Running on Empty (1988)

Director:

Sidney Lumet

Writer:

Naomi Foner (written by)

Release Date:

9 September 1988 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Music

Tagline:

In 1971, Arthur and Annie Pope blew up a napalm lab to protest the war... Ever since then they have been on the run from the FBI. They chose their lives. Now their son must choose his.

Plot:

The eldest son of a fugitive family comes of age and wants to live a life of his own.

Plot Keywords:

Fugitive | Vietnam War | On The Run | Government | Teenage Girl

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 5 wins & 6 nominations

Cast

Christine Lahti	...	Annie Pope / Cynthia Manfield
River Phoenix	...	Danny Pope / Michael Manfield
Judd Hirsch	...	Arthur Pope / Paul Manfield
Jonas Abry	...	Harry Pope / Stephen Manfield
Martha Plimpton	...	Lorna Phillips
Ed Crowley	...	Mr. Phillips
L.M. Kit Carson	...	Gus Winant
Steven Hill	...	Donald Patterson
Augusta Dabney	...	Abigail Patterson
David Margulies	...	Dr. Jonah Reiff
Lynne Thigpen	...	Contact at Eldridge St.
Marcia Jean Kurtz	...	School Clerk
Sloane Shelton	...	Mrs. Phillips
Justine Johnston	...	Librarian
Herb Lovelle	...	Hospital Clerk
Bobo Lewis	...	Home Ec Teacher
Ronnie Gilbert	...	Mrs. Taylor
Leila Danette	...	Maid
Michael Boatman	...	Spaulding
Jenny Lumet	...	Music Girl
William Foeller	...	Man at Meeting
Carol Cavallo	...	Woman at Meeting
Alice Drummond	...	Mrs. Powell
Joey Thrower	...	Catcher
Donna Hanover	...	Reporter
Thomas Fraioli	...	Violinist
Burke Pearson	...	Juilliard Man
Elzbieta Czyzewska	...	Juilliard Woman
Angela Pietropinto	...	English Teacher
Daniel Dassin	...	Waiter
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Christian Daugherty	...	(uncredited)

Directed by
Sidney Lumet

Writing credits
Naomi Foner		(written by)

Produced by
Griffin Dunne	....	producer
Naomi Foner	....	executive producer
Burtt Harris	....	executive producer
Amy Robinson	....	producer

Original Music by
Tony Mottola

Cinematography by
Gerry Fisher

Film Editing by
Andrew Mondshein

Casting by
Todd M. Thaler

Production Design by
Philip Rosenberg

Art Direction by
Robert Guerra

Set Decoration by
Philip Smith

Costume Design by
Anna Hill Johnstone

Makeup Department
Bob Grimaldi	....	hair stylist
Toy Van Lierop	....	makeup department head

Production Management
Joseph M. Caracciolo Jr.	....	production manager (as Joseph M. Caracciolo)
Lilith Jacobs	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Joseph M. Caracciolo	....	second assistant director (as Joe Caracciolo)
Burtt Harris	....	first assistant director
Andrew Mondshein	....	second unit director
Drew Ann Rosenberg	....	additional second assistant director
Glen Trotiner	....	additional second assistant director

Art Department
Hank Bauer	....	head carpenter
John R. Ford	....	props
James V. Gartland	....	construction grip
Robert Griffon Jr.	....	property master
John Oates Jr.	....	set dresser
Kevin Oates	....	set dresser
Siv Sandstrom	....	art department coordinator
William Sohmer	....	stand-by scenic artist
Richard A. Ventre	....	master scenic artist
Joan Winters	....	graphic designer

Sound Department
Marko A. Costanzo	....	foley artist
Tom Fleischman	....	sound re-recording mixer
Frank Graziadei	....	sound recordist
Jane McCulley	....	adr editor
Bitty O'Sullivan-Smith	....	sound editor
Mark Rathaus	....	supervising sound editor
James Sabat	....	sound mixer (as James J. Sabat)
Louis Sabat	....	sound boom
Ahmad Shirazi	....	sound editor

Stunts
Mick O'Rourke	....	stunt double

Camera and Electrical Department
Dan Brunner	....	second assistant camera
Norman Buck	....	key grip
Cary Fisher	....	camera operator
Kerry Hayes	....	still photographer
James Malone	....	best boy
James McGrath	....	dolly grip
William Ward	....	gaffer
Ron Zarilla	....	first assistant camera

Casting Department
Ed Arenas	....	casting associate
Judie Fixler	....	casting associate

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Lynette Bernay	....	assistant costume designer
Bruce Catt	....	wardrobe supervisor
Karen Whittaker	....	wardrobe supervisor

Editorial Department
Dawn Chiang	....	apprentice editor
Dennis McNeill	....	color timer
Richard J. Rossi	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Michael Farrow	....	scoring mixer (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Thomas Reilly	....	transportation captain

Other crew
Emily Appelson	....	assistant to producers
Mary Bailey	....	script supervisor
Kara Baker	....	production assistant
Gar Berke	....	piano consultant
Stephen Danza	....	location manager
Liza J. Harris	....	driving double
Liza J. Harris	....	location coordinator
Deborah D. Johnson	....	production accountant
Adrienne Kahn	....	production secretary
George Wild Markham	....	production assistant
Jane Raab	....	production office coordinator
Lisa Rhodes	....	production assistant
Michael Sporn	....	title designer
Tim Williams	....	production assistant
Melissa J.L. Smith	....	sales and marketing coordinator (uncredited)
Del Spiva	....	distribution coordinator (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Double Play
• Lorimar Film Entertainment

Distributors

• Columbia TriStar Home Video (1988) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Constantin-Film (1988) (Austria) (theatrical)
• Finnkino (1989) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (1989) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Argentina Video Home (2001) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (2001) (Argentina) (VHS) (re-release)
• Oy Europa Vision AB (1989) (Finland) (VHS)
• Warner Bros. Pictures
• Warner Bros. (2001) (Argentina) (all media) (re-release)
• Warner Home Video (2007) (Finland) (DVD)
• Warner Home Vídeo (Brazil) (DVD)
• Warner Home Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• Yleisradio (YLE) (1994) (Finland) (TV) (TV2)

Other Companies

• Reeltime Creative  trailer music

Also Known As:

"À bout de course" - Canada (French title), France
"Die Flucht ins Ungewisse" - Austria (imdb display title), West Germany
"Un lugar en ninguna parte" - Mexico, Spain
"Üresjárat" - Hungary (imdb display title)
"Ahava B'Milkud" - Israel (Hebrew title)
"Al filo del vacío" - Argentina
"Elämänä pakotie" - Finland
"Fly genom livet" - Finland (Swedish title)
"Flykt utan mål" - Sweden
"Fuga Sem Fim" - Portugal
"O Peso de Um Passado" - Brazil
"Running on Empty" - West Germany (video title)
"Stracone lata" - Poland
"Trehontas sto keno" - Greece (transliterated ISO-LATIN-1 title)
"Vivere in fuga" - Italy
"Zivot u bekstvu" - Serbia (imdb display title)

Runtime:

116 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Argentina:16 | Iceland:L | South Korea:15 | Australia:M | France:-12 | Portugal:M/12 (Qualidade) | Peru:14 | Finland:S | USA:PG-13 | West Germany:12 | UK:15 | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Empire Stages of New York, Long Island City, Queens, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Double Play

Trivia:

Director Sidney Lumet writes in his book "Making Movies" about an argument between River Phoenix and writer Naomi Foner. A scene in the movie concerns the character played by Phoenix being interrupted while practicing a classical piano solo. In the script, when he is caught, he breaks into a jazz riff to cover his "embarrassment" at being caught doing something serious. Phoenix fought hard against this, feeling that his character would never be embarrassed about working at the piano. Lumet was so impressed by the point Phoenix made, he shot the scene the way Phoenix wanted it.

Goofs:

Errors in geography: As they stop at a gas station on the run from authorities, one of the characters is shown removing a Delaware license plate from the front of the gray van. Delaware has never issued nor required front-mounted plates.

Quotes:

Arthur Pope:[Last Lines] Get the bike out of the back.
[pause]
Arthur Pope:Now, get on it.
Michael:What are you talking about, dad...
Arthur Pope:Get on the bike. You're on your own, kid. I want you to go to Juilliard.
Michael:But, dad, I want to go with you.
Arthur Pope:We'll see you again. You can be sure.
[pause]
Arthur Pope:Your mother has arranged things with your grandfather, alright- call him. And I think you have some friend's around here.
Annie Pope:I love you, baby.
[...]

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Siskel & Ebert & the Movies: The Best Films of 1988" (1988)

Soundtrack:

Lucky Star

Doesn't make the mistake of glorifying crime

This is a fantastic movie. Definitely one of the 5 best I've seen in recent memory. Someone that wrote a review here felt that the two parents are placed upon a pedestal by the film makers, but I don't think this is the case at all. They are accountable for their actions and know what they did was wrong. They have to pay for their actions throughout their lives and will likely turn themselves in as soon as they can be assured that their kids will be safe. The kids are the ones I feel sorry for, not the parents.

I think the main point of the movie is to make people aware of how the actions/decisions they make can hurt other people, including themselves. People often make rash decisions without thinking about the long term consequences their actions cause for themselves and other people.