The Driver (1978)

Director:

Walter Hill

Writer:

Walter Hill (written by)

Release Date:

8 June 1978 (Netherlands)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

He'll get you away faster than anyone else on wheels.

Plot:

"The Driver" is specialist in a rare business: he drives getaway cars in robberies. His exceptional talent prevented him from being caught yet...

Plot Keywords:

Driver | Detective | Police | Man With No Name | Existentialism

Cast

Ryan O'Neal	...	The Driver
Bruce Dern	...	The Detective
Isabelle Adjani	...	The Player
Ronee Blakley	...	The Connection
Matt Clark	...	Red Plainclothesman
Felice Orlandi	...	Gold Plainclothesman
Joseph Walsh	...	Glasses
Rudy Ramos	...	Teeth
Denny Macko	...	Exchange Man
Frank Bruno	...	The Kid
Will Walker	...	Fingers
Sandy Brown Wyeth	...	Split
Tara King	...	Frizzy
Richard Carey	...	Floorman
Fidel Corona	...	Card Player

Also Known As:

Driver (UK) (DVD title)

Runtime:

91 min

Country:

USA | UK

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:12 | Germany:16 (re-rating) (2006) | Netherlands:12 | UK:A (original rating) | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | Norway:15 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:R | West Germany:18

Filming Locations:

Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

EMI Films

Trivia:

This film was originally intended to be over two hours long. For years even the VHS tapes had said the length was over two hours, although it was always 90 minutes on those tapes, on cable TV, and now on DVD. Only once was the longer version shown, in a theater in Hollywood by director Walter Hill. This director's cut involved more chase scenes and character development.

Goofs:

Continuity: When the Driver first takes off in the red truck, you can clearly see him working a floor mounted gearshift (almost falling into the dashboard during one shift)... later during the chase sequence, the close-up cuts to him working a column shifter, then back to a floor shifter in wider shots.

Quotes:

The Detective: [the Driver has just been caught redhanded retrieving the money bag from the train station locker.] Caught ya.
The Detective: [the Driver hands the bag to the Detective, who smilingly opens it. His smile disappears: it's empty.] What happened?
The Driver: Looks like we both got swindled.
The Detective: Looks like we both got ripped off. By the Exchange Man.
The Driver: Lotta crooks around these days.
[walks away.]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (2002) (VG)

One of the greatest action movies I've ever seen, with car chases as exciting as any filmed before or since.

How underrated is Walter Hill?! 'The Driver' is one of his least known movies to a mainstream audience, but one of his best loved among fans. It's one of the greatest action movies I've ever seen, with car chases as exciting as any filmed before or since. The characters are all archetypes and named after their roles. There's no traditional character development here, but the actors and the action get the point across. Ryan O'Neal plays a getaway driver, the best in his field. Bruce Dern is the cop obsessed with catching him. He's willing to do anything to do so, even setting him up. I'm a major fan of Dern. I think he's one of the most interesting Hollywood actors and 'The Driver' is yet another great performance from him an a career filled with them ('The Wild Angels', 'Bloody Mama', 'Silent Running', 'Coming Home',etc.etc.) And Ryan O'Neal, an actor I've never warmed to, is surprisingly effective is a role originally intended for Steve McQueen. Plus you get Isabelle Adjani ('The Tenant'), always a pleasure to watch. I'd put 'The Driver' up there with the original versions of 'Vanishing Point', 'The Getaway' and 'Gone In 60 Seconds' as the most underrated action thrillers of the 1970s. Why it has yet to be remade is a mystery, but hoping it isn't as it will undoubtedly suck. Hollywood just seems to have lost the ability to make these kinds of movies. 'The Driver' is expertly directed by Walter Hill, who also scripted. Also check out 'The Warriors' and 'Southern Comfort' for the best of Hill. He's a hell of a film maker and rarely gets the attention he deserves.