and language)

Did You Know?

Trivia

In the screenplay, Howard Payne's name was Howard Fisk.

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Goofs

When the crane breaks free from its bolts and starts flying towards some ventilation windows, it obliterates the upper pair. However in the next view from within an air duct, both of these windows just swing open freely as the crane busts through, and yet they barely appear to have suffered a scratch or bend in the process.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Workman: Hey, this area's restricted.
Howard Payne: Oh, hi. Yeah, I know. They called me down here. Some of this wiring got screwed up.
Workman: Nobody called it down to me. I'm going to have to see a work order.
Howard Payne: Yeah, just a second. There you are.
[stabs workman in the ear with a screwdriver]
Howard Payne: Nothing personal.

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Alternate Versions

TV versions shown on the USA Network after 9/11/2001 edit out a line from the scene where Jack and Annie discuss the bombers' motives. Sandra Bullock's line "Did we blow up his country or something?" is cut and the dialogue proceeds to Keanu Reeves' next line.

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Connections

Referenced in Aqua Teen Hunger Force: Gene E. (2009)

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Soundtracks

Cot
Written by L. Nelson, K. Brammer, Michael Hoffman (as M. Hoffman) and K. McFarlin
Produced by Steve Jordan and Michael Hoffman (as Mike Hoffman)
Performed by Carnival Strippers

User Reviews

Exciting movie about some desperate passengers threatened who are saved by Reeves and Bullock

Los Angeles SWAT daredevil cops( Keaunu Reeves, Jeff Daniels ) commanded by their chief (Joe Morton ) taking on extreme terrorist ( a bomber well performed by Dennis Hooper)who wires first an elevator and after that a public bus where a handful of characters (Alan Ruck, Carlos Carrasco, among others) face certain death . If the bus's speed down 50, it explodes. The starring hops on board but the driver is wounded and a valiant passenger (Sandra Bullock) takes the wheel. Then the bus runs , bounds and flies.

This mindless, interesting and ingenious film is packed with thrills, suspense, tension and lots of interminable action. Enjoyable relationship between two main characters, Reeves and Bullock, based on risked circumstances work out pretty well. Sandra Bullock steals the show as feisty passenger and Keanu Reeves is fine as brave, intrepid police. Witty argument that dispenses excitement as well as entertainment. Packs atmospheric cinematography using Steadicam or hand-held camera by Andrej Bartkowick. And stirring musical score fitting to action by Mark Mancina . The picture is stunningly and effectively realized in his firs-time as director by Jan De Bont, a successful cameraman (Basic Instict, Die Hard) and Paul Verhoveen's usual and occasionally director (Speed 2, Twister). It's followed by inferior sequel ¨Speed II¨ with similar technician and artistic crew , starred by Sandra Bullock, Jason Patrick, Temuera Morrison and Willem Dafoe. The film will appeal to Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock fans. Rating : Better than average, well worth seeing.

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 June 1994 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Bus That Couldn't Slow Down

Filming Locations:

MTA Subway, Hollywood and Highland Terminal, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$30,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$14,456,194, 12 June 1994

Gross USA:

$121,248,145

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$350,448,145

Company Credits

Production Co:

The Mark Gordon Company, Twentieth Century Fox

Technical Specs

Runtime:

116 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital DTS (uncredited)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1