Vanishing Point (1971)

Director:

Richard C. Sarafian

Writers:

Malcolm Hart (story)
G. Cabrera Infante (screenplay)

Release Date:

13 March 1971 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Drama

Tagline:

It's the maximum trip... at maximum speed.

Plot:

Kowalski, the hero of the story, works for a car delivery service. He takes delivery of a 1970 Dodge Challenger to take from Colorado to Frisco...

Plot Keywords:

Anti Hero | Motocross | Driver | Lost Love | Hippie

Cast

Barry Newman	...	Kowalski
Cleavon Little	...	Super Soul
Dean Jagger	...	Prospector
Victoria Medlin	...	Vera Thornton
Paul Koslo	...	Charlie, Young Nevada Patrolman
Robert Donner	...	Collins, Older Nevada Patrolman (as Bob Donner)
Timothy Scott	...	Angel
Gilda Texter	...	Nude Motorcycle Rider
Anthony James	...	Male Hitchhiker #1, in Front Seat
Arthur Malet	...	Male Hitchhiker #2, in Back Seat
Karl Swenson	...	Sandy McKees, Argo's Attendant
Severn Darden	...	Rev. J. 'Jessie' Hovah
Delaney Bramlett	...	J. Hovah's Singer (as Delaney & Bonnie and Friends)
Bonnie Bramlett	...	J. Hovah's Singer (as Delaney & Bonnie and Friends)
Lee Weaver	...	Jake, Kowalski's Denver Connection

MPAA:

Rated R for sensuality/nudity and drug content. (1998 re-rating)

Runtime:

98 min | Spain:87 min (TV version) | UK:106 min (UK version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Iceland:L | France:U | USA:R (re-rating) (1998) | Australia:M | Canada:14A | Finland:K-16 | Norway:16 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:GP (original rating) | West Germany:18

Filming Locations:

Austin, Nevada, USA

Company:

Cupid Productions

Trivia:

The names of the cities on the California Highway Patrol tracking board (where Kowalski never made it) were Stockton, Oakland, Berkeley and San Francisco.

Goofs:

Continuity: After the first motorcycle cop crashes, Kowalski flashes back to a motorcycle race. Two riders are shown crashing, and then one whom is assumed to be Kowalski. The rider is wearing a white jacket with black sleeves and a full face helmet, but after he crashes, he is shown getting up wearing an open helmet with goggles and a dark greenish-blue jacket with stripes. Curiously, the numbers are all the same, 28.

Quotes:

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...
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Grindhouse (2007)

Soundtrack:

Where Do We Go From Here

Great Road Film/Chase film

There are a lot of road films out there. One of the most famous is EASY RIDER. But this is a film that has a little twist to it. it's also a chase film. I won't get into the story, but I will say the film is unique for its time. In fact, I don't know of a film similar to it now. This is one of the great films from the 1970s. I have no problem recommending it because at worst people might find it okay. But I doubt anyone would hate it. There is a lot here to like. I give it a 8 out of 10.