Cliffhanger (1993)

User Rating:

6.1/10   

Director:

Renny Harlin

Writers (WGA):

John Long (premise)
Michael France (screen story)
(more)

Release Date:

28 May 1993 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Thriller

Tagline:

Hang on!

Plot:

A botched mid-air heist results in suitcases full of cash being searched for by various groups throughout the Rocky Mountains.

Plot Keywords:

Money | Mountain | Rockies | Snow | Heist

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 1 win & 7 nominations

Cast

Sylvester Stallone	...	Gabe Walker
John Lithgow	...	Qualen
Michael Rooker	...	Hal Tucker
Janine Turner	...	Jessie Deighan
Rex Linn	...	Travers
Caroline Goodall	...	Kristel
Leon	...	Kynette
Craig Fairbrass	...	Delmar
Gregory Scott Cummins	...	Ryan
Denis Forest	...	Heldon
Michelle Joyner	...	Sarah
Max Perlich	...	Evan
Paul Winfield	...	Walter Wright
Ralph Waite	...	Frank
Trey Brownell	...	Brett
Zach Grenier	...	Davis
Vyto Ruginis	...	Matheson
Don S. Davis	...	Stuart (as Don Davis)
Derek Hoxby	...	Agent Hayes (as Scott Hoxby)
John Finn	...	Agent Michaels
Bruce McGill	...	Treasury Agent
Rosemary Dunsmore	...	Treasury Secretary
Kim Robillard	...	Treasury Jet Pilot
Jeff McCarthy	...	Pilot
Mike Weis	...	Co-Pilot
Duncan Prentice	...	Treasury Helicopter Pilot
Kevin Donald	...	Ray
Jeff Blynn	...	Marvin
Thor	...	Thor

Directed by
Renny Harlin

Writing credits (WGA)
John Long		(premise)
Michael France		(screen story)
Michael France		(screenplay) and
Sylvester Stallone		(screenplay)

Produced by
Jim Davidson	....	associate producer
Renny Harlin	....	producer
Gene Patrick Hines	....	co-producer
Mario Kassar	....	executive producer
Alan Marshall	....	producer
Tony Munafo	....	associate producer
David Rotman	....	co-producer
Lynwood Spinks	....	co-executive producer
James R. Zatolokin	....	co-producer

Original Music by
Trevor Jones

Cinematography by
Alex Thomson		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Frank J. Urioste

Casting by
Mindy Marin

Production Design by
John Vallone

Art Direction by
Maria-Teresa Barbasso
Aurelio Crugnola
Christiaan Wagener

Set Decoration by
Robert Gould		(as Bob Gould)
Cynthia Sleiter

Costume Design by
Ellen Mirojnick

Makeup Department
Jeff Dawn	....	makeup department head
Jake Garber	....	special makeup effects artist
Eileen Kastner-Delago	....	assistant makeup artist
Gary Liddiard	....	makeup artist: Mr. Stallone
Tania McComas	....	makeup department head: second unit
Aldo Signoretti	....	hair stylist: Mr. Stallone
Peter Tothpal	....	key hair stylist
Reka Wessely Tihanyi	....	hair stylist
Dan Platt	....	sculptor (uncredited)

Production Management
Doug Burdinski	....	unit production manager
Laura Fattori	....	production manager
Roberto Malerba	....	unit manager
Joel Marx	....	production supervisor
Michael Sweeney	....	post-production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Albert Cho	....	second assistant director: second unit
Luca Lachin	....	second assistant director
Terry Miller	....	first assistant director
Philip C. Pfeiffer	....	second unit director (as Philip Pfeiffer)
Michael Viglietta	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Giovanni Bianchini	....	assistant props
Robert Bleckman	....	assistant property master
Giulia Chiara Crugnola	....	set designer
Audrey A. Johnson	....	assistant property master
Kent H. Johnson	....	property master (as Kent Johnson)
Jeffrey Kalmus	....	model maker
John Mann	....	storyboard artist
Massimiliano Paonessa	....	assistant props
Peter Mitchell Rubin	....	storyboard artist
Marco Trentini	....	assistant art director
Maurizio Bizzarri	....	assistant production designer (uncredited)

Sound Department
James Ashwill	....	foley mixer
Todd Bassman	....	boom operator
Gregg Baxter	....	sound designer
Gregg Baxter	....	sound supervisor
Bob Beemer	....	sound re-recording mixer
Dicken Berglund	....	foley mixer
Tim Cooney	....	production sound mixer
Dino Dimuro	....	foley editor
Richard Dwan Jr.	....	adr editor
Richard Dwan Jr.	....	dialogue editor
Scott Martin Gershin	....	supervising sound designer (as Scott Gershin)
Nerses Gezalyan	....	foley artist
Gary A. Hecker	....	foley artist (as Gary 'Wrecker' Hecker)
Chris Hogan	....	sound effects editor
Constance A. Kazmer	....	adr editor
Randy Kelley	....	sound effects editor
Mark Lanza	....	sound effects editor
Dave McMoyler	....	sound editor
Michael Minkler	....	sound re-recording mixer
Glenn T. Morgan	....	sound effects editor (as Glenn Morgan)
Dan O'Connell	....	foley artist
Frank Smathers	....	sound editor
Frank Smathers	....	sound effects editor
Wylie Stateman	....	sound designer
Wylie Stateman	....	sound supervisor
Bill Voigtlander	....	adr editor

Special Effects by
Daniel Acon	....	special effects
Renato Agostini	....	special effects
Albert Bartoli	....	special effects
Perry Beckham	....	aerial rigger (as Perry Beckman)
Marco Bianco	....	aerial rigger
Claude Bouchard	....	aerial rigger
Stewart Bradley	....	aerial rigger
Massimo Cardajoli	....	special effects
Mario Cassar	....	special effects technician
Casey Cavanaugh	....	special effects
Lawrence J. Cavanaugh	....	special effects coordinator (as Larry Cavanaugh)
Neil Corbould	....	special effects (as Neil Corbuld)
Giovanni Corridori	....	special effects coordinator
Massimo Cristofanelli	....	special effects
Corbin Fox	....	aerial rigger
Gianni Indovino	....	special effects (as Giovanni Indovino)
Matt Kutcher	....	special effects
Dean Lockwood	....	aerial rigging coordinator
John McLeod	....	second unit special effects coordinator
Thaine Morris	....	effects technician
Duilio Olmi	....	special effects
Giorgio Pompei	....	aerial rigger
Claudio Quaglietti	....	special effects
John Richardson	....	special effects coordinator
Claudio Savassi	....	special effects
R. Bruce Steinheimer	....	special effects supervisor
Joel Whist	....	aerial rigger
Dick Wood	....	special effects (as Richard Woods)
Giorgio Zangiacomo	....	second unit special effects climber
Tad Krzanowski	....	model effects: WKR Productions (uncredited)
Kevin McTurk	....	special effects makeup (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Joe Alter	....	digital effects artist
James G. Anka	....	model maker
Wayne Baker	....	camera technician: Italy Plate Crew
Suzanne Berger	....	additional visual effects
Brent Boates	....	visual effects art director
John Bruno	....	visual effects supervisor
Richard J. Cook	....	tape operator: VisonArt
Michael Cooper	....	optical supervisor
Philip Crescenzo	....	visual effects: technical supervisor
Crystal Dowd	....	visual effects coordinator
Miller Drake	....	visual effects editor
Pamela Easley	....	visual effects producer
David Emerson	....	optical supervisor
Lisa Foster	....	digital artist
Paul Gentry	....	director of photography: miniatures
Rocco Gioffre	....	matte artist
Michael Joyce	....	model shop supervisor
Rachel Kelley	....	model painter
Steven Kosakura	....	location motion control camera operator
Neil Krepela	....	visual effects supervisor
Peter Kuran	....	additional visual and digital effects
Donna Langston	....	visual effects line producer
Kenneth Littleton	....	digital effects
Lawrence Littleton	....	digital effects
Tom Martinek	....	digital I/O supervisor: PDI
Pat McClung	....	helicopter models
Barb Meier	....	visual effects animator
Douglas Miller	....	model maker
Michele Moen	....	matte department supervisor (as Michelle Moen)
Raj Naiksatam	....	digital artist
Jeff Platt	....	electronics
Derek N. Prusak	....	visual effects assistant cameraman
Jay Riddle	....	visual effects supervisor
David Rosenthal	....	digital camera operator
Jim Rygiel	....	digital effects supervisor
Clark Schaffer	....	model maker
Ellen Somers	....	visual effects production supervisor
Stephen Stanton	....	computer graphics coordinator
Annick Thierrien	....	rotoscoping
Michele C. Vallillo	....	visual effects coordinator: Cinesite
Jon Warren	....	model maker
Earl Wiggins	....	aerial rigging coordinator
Adam Howard	....	digital effects compositor (uncredited)
Kevin Rafferty	....	animator: PDI (uncredited)
Doyle Smith	....	wire removal (uncredited)
Pam Vick	....	digital artist (uncredited)

Stunts
Dickey Beer	....	stunt rigger: aerial unit (as Dickie Beer)
Simon Crane	....	aerial stunt coordinator
Simon Crane	....	stunt performer: air-to-air transfer
Mark De Alessandro	....	stunt coordinator: splinter unit
Mark De Alessandro	....	stunt double: Mr. Stallone
Debbie Evans	....	stunt player
Joel Kramer	....	stunt coordinator
Lane Leavitt	....	stunt player
Lane Leavitt	....	stunt rigging coordinator
Billy D. Lucas	....	stunt player (as Billy Lucas)
Lisa McCullough	....	stunt player
Jeff O'Haco	....	stunt double: Mr. Stallone
Georgia Phipps	....	stunt player
J. Suzanne Rampe	....	stunt player (as J. Susan Rampe)
Scott Rogers	....	stunt player
Kevin Swigert	....	stunt coordinator: second unit
Kevin Swigert	....	stunt player
David Walling	....	stunt player
William Washington	....	stunt player (as Billy Washington)
David Breashears	....	stunts (uncredited)
Wolfgang Güllich	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Wayne Baker	....	underwater photographer
Eraldo Barbona	....	additional grip
Robert Binnall	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera
Richard Brooks Burton	....	aerial first assistant camera
Massimo Cecchini	....	electrician
Andrea Chiozzotto	....	additional electrician
Aldo Colanzi	....	key grip
Andrew Cooper	....	still photographer
Tony Cridlin	....	key dolly grip
Adam Dale	....	aerial director of photography
Paolo Di Stefano	....	electrician
Kevin Fraser	....	best boy grip
Paolo Frasson	....	grip
Claudio Frollano	....	electrician
Steve Harvey	....	best boy
Ronald Hersey	....	camera operator
Michael Kelem	....	aerial camera operator
John Marzano	....	second assistant camera: aerial unit
Nic Milner	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera
Mark Milsome	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera
Randy Paik	....	assistant camera
Randy Paik	....	first assistant camera: second unit, Italy
Nicola Pecorini	....	Steadicam operator
Nicola Pecorini	....	camera operator: "a" camera
Philip C. Pfeiffer	....	director of photography: second unit
Marco Santarelli	....	best boy
Paul Sibley	....	rigger
Jonathan Taylor	....	first assistant camera
Alex Thomson	....	camera operator
Chyna Thomson	....	assistant camera
Chyna Thomson	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Paolo Tiberti	....	grip
Pietro Tiberti	....	grip
David Worley	....	camera operator
Francesco Zaccaria	....	electrician
David Breashears	....	camera operator (uncredited)
Carlo Milani	....	assistant camera (uncredited)

Animation Department
Ira Shain	....	computer animator

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Augusto Grassi	....	costumer
Giampaolo Grassi	....	costumer

Editorial Department
Noori Dehnahi	....	post-production coordinator
Giorgio De Vincenzo	....	assistant editor
Mark Eggenweiler	....	assistant editor
Douglas Kunin	....	apprentice editor
Edward Malone	....	assistant editor
Bob Putynkowski	....	color timer
Sati Tooray	....	colorist

Music Department
Geoff Alexander	....	orchestrator
Lawrence Ashmore	....	orchestrator
Jeff Atmajian	....	orchestrator
Guy Dagul	....	orchestrator
Brad Dechter	....	orchestrator
Trevor Jones	....	orchestrator
Roger King	....	music mixer
Roger King	....	score programmer
John Richards	....	music engineer: orchestra
David Snell	....	conductor
Kirsty Whalley	....	score programmer

Transportation Department
Enrico Pini	....	transportation manager
Franco Siorpaes	....	driver: snowcat

Other crew
Robin Allen-Paris	....	assistant to aerial coordinator
Sandro Alverá	....	climber
Damian Anderson	....	production assistant
Enrico Ballarin	....	location manager
Michael Barnes	....	legal attorney
Paolo Bellodis	....	climber
Allen Blaisdell	....	front projection supervisor
Peter Boor	....	pilot
Curtis Briggs	....	technical consultant
Robert Bucker	....	pilot
Marcello Caminetti	....	climber
John Carpnter	....	safety engineer
Claudio Carrer	....	location manager: second unit
Dominico Castone	....	pilot
Tom Clode	....	safety engineer
Gary Compton	....	security coordinator: Mr. Stallone
Tom Danaher	....	assistant aerial coordinator: aerial unit
Tom Danaher	....	pilot
Luca Dapoz	....	climber
Robert Dawson	....	title designer
Cristiano DeLisi	....	climber
Fabiomassimo Dell'Orco	....	location manager
Kate Dennis	....	script supervisor: second unit
Mario Di Bona	....	climber
Hanspeter Eisendle	....	climber
Kevin Eldridge	....	pilot
Maria Fiorito	....	accountant
Bob Foster	....	pilot
Bob Gains	....	safety officer: mountain climbing unit (as Bob Gaines)
Maurizio Gallo	....	climber
Judith Goodman	....	production coordinator
Wolfgang Güllich	....	climbing double: Mr. Stallone
Annette Haywood-Carter	....	script supervisor
Mark Hewitt	....	sky diver
Mario Kassar	....	presenter
Armine Katchikan	....	wolf trainer (as Armen Kachikian)
Ron Kauk	....	climbing double
Robert Kellie	....	pilot
Norman Kent	....	sky diver
Steven Kosakura	....	equipment engineer
Ron Kunecke	....	night lights operator
Clay Lacy	....	pilot
Emanuele Lomiry	....	location manager
Giovanni Lovatelli	....	location manager
Enrico Majoni	....	climber
Luca Majoni	....	climber
Guy Manos	....	sky diver
Joel Marx	....	location manager
John Marzano	....	pilot
Ferruccio Svaluto Moreolo	....	climber
Stephen North	....	chief safety engineer: aerial unit
David Paris	....	aerial coordinator: aerial unit
David Paris	....	pilot
Scott Patterson	....	pilot
Walt Pine	....	pilot
Duncan Prentice	....	pilot
Luigi Riitano	....	production accountant
Jimmy Rogers	....	pilot
Bernie Schweider	....	pilot
Enzo Sisti	....	production accountant
David Spencer	....	safety parachutist
Julian Spencer	....	safety parachutist
Art Stifel	....	pilot
Sue Walker	....	operations manager: Flying Pictures Ltd.
Michael Weis	....	climbing coordinator
Mike Weis	....	climbing coordinator
Kevin Whalin	....	pilot
Marc Wolff	....	aerial unit coordinator
Marc Wolff	....	pilot
Carla Zacchia	....	production accountant assistant
Cecilia Alvarenga	....	production coordinator (uncredited)
Vito Colazzo	....	location manager (uncredited)
Joan Cunningham	....	production liaison: Los Angeles (uncredited)
Enzo Sisti	....	fiscal representative: Italy (uncredited)
Marc Wolff	....	helicopter pilot (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Carolco Pictures
• Canal+ (as Le Studio Canal +)
• Pioneer
• RCS Video (in association with)
• Cliffhanger Productions

Distributors

• TriStar Pictures (1993) (USA) (theatrical)
• Fox Network (1996) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Columbia TriStar Film Distributors International (1993) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Film (1993) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Films AB (1993) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Films (1993) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Films de España (1993) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (1996) (USA) (VHS)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (1997) (USA) (DVD)
• Elliniki Kinimatografiki Enosi (ELKE) (1993) (Greece) (theatrical)
• Falcon (1993) (Czech Republic) (theatrical)
• Guild Film Distribution (1993) (UK) (theatrical)
• Guild Home Video (1993) (UK) (VHS)
• Home Video Hellas (HVH) (1994) (Greece) (VHS)
• IPA Asia Pacific (2009) (Thailand) (DVD)
• Kinowelt Home Entertainment (2005) (Germany) (DVD)
• LK-TEL Vídeo (199?) (Brazil) (VHS)
• LK-TEL (Argentina) (video)
• Live Home Video (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Nordisk Film (2000) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Optimum Releasing (2008) (UK) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Pioneer Entertainment (1995) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• RCV Home Entertainment (199?) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• RCV Home Entertainment (2002) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Svenska Filminstitutet (SFI) (1993) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Universal Home Video (2006) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (2007) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Nordic (2006) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Nordic (2009) (Sweden) (DVD) (Blu-ray)

Special Effects

• Boss Film Studios (special visual effects)
• Burman Studio, The (special makeup effects)
• Cinema Research
• Cinesite (Hollywood) (digital film services) (as Cinesite Inc.)
• Digital Magic Company (digital film opticals)
• Magic Camera Company, The (rear projection)
• Pacific Data Images (PDI) (additional visual effects)
• Video Image (additional visual effects and video display graphics)
• Visual Concept Engineering (VCE) (additional visual and digital effects) (as V.C.E. Inc.)
• Zoptic (front projection) (as The Zoptic System)

Other Companies

• Buena Vista Sound  adr recorded at
• Burman Studio, The  special sound effects
• Cinecittà  production equipment
• Cinecittà  studio facilities
• Cinema Research  titles
• Contemporary Media Music Productions  music coordination
• Contemporary Media Music Productions  music mixed at
• Contemporary Media Music Productions  music recorded at
• D. Bassett & Associates  negative cutting (as Donah Bassett & Associates)
• Digital Magic Company  digital film opticals
• Flying Pictures  airplanes: helicopters and gyrosphere (as Flying Pictures Ltd.)
• Lee Lighting  special lighting (as Lee Electric Lighting)
• London Philharmonic Orchestra  music performed by (as The London Philharmonic)
• Panavision UK  camera and lenses
• Scotti Brothers  soundtrack
• Sony Pictures Studios  re-recorded at
• Soundelux  sound editing
• Stilled Movie Ltd.  translight and photobacking
• Studios CTS  music recorded and mixed at
• Technicolor  color timing
• The Grip House  cranes

Also Known As:

Cliffhanger - l'ultima sfida (Italy)
Cliffhanger, traque au sommet (France)

MPAA:

Rated R for violence and language.

Runtime:

113 min | UK:112 min

Country:

Italy | France | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) | Dolby Digital (35 mm prints) (Europe) | Dolby SR (35 mm prints) (USA)

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Finland:K-18 (original rating) | New Zealand:R16 | South Korea:12 | Philippines:R-18 | Singapore:NC-16 (re-rating) | Singapore:PG (cut) | Norway:15 (cut theatrical version) | Norway:18 (uncut) | UK:15 (uncut version, re-rating) | Argentina:16 | Australia:M | Chile:18 | Finland:K-16 | Germany:18 | Netherlands:16 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | USA:R | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | UK:15 (cut) | Germany:BPjM Restricted

Filming Locations:

Cinecittà Studios, Cinecittà, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Company:

Carolco Pictures

Trivia:

Carolco had originally signed Sylvester Stallone to appear opposite John Candy in a comedy directed by John Hughes about feuding neighbors. When the project was dropped, Stallone was persuaded to appear in Cliffhanger.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: In the cave of bats, when Jesse stands up, you can see a glass reflection on the lower left part of the screen in widescreen mode.

Quotes:

[over the radio]
Travers: It's Walker! The son of a bitch is still alive, Qualen.
Eric Qualen: No names, this is an open line.
Travers: I don't give a damn, ERIC QUALEN!

Movie Connections:

Edited from Cerro Torre: Schrei aus Stein (1991)

Soundtrack:

DO YOU NEED SOME?

Prepare yourselves for an awesome thrill ride

Hold on for dear life as Sylvester Stallone takes you on the ride of a lifetime. With extreme non-stop action, gripping and suspense-filled scenes; Stallone has proven why he is a SUPERSTAR with his role in "Cliffhanger." I knew I would be in for an action packed treat as soon as I realized Stallone was starring in this film; however, I failed to realized how great the other actors were in this film.

Stallone is joined by Michael Rooker, Janine Turner and John Lithgow as they produce quite possibly the best action film of 1993. The cast is perfectly selected and chosen to play their parts. It was a joy to see a reversal of roles. I'm not accustomed to seeing Rooker as a hero or Lithgow as a villain; it is a refreshing change.

I couldn't have asked for a better villain than Lithgow. He is one of the most ruthless and cunning villains I've seen. I enjoyed how he never let anything get in his way and spared no expense to get what he wanted. I'm glad I got the chance to see him play the villain and hope I see it again.

Turner gives tremendous support to this film and creates an atmosphere where it is enjoyable to watch. She is the heat that warms a cold room because everytime she comes on screen it seems as though it is hot. It is a delight to see an incredible actress to have that much power. Rooker makes up the other the third of talented actors that makes "Cliffhanger" a delight to watch. Rooker brings a fresh view to the film as well as credibility; all I have to say is awesome work, Michael.

There is an avalanche of talent in "Cliffhanger." Stallone is an unstoppable force and incredible action hero. After watching "Cliffhanger," I'm convinced that Stallone was the only man for this job. Stallone had the fire in his eyes for this part that told me he means business. Only true action stars have the fire I saw; furthermore, I was fascinated with the strength, power and conviction with which he took on the role.

Another reason I enjoyed "Cliffhanger" was the writing because it contained unbelievable action sequences, a man dealing with redemption and dialogue is awesome. I was impressed to see that Stallone also co-wrote the script because he really has a knack for what action fans want.

"Cliffhanger" is a super-charged, heart-racing, suspense-filled action thrill ride that you should take because at the end it will leave you asking for more.