Runaway Train (1985)

User Rating:

7.3/10   

Director:

Andrei Konchalovsky

Writers:

Edward Bunker (screenplay)
Ryuzo Kikushima (story)

Release Date:

17 January 1986 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

Once it starts, nothing can stop it!

Plot:

Two escaped convicts and a female railway worker find themselves trapped on a train with no brakes and nobody driving.

Plot Keywords:

Alaska | Escape | Helicopter | Prison | Runaway Train

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 2 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

Jon Voight	...	Oscar 'Manny' Manheim
Eric Roberts	...	Buck
Rebecca De Mornay	...	Sara
Kyle T. Heffner	...	Frank Barstow
John P. Ryan	...	Warden Ranken
T.K. Carter	...	Dave Prince
Kenneth McMillan	...	Eddie MacDonald
Stacey Pickren	...	Ruby
Walter Wyatt	...	Conlan
Edward Bunker	...	Jonah
Reid Cruickshanks	...	Al Turner (as Reid Cruikshanks)
Dan Wray	...	Fat Con
Michael Lee Gogin	...	Short Con
John Bloom	...	Tall Con
Hank Worden	...	Old Con (as Norton E. 'Hank' Worden)

Runtime:

111 min

Country:

USA | Israel

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Rankcolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Canada:18A (Ontario) | Iceland:16 | Singapore:NC-16 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Chile:14 | Finland:K-18 | Norway:16 (cut) | Norway:18 | South Korea:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R | West Germany:16

Filming Locations:

Montana, USA

Company:

Golan-Globus Productions

Trivia:

In preparing for the role of Manny, 'John Voight' spent time with prisoners in San Quentin prison. He remained in contact with some of them for years afterwards.

Goofs:

Factual errors: When the engine driver starts the train by pushing throttle lever, it can be seen that the reverser lever below is in idle position, so although maximum throttle, the train wouldn't move in any direction. To make a train move, the reverser has to be switched forwards or backwards before applying throttle.

Quotes:

Rankin: You think you're a hero. You're Scum!
Oscar "Manny" Manheim: We're both scum, brother!

Movie Connections:

Edited into Con Express (2002) (V)

Soundtrack:

Gloria in D major (RV589) - Et in terra pax

Absorbing character study plus great effects.

Based on R1 DVD 112 min.

While some of the acting is either ultra realistic or ham fisted c.f. scenes in the switching office once the cameras switch to the leads the story starts to take off.

The action is gripping because the characters; and our connection with them; give it more meaning than any big budget Hollywood SFX gizmos. Voight surpasses himself as the; perhaps; insane escapee to which Roberts provides an effective foil. The ending deserves some thought to tease out it's real meaning.

7/10 well worth watching.