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Vanishing Point (1971)
Director: Richard C. Sarafian
Cast overview: Barry Newman, Cleavon Little
Running time: 106 minutes
At its heart, Vanishing Point is a cult film that has the simplest of premises and a very monotonous-sounding idea. Why, then, does it work so well? From the first minute to the last, with the odd exception, this is a film packed with excitement, exhilaration and sheer enjoyment, that manages to make the viewer think without the usual tricks. Kowalski, a Colorado car deliverer, makes a bet that he can get a 1970 Challenger from Colorado to San Francisco in fifteen hours.
There have been various views and inputs as to whether this film has symbolism or a hidden meaning. Honestly, I don't know, but I do know that I find this extremely entertaining. It's essentially an hour and a half of a car driving in the desert. That very premise sounds monotonous and repetitive, yet it works so well and the end result is a film that's so much fun to watch. Barry Newman is as good as he needs to be as Kowalski - I did sense there was something more to his character, and he often seemed deep in thought so perhaps there is a metaphor of some sort in there somewhere.
The cinematography and direction is generally excellent, as well as the fitting music that provides a nice accompaniment. This may be a cult film, but that's not to say that it's otherwise weak or half-hearted; instead it's exciting and entertaining, and serves as one of the more enjoyable films of the 1970s. There were some bizarre plot diversions, but these don't divert me from giving it a high score.
Quotes
Super Soul: This radio station was named Kowalski, in honour of the last American hero to whom speed means freedom of the soul. The question is not when's he gonna stop, but who is gonna stop him.
Colorado State HP Officer: Nevada, this is Colorado State Highway Patrol. This is about a special query raised by the Utah Highway Patrol. - Affirmative, that's correct, but later they asked that the information be forwarded to you guys, so get ready for some details. Put on your tape recorders and all that sort of jazz, huh? Apparantly this speed maniac you've been chasing all over your territory is a former professional road racer named Kowalski, K-O-W-A-L-S-K-I, repeat Kowalski. First name unkown, other particulars also unknown. All we do know is that he's employed as a car delivery driver by an agency in Denver. He's presently driving a Dodge Challenger, Colorado licence plate OA-5599. This is not a stolen car; he's driving it to San Francisco for delivery due Monday.
Nevada State HP Officer: It's only Saturday, what's his hurry?
Colorado State HP Officer: That's what we wanted to know ourselves, so your guess is as good as ours. 10-4.
Kowalski: How about a smoke?
Nude Motorcycle Rider: Sure, I'll roll you one.
Kowalski: No, no, no, no. A straight one.
Trivia
Sarafian states on the commentary, that eight '70 Dodge Challenger R/T's were actually utilized during production and when filming had wrapped, only one Challenger R/T remained.
The car featured in the film is a 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T, with a 440 cubic-inch V-8, and not a 426 Hemi V-8 (as is often believed). Eight white Challengers loaned from the Chrysler Corporation were used during the filming.
There were actually four 440 Challenger R/Ts and one 383 Challenger R/T, which was an automatic with green interior. This one was used for some exterior shots and it pulled the 1967 Camaro up to speed so the Camaro could hit the bulldozers. As confirmed by property master Dennis J. Parrish, all of the cars were NOT originally white. They were just painted white for the film. During the scene where Kowalski has a flat tire, you can see green paint in the dents.
Trailer
Director: Richard C. Sarafian
Cast overview: Barry Newman, Cleavon Little
Running time: 106 minutes
At its heart, Vanishing Point is a cult film that has the simplest of premises and a very monotonous-sounding idea. Why, then, does it work so well? From the first minute to the last, with the odd exception, this is a film packed with excitement, exhilaration and sheer enjoyment, that manages to make the viewer think without the usual tricks. Kowalski, a Colorado car deliverer, makes a bet that he can get a 1970 Challenger from Colorado to San Francisco in fifteen hours.
There have been various views and inputs as to whether this film has symbolism or a hidden meaning. Honestly, I don't know, but I do know that I find this extremely entertaining. It's essentially an hour and a half of a car driving in the desert. That very premise sounds monotonous and repetitive, yet it works so well and the end result is a film that's so much fun to watch. Barry Newman is as good as he needs to be as Kowalski - I did sense there was something more to his character, and he often seemed deep in thought so perhaps there is a metaphor of some sort in there somewhere.
The cinematography and direction is generally excellent, as well as the fitting music that provides a nice accompaniment. This may be a cult film, but that's not to say that it's otherwise weak or half-hearted; instead it's exciting and entertaining, and serves as one of the more enjoyable films of the 1970s. There were some bizarre plot diversions, but these don't divert me from giving it a high score.
Quotes
Super Soul: This radio station was named Kowalski, in honour of the last American hero to whom speed means freedom of the soul. The question is not when's he gonna stop, but who is gonna stop him.
Colorado State HP Officer: Nevada, this is Colorado State Highway Patrol. This is about a special query raised by the Utah Highway Patrol. - Affirmative, that's correct, but later they asked that the information be forwarded to you guys, so get ready for some details. Put on your tape recorders and all that sort of jazz, huh? Apparantly this speed maniac you've been chasing all over your territory is a former professional road racer named Kowalski, K-O-W-A-L-S-K-I, repeat Kowalski. First name unkown, other particulars also unknown. All we do know is that he's employed as a car delivery driver by an agency in Denver. He's presently driving a Dodge Challenger, Colorado licence plate OA-5599. This is not a stolen car; he's driving it to San Francisco for delivery due Monday.
Nevada State HP Officer: It's only Saturday, what's his hurry?
Colorado State HP Officer: That's what we wanted to know ourselves, so your guess is as good as ours. 10-4.
Kowalski: How about a smoke?
Nude Motorcycle Rider: Sure, I'll roll you one.
Kowalski: No, no, no, no. A straight one.
Trivia
Sarafian states on the commentary, that eight '70 Dodge Challenger R/T's were actually utilized during production and when filming had wrapped, only one Challenger R/T remained.
The car featured in the film is a 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T, with a 440 cubic-inch V-8, and not a 426 Hemi V-8 (as is often believed). Eight white Challengers loaned from the Chrysler Corporation were used during the filming.
There were actually four 440 Challenger R/Ts and one 383 Challenger R/T, which was an automatic with green interior. This one was used for some exterior shots and it pulled the 1967 Camaro up to speed so the Camaro could hit the bulldozers. As confirmed by property master Dennis J. Parrish, all of the cars were NOT originally white. They were just painted white for the film. During the scene where Kowalski has a flat tire, you can see green paint in the dents.
Trailer