Cliffhanger (1993)

Director:

Renny Harlin

Writers (WGA):

John Long (premise)
Michael France (screen story)

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 | Suitcase | Climbing

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

Also Known As:

Cliffhanger - l'ultima sfida (Italy)
Cliffhanger, traque au sommet (France)
Cliffhanger - Nur die Starken überleben (Austria) (Germany) [de]
Скалолаз (Russia) [ru]
Alpinista (Serbia) [sr]
Assalto Infernal (Portugal) [pt]
Cliffhanger (Czech Republic) [cs]
Cliffhanger - Függö játszma (Hungary) [hu]
Cliffhanger - Svindlande avgrund (Sweden) [sv]
Cliffhanger - kuilun partaalla (Finland) [fi]
La falaise de la mort (Canada: French title) [fr]
Màxim risc (Spain: Catalan title) [ca]
Máximo riesgo (Spain) [es]
Mtamsvleli (Georgia) [ka]
Na krawedzi (Poland) [pl]
Plezalec (Slovenia) [sl]
Riesgo total (Venezuela) [es]
Risco Total (Brazil) [pt]
Sihrur Mesukun (Israel: Hebrew title) [iw]
Varometriko hamilo (Greece) [el]

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:16+ (Quebec) | UK:15 (cut) | Germany:BPjM Restricted

Filming Locations:

Cinecittà Studios, Cinecittà, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Company:

Carolco Pictures

Trivia:

Paramount was forced to pay out an additional $750,000 to three separate writers who were all claiming credit for the story.

Goofs:

Factual errors: When Gabe falls into the water he performs a variety of moves including removing his shirts and taunting Travers. After he emerges with help from Hal, Gabe is fine and the movie goes on. This could not happen. The temperature of the water should have put him into shock and stiffened all his limbs shortly after he fell in. Not to mention, even if Hal were to take him out, Gabe's core body temperature would have dropped to the point of a hypothermia scare.

Quotes:

Sarah: Help me! I don't want to die!
Gabe: You're not gonna die.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Cliff Banger (1993) (V)

Soundtrack:

DO YOU NEED SOME?

Last great Sly movie !

To be honest, I didn't like that much this movie when I saw it for the first time. But I guess the trouble is that I haven't seen it in a theater. Big Mistake ! Because the #1 thing to see in Cliffhanger is the settings and #2 is the cinematography. Try to see this movie on the largest TV possible and a great sound system. The music is good and puts the movie to a higher level (and a commercial potential). The more I see it, the more I like it.

It's definitely one of Renny Harlin's best movie. THis guy knows about action. Die Hard 2, The long kiss good bye, etc. And it's particularly good in this movie. The special effect are great and spectacular. Stallone really needed that movie get back with success. Still good to see him !