Vanishing Point (1997) (TV)

Director:

Charles Robert Carner

Writers:

Malcolm Hart (story)
Guillermo Cabrera Infante (earlier screenplay)
(more)

Release Date:

7 January 1997 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Romance

Plot:

When his wife goes into a troubled labor while he is on the road over 1200 miles away James Kowalski...

Plot Keywords:

Chase | Automobile | Car Accident | Military | Muscle Car

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Viggo Mortensen	...	Jimmy Kowalski
Christine Elise	...	Raphinia Kowalski
Steve Railsback	...	Sergeant Preston
Rodney A. Grant
Peter Murnik	...	Gilmore
James MacDonald		(as James G. MacDonald)
Paul Benjamin
Geno Silva	...	Mike Mas
John Doe	...	Sammy
Peta Wilson	...	Motorcycle girl
Keith David	...	Warren Taft
Jason Priestley	...	The Voice
Debra Sharkey	...	Producer
Ari Barak	...	Dr. Nazrin
Frank Roman	...	Hernando
Steven Elkins	...	Dave
Kimberly Guerrero	...	Connie (as Kimberly Norris)
Don Collier	...	Sheriff
Robert Neches	...	Colonel
Travis Middleton	...	Customer
Guy Atchley	...	CNN Reporter
Gene Hartline	...	Old Trooper
Christopher J. Tuck	...	Young Trooper (as Chris Tuck)
Fr. Seamus Crossan	...	Priest
Charles Young	...	Official #1
Mike Rauseo	...	FBI Agent #1
Kathryn Kellner	...	FBI Agent #2
Richard Meek	...	FBI Pilot #1
Rick G. Geiger	...	FBI Pilot #2
John Becker	...	Utah Pilot (as John E. Becker)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Randy Hale	...	Boyfriend
Stephanie Sikes	...	FBI Agent #3
Mark "Jeff" Reed	...	News Reporter (uncredited)
Ronnie Rondell Jr.	...	Agent Brown (uncredited)
Daniel Frank Webster	...	Reporter with Minicassette Recorder (uncredited)
Seth D. Webster	...	ENG Cameraman (uncredited)

Directed by
Charles Robert Carner

Writing credits
Malcolm Hart		(story) (as Malcom Hart)
Guillermo Cabrera Infante		(earlier screenplay) (as Guillermo Cain)
Charles Robert Carner		(teleplay)

Produced by
Melanie Bell	....	associate producer
Alan C. Blomquist	....	executive producer
Tarquin Gotch	....	supervising producer
Bob Lemchen	....	supervising producer

Original Music by
James Verboort

Cinematography by
Daryn Okada		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Marc Leif

Casting by
Victoria Burrows

Production Design by
John Myhre

Set Decoration by
Andrew Bernard

Costume Design by
Sharen Davis

Makeup Department
Deborah Ann Piper	....	hair stylist
Cheryl Voss	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Neil Lundell	....	unit production manager
Art Schaeffer	....	unit production manager (as Art Schaefer)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Randall Badger	....	first assistant director
Steve Battaglia	....	second second assistant director
Jeff Okabayashi	....	second assistant director
Richard Oswald	....	second assistant director
Michael Zimbrich	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Jacqueline Alpers	....	assistant art director
Daniel Boxer	....	lead man
Bill Garber	....	greensman
Terry Haskell	....	property master
Bill Holmquist	....	construction coordinator
Terry Kempf	....	propmaker
John M. Oswald	....	set dresser

Sound Department
Tim Chilton	....	foley artist
Bob Costanza	....	sound editor
David C. Eichhorn	....	supervising sound editor (as Dave Eichhorn)
Tim Philben	....	sound re-recording mixer
Richard D. Rogers	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Richard Rodgers)
James Thornton	....	sound

Special Effects by
Eddie Surkin	....	special effects

Visual Effects by
Al Magliochetti	....	visual effects supervisor

Stunts
Robert Carlsen	....	stunts
Matt McBride	....	stunts (as Matthew McBride)
Hershel McGriff	....	stunts
Jimmy N. Roberts	....	stunts (as Jimmy Roberts)
Danny Rogers	....	stunts
Ronnie Rondell Jr.	....	stunts (as Ronnie Rondell)
R.A. Rondell	....	stunts
Michael Runyard	....	stunt coordinator (as Mike Runyard)
Steve Vandeman	....	stunts
Danny Wynands	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
John Boccaccio	....	first assistant camera
Michael Goi	....	director of photography: second unit
Mike Hodges	....	key grip
Mansur Johnson	....	grip
Benjamin Minot	....	assistant camera
Benjamin Minot	....	camera operator
Maliz van Ooyen	....	second assistant camera
Jeff Zucker	....	gaffer

Casting Department
Jean Scoccimarro	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Blanca Garcia	....	costumer
Dana Kay Hart	....	costume supervisor

Editorial Department
John A. Barton	....	assistant editor (as John Barton)
Bruce Pearson	....	color timer

Transportation Department
Jody Kreinbrink	....	picture car coordinator

Other crew
Alicia Accardo	....	script supervisor
Jeff Aghassi	....	location manager
P.J. Connelly	....	location manager (as P.J. Connolly)
Toni Cyan	....	production assistant
Mark Fitzgerald	....	key assistant location manager
Matt Gatson	....	key production accountant
Justin Kreinbrink	....	production assistant
Liz Wartenberg	....	production coordinator (as Liz Brown)
Cindy Hundt	....	crew (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Fox Television Network
• Westgate Productions

Distributors

• Fox Network (1997) (USA) (TV)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (199?) (USA) (VHS)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Mainostelevisio (MTV3) (2002) (Finland) (TV)
• RTL Entertainment (2005) (Netherlands) (TV) (RTL5)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment Germany (199?) (Germany) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Chrysler Corporation  production services
• Echo Film Services  sound editing

Runtime:

91 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Netherlands:12 | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Tucson, Arizona, USA

Company:

Fox Television Network

Trivia:

Though the filmmakers originally wanted to use actual Hemi Challengers to make the movie, when they discovered how expensive they are, they used 440 Challengers with Hemi nameplates as a more cost-effective alternative. The Hemi engine shown in the film was actually inside a Charger.

Goofs:

Factual errors: Several shots show the police scanner in Kowalski's car as he is listening to the police talk about him. The scanner's LED lights are shown blinking. In this mode a police scanner is silent since it is "scanning" frequencies. If the scanner were receiving a police transmission only one LED would be lit steadily.

Movie Connections:

Remake of Vanishing Point (1971)

Very speedy, very empty. Mortensen was pretty good.

I gotta admit that I've never seen the original "Vanishing point" (1971) - at least right now I have no recollection of it. Therefore I unfortunately can't compare the two and it's naturally pretty much impossible for me to estimate if this is good or bad film only as a remake. Still I have the courage to assume that this new version is just a pale shadow of the original 70's classic. If you want to see one practically an endless car chase you'll get it from here too but wild speeding and charisma of Viggo Mortensen can't keep a movie together too long if it's all the film has to offer. I watched "Vanishing point" all the way through and it had some entertaining and enjoyable scenes here and there. If you're looking for a simple, brisk action movie with lots of police cars, dusty road and a chance to marvel Mortensen's bushy sideburns this is all you need. But the plot sounded so great I honestly expected something bit more exciting. If I ever get a chance to see the original I would very gladly check it out. It would be quite interesting to find out if it's any better than this and how much better.