Running on Empty (1988)

Director:

Sidney Lumet

Writer:

Naomi Foner (written by)

Release Date:

9 September 1988 (USA)

Genre:

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:

On The Run | Fugitive | Government | Vietnam War | Musician

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 3 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

Costume Design by
Anna Hill Johnstone

Makeup Department
Bob Grimaldi	....	hair stylist

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
Glen Trotiner	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Joan Winters	....	graphic designer

Sound Department
Marko A. Costanzo	....	foley artist
Tom Fleischman	....	sound re-recording mixer
Mark Rathaus	....	supervising sound editor
James Sabat	....	sound mixer (as James J. Sabat)

Stunts
Mick O'Rourke	....	stunt double

Camera and Electrical Department
Norman Buck	....	grip
Kerry Hayes	....	still photographer
William Ward	....	gaffer
Ron Zarilla	....	first assistant camera

Casting Department
Ed Arenas	....	casting associate

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Lynette Bernay	....	assistant costume designer
Karen Whittaker	....	key costumer

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

Other crew
Mary Bailey	....	script supervisor
Stephen Danza	....	location manager
Liza J. Harris	....	driving double
Deborah D. Johnson	....	production accountant
Lisa Rhodes	....	production assistant
Michael Sporn	....	title designer
Tim Williams	....	production assistant

Production Companies

• Double Play
• Lorimar Film Entertainment

Distributors

• Finnkino (1989) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (1989) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Argentina Video Home (2001) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (2001) (Argentina) (VHS) (re-release)
• Columbia TriStar (Germany)
• Constantin Film (Austria)
• 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)

Also Known As:

À bout de course (Canada: French title) (France) [fr]
Un lugar en ninguna parte (Mexico) (Spain) [es]
Ahava B'Milkud (Israel: Hebrew title) [iw]
Al filo del vacío (Argentina) [es]
Die Flucht ins Ungewisse (West Germany) [de]
Elämänä pakotie (Finland) [fi]
Fly genom livet (Finland: Swedish title) [sv]
Flykt utan mål (Sweden) [sv]
O Peso de Um Passado (Brazil) [pt]
Stracone lata (Poland) [pl]
Trehontas sto keno (Greece) [el]
Vivere in fuga (Italy) [it]

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 | 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:

One of only a handful of films to successfully have its MPAA rating changed through the formal appeals process. Originally given an "R" due to more than one use of the "F" word, it was revised to "PG13". Usually, only high-quality films of historic or social import are successfully appealed (e.g., "All the President's Men", "The Front").

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:

Lorna: ...So, now that we've determined that I belong here, let's talk about you.

Movie Connections:

References "The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet" (1952)

Soundtrack:

Oh Pretty Woman

A Well-Acted, Powerful Story

I thought this was a powerful movie about '60s radicals on the lam for 14 years and a crisis that develops when the family's 17-year-old son is talented enough to enter Juliard School Of Music which means , because of identity problems, they may never see him again. Judd Hirsch and Christine Lahti play the husband and wife and River Phoenix and Jonas Abry are their kids.

There is excellent acting in this film and particularly by young Phoenix. The story shows us a good portrait of what it must be like to live in hiding. Politically, people will view this movie as they think (conservative or liberal) because it could be viewed a number of ways.

To me, it showed the worst of what could have happened to young people in the '60s who believed they were doing the right thing but broke the law....and paid the consequence. The sad part, as this shows so vividly, is how it affects the rest of the family and others. I think the most powerful scene in the film is when Lahti meets her dad after 14 years in hiding: very, very emotional stuff and one of the most intense short talking scenes I've ever seen on film.