[SteveO]

I rented Vanishing Point on DVD.

The DVD has a Special Features section with Directors Commontary.

I watched the entire movie while listening to the original film director talk about alot of interesting things that happened during filming.

He admits that the car was the star of the show.

The sad thing is, They began filming with 8 Challengers and ended up with only one.

[dave-r]

Steve.

Is the version you just watched the same as this Region Two version (released sept 2002) that I can play on my system?

Vanishing Point DVD

I am interested in hearing the Directors comments.

[challengerman]

I didn't know this was out on DVD. I have it on VHS, but DVD is so much better.

[SteveO]

Here's the version I rented Dave.
After watching it, I went on ebay and purchased the DVD.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... %3AIT&rd=1

It has a different cover picture than the version in your post.

[mopar steve]

Have you ever watched the end in slo-mo, definately a 67 camaro that hit's the bulldozer.........ha ha.

[dave-r]

I looked your version up on Amazon.com (rather than Amazon.co.uk) and indeed it looks like a newer version because it has a release date of February 3, 2004.

There was no mention of any Directors commentary on the version available over here.
I will wait and see if your version gets a release over here in the coming months.

[dave-r]

Mopar Steve. I don't have to watch it in slow-mo to spot a Chevy! I can smell it coming!

I saw this film on it's first UK Cinema release. I have owned a copy of it on VHS since the mid 1980s. I have a couple of copies taped off the TV (better quality than my old 1980s tape) including a widescreen version. I have a PAL and a NTSC version of the Fox 'made for TV' version too.

You might say I know this film inside out? Sad old git that I am.

[jr]

Steve.

Is the version you just watched the same as this Region Two version (released sept 2002) that I can play on my system?

Vanishing Point DVD

I am interested in hearing the Directors comments.

I have this version on DVD and completely missed commentary if it exists on it. Friend of mine loaned disc so can't verify right now.

[dave-r]

I think it must be an older version as I thought.

[TommyDeVito]

All the stills from the end scene on that movie show it is clearly a series 1 Camaro. I read that they just went to a yard in the desert somewhere and just picked a Camaro out.

Actually a really cool film in my opinion and I'm definately getting that DVD because the directors commentary should be very interesting (Richard C. Sarafian if I remember correctly). Shame the remake was so appalling but never mind........

G.

[marco]

I have a couple of things i'd like to say while were on this subject,

First of all if i had to drive a camaro i would crash it to, and secondly and please don't hit me for saying so but, i have the original and the remake and i have to say the original was better as far as action goes, but the remake had a far better story.

just my too cents.

[dave-r]

I think the point of the first one was you had to figure out what the story was?
You get hints along the way about the background to this guy and what he might have gone through on his spiral downhill. In fact you know no more about him than the police trying to stop him.
But you get the impression that things just get worse and worse for the guy. Until he just accepts there is no where left to go.

In fact that is my personal interpritation of the Title 'Vanishing Point'. A spiral goes in and down forever until it reaches a vanishing point. Just like the guys life.

I think the film would have made more sense if the studio had not cut out many vital scenes. Those scenes prepared you for the ending so that you realise it was where he was heading all along. He was a dead man the moment he got in that car. He was just taking his time getting there and passing out of this world like a meteor.

It was a British production too!

As for the remake. Well I get fed up with the american film industry (no offence intended to any Americans) assuming I (the viewer) am thick? This is why I like the first one better.

Crikey! I don't know where all that came from! Must have been something in my cornflakes this morning!

I have a confession while I am here.

I actually like early Camaros. Sorry. But that is just between me and you OK? Don't tell anyone.

[mopar steve]

yeah Dave, l have to admit my 1st muscle car was a '68 Camaro !

[PeO]

Hi,
I agree with you that Camaro series 1 was OK but I still think it was better to destroy a Camaro than a Challenger?? See attachment stills from the movie.

[dave-r]

Cool. Is that the car exploding just before impact I can see?

[TommyDeVito]

Yeah, I prefer the original. I still like the US film industry but that remake was a block of cheese. The original has gone onto cult status because it's so weird. As I always like to put it, if the sixties was a party, the seventies was it's hangover and I think Vanishing Point sums it up pretty well (end of freedom - Kowalski being the last free man on earth and all that). Cool film. Didn't get it first time around, but second time around it just clicked. Great stuff.

I actually like series 1 Camaros. But I think this is acceptable because from some angles (and hurtling towards some bulldozers) they look a bit like Challengers, hence why the producers of the original film thought it OK to use one to double for a Challenger. So it's OK, guys, we can admit that (just)

I've heard the Camaro had no engine: in it's place was as much dynamite as they could pack in. Funny how, when people talk about the movie, they always say,"...when the Challenger hits the bulldozers......." And every time I hear that, I stand up, correct them and wear that anorak with pride!

Dave's right. The original cut was 107 minutes and, as I'm sure most of you know featured Charlotte Rampling as a hitchhiker - dressed in black as the symbol of death - who's holding a sign that says 'San Francisco'. She spends the night with Kowalski, warns him not to go to San Francisco, then disappears. Very clever i.e. she is death and is heading to San Francisco. But I read the Fox bosses thought people wouldn't get it so they cut it. Cretins. Rampling still gets a credit, though. As I said, cretins.

G.

[Godraz]

-jr
I have this version on DVD and completely missed commentary if it exists on it. Friend of mine loaned disc so can't verify right now


Nothing but the trailer on the R2 DVD.

[Captain Beardy]

I've just gotten hold of the uncut version from a place in Canada,
via good old Ebay
Delivered it cost me only nine quid which is a bargain as this is one
of my all time faves. It's a double sided DVD with the cut American
version on one side, and the British `Charlotte Luurvely Rampling'
uncut version on the other side.
There's a couple of versions out there, but the one you want has a Chally
in the middle of the cover picture with helicopters on either side.
The other version's cover picture is a purple-ish colour hue with Barry Newman / Kowalski on the front, ( this I know `cause I've ended up with both ).
I've bought the sound track on CD too which adds to the feeling of
kindredness with " The Last American Hero " when you're out and about
in your motor ( And a thing to use in your defence in court when
answering a charge of failing to stop for the `Blue Meanies' )

[Joakim]

I get goose bumps reading this part of the film:

Super Soul: And there goes the Challenger, being chased by the blue blue meanies on wheels. The vicious traffic squad cars are after our lone driver, the last American hero, the electric sitar, the demigod, the super driver of the golden west. Two nasty Nazi cars are close behind the beautiful one driver. The police numbers are gettin' closer, closer, closer to our soul hero in his soul mobile, yeah baby. They're about to strike, they're gonna get him, smash him, rape the last beautiful free soul on this planet. But, it is written, if the evil spirit arms the tiger with claws, Brahman provideth wings for the dove. Thus spake, the super guru.

Read the whole script at: http://corky.net/scripts/vanishingPoint.html

Joakim

[babyelephant]

At last I've seen the original version of the movie. I've been trying for a long time to get a copy on DVD, but no luck. I've known for a long time that this movie is a must for Challenger-freaks and I've seen the newer version with Viggo Mortensen and also of course Audioslave's Show Me How To Live. It feels better now having seen the original one with the 70ies scenes and characters. Like it a lot.

And Dave: now I understand your signature on the board here!!

And for the other Scandinavians here: television channel Canal + are broadcasting the movie several times now in April 06.

[dcfox]

Here's my copy of the original on DVD.
It's a 2 sided DVD with the US version on one side and the UK version on the other.

Here's the front cover...


Here's the rear cover...


And here's a couple of close-ups...


and yes...it does have the Directors audio commentary...



I picked it up a couple weeks ago at Suncoast Video in our local Shopping Mall.

[stones]

Hi guys, i also have the version with Sarafians commentary,i think it was quite new when i bought in Chicago on vacation, must have been around 10th of April 2004...
Great stuff to listen to while watching...
PS bought it at Virgin Megastore at Michigan Avenue,can be found on the net..
PS2 i also like 1th gen Camaros,one of my friends has a very nice 67 RS,and it is very fast to...

Ronny

[babyelephant]

This will be a nice day! As I switched on the tv this morning at 07 a.m., Canal + happened to start the movie again! Big smile all over me today.

[spitfire9137]

The August issue of Mopar Action has the 10 ten mopar movies of all time in it, and guess what they named #1? Thats right, Vanishing Point!

[NZ440R/T]

The August issue of Mopar Action has the 10 ten mopar movies of all time in it, and guess what they named #1? Thats right, Vanishing Point!

Cool!! Not really a hang of lot to choose from though....Blues Brothers, "Bullitt" (just), and now the Dukes qualify...a few others too.


Still, awesome!!

[babyelephant]

The August issue of Mopar Action has the 10 ten mopar movies of all time in it, and guess what they named #1? Thats right, Vanishing Point!

As I don't read Mopar Action I hope any of you will retype the entire list in here

Thanks in advance.

[spitfire9137]

Yea I will post it on here later tonight.

[dcfox]

1. Vanishing Point(1971)...1970 Dodge Challenger R/T

2. Christine(1983)... 1958 Plymouth Fury,1968 Dodge Charger

3. Dirty Mary Crazy Larry(1974)...1969 Dodge Charger R/T 440,1972 Dodge Polara Police Interceptor

4. Highwaymen(2003)...1968 Plymouth Barracuda Super Stock

5. The Dukes of Hazzard(2005)...1969 Dodge Charger "General Lee"

6. Wheels of Terror(1990)...1974 Dodge Charger

7. The Wraith(1986)...1986 Dodge M4S Turbo Interceptor Concept Car,1986 Dodge Daytona,1986 Dodge Daytona Turbo Z,1966 Plymouth Barracuda

8. Vanishing Point(1997)...1970 Dodge Challenger,1970 Plymouth Road Runner,1970 Dodge Charger

9. Bad Georgia Road(1977)...1970 Plymouth Road Runner,1970 Dodge Charger

10. Duel(1971)...1970 Plymouth Valiant

[spitfire9137]

You forgot the honorable mentions:

The Phantasm Saga (Phantasm I-IV, 1978-1998)
And I Lived (2005)
Finish Line: A Cruise Down Memory Lane (2005)

[dcfox]

I can't believe that "The Blues Brothers" didn't make the list.