The Passenger (1975) Professione: reporter (original title)

Director:

Michelangelo Antonioni

Writers:

Mark Peploe (story)
Mark Peploe (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

9 April 1975 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Mystery | Romance | Thriller

Tagline:

I used to be somebody else...but I traded him in.

Plot:

A frustrated war correspondent, unable to find the war he's been asked to cover, takes the risky path of co-opting the I.D. of a dead arms dealer acquaintance.

Plot Keywords:

Desert | Sahara Desert | Reporter | Identity | Hotel

Awards:

5 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Jack Nicholson	...	David Locke
Maria Schneider	...	Girl
Jenny Runacre	...	Rachel Locke
Ian Hendry	...	Martin Knight
Steven Berkoff	...	Stephen
Ambroise Bia	...	Achebe
José María Caffarel	...	Hotel Keeper
James Campbell	...	Witch Doctor
Manfred Spies	...	German Stranger
Jean-Baptiste Tiemele	...	Murderer
Ángel del Pozo	...	Police inspector
Charles Mulvehill	...	David Robertson (as Chuck Mulvehill)
Narciso Pula	...	Murderer's accomplice
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Miquel Bordoy	...	(uncredited)
Jaime Doria	...	(uncredited)
Joan Gaspart	...	Hotel clerk (uncredited)
Gustavo Re	...	(uncredited)

Directed by
Michelangelo Antonioni

Writing credits
Mark Peploe		(story)
Mark Peploe		(screenplay) &
Peter Wollen		(screenplay) and
Michelangelo Antonioni		(screenplay)
Miguel De Echarri

Produced by
Carlo Ponti	....	producer
Alessandro von Norman	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Ivan Vandor

Cinematography by
Luciano Tovoli

Film Editing by
Michelangelo Antonioni
Franco Arcalli

Art Direction by
Piero Poletto

Set Decoration by
Osvaldo Desideri

Costume Design by
Louise Stjernsward

Makeup Department
Adalgisa Favella	....	hair stylist
Franco Freda	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Leonhard Gmür	....	assistant production manager: Germany
Lynn Kamern	....	assistant production manager
Ennio Onorati	....	production manager
Valentín Panero	....	assistant production manager: Spain
Paolo Pettini	....	assistant production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Enrica Antonioni	....	assistant director (as Enrica Fico)
Hercules Bellville	....	assistant director
Federico Canudas	....	assistant director
Ina Fritsche	....	assistant director
Enrico Sannia	....	assistant director
Claudio Taddei	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Fausto Ancillai	....	sound mixer
Fernando Caso	....	sound effects editor
Cyril Collick	....	sound engineer
Alvaro Gramigna	....	foley artist
Alessandro Peticca	....	sound editor (as Sandro Peticca)
Franca Silvi	....	sound editor
Michael Ellis	....	sound editor (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Cesare Allione	....	camera operator
Dave Clarke	....	gaffer
Franco Frazzi	....	assistant camera
Roberto Lombardi	....	assistant camera
Michele Picciaredda	....	assistant camera
Floriano Steiner	....	still photographer

Editorial Department
Franco Letti	....	assistant editor

Other crew
Lisa Bellini	....	script supervisor
Giancarlo Giannini	....	voice dubbing: : Jack Nicholson
Leonhard Gmür	....	location manager
Lynn Kamern	....	production assistant
Adriano Magistretti	....	production assistant
Tom Moore	....	production assistant
Valentín Panero	....	production assistant

Production Companies

• Compagnia Cinematografica Champion
• CIPI Cinematografica S.A. (co-production)
• Les Films Concordia (associate production)

Distributors

• CFM Filmverhuur (1975) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1975) (USA) (theatrical)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1980) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Mongrel Media (2006) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Sony Pictures Classics (2005) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2006) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Classics (2006) (USA) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2006) (Germany) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2006) (Italy) (DVD)
• Filmmuseum Distributie (2008) (Netherlands) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Rosebud (1996) (Greece) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Alpha Filmes (19??) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Filmes Lusomundo
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2006) (Canada) (DVD)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (Spain)
• Warner Home Video (198?) (USA) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Cine Audio Effects  sound effects and foley design
• International Recordings  sound recorded at
• Lee Lighting  lighting

Also Known As:

"Professione: reporter" - Italy (original title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for some violence, nudity and language

Runtime:

126 min | 119 min

Country:

Italy | Spain | France

Language:

English | Spanish | German | French

Colour:

Colour (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:PG-13 | Argentina:13 | Iceland:L | Singapore:PG | Australia:M | Italy:T | Brazil:14 | Finland:K-16 | Portugal:M/12 | Sweden:15 | USA:PG | UK:PG (video rating) (1986) | UK:A (original rating) | West Germany:12 | Netherlands:16

Filming Locations:

4 Lansdowne Crescent, Notting Hill, London, England, UK

Company:

Compagnia Cinematografica Champion

Trivia:

After initially refusing the role, Maria Schneider did not sign until the film was several weeks into production.

Quotes:

Witch Doctor:Your question are much more revealing about yourself than my answer would be about me.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Siskel & Ebert: On the Sunny Side of the Screen" (1994)

One of the most beautiful shots I can remember

I haven't seen the film for quite a while but I still remember it as one of the greatest movies I have ever seen. In my memory the last scene is an incredible, uncut take of about ten minutes in which Jack Nickolson is simply waiting in a hotel room. The shot starts with the camera in the room, then it moves through the window (right through some iron bars as I recall) to make a very slow flight above an almost deserted square outside (there is a small driving school vehicle riding round and round.) Meanwhile another car approaches, some people get out and go in the hotel, the camera stays out while we hear these people walking up the stairs, entering the room and then a shot. When the people come out of the hotel and get in their car the camera makes a loop back into the room again. Almost nothing happens in sight, but nevertheless -or maybe because of that, the suggestion- it is such a wonderful shot, it's hard to describe, it is a 'must see'.

Unfortunately the movie is not yet available on dvd. Is there anybody who knows if and when it will be?