“In
Stonehaven, a brutal maximum-
security prison in the wilds of Alaska, a
high-profile prisoner has been welded
into his cell by the sadistic governor;
but when he manages to escape he little
realises he will pick the wrong ride in
the tense thriller Runaway Train...”
STONEHAVEN MAXIMUM SECURITY PENITENTIARY seems secure enough in the middle
of the frozen Alaskan wilderness. Ruthless bank robber Oskar "Manny" Manheim
(Academy Award and Golden Globe winner Jon Voight: Coming Home; Deliverance;
The Rainmaker) is considered so high a risk after two escapes that he has
been welded into a cell by a sadistic warden, an act that is ultimately considered
to be in violation of his civil rights.
Following the Federal Court Order to allow him the freedom of the other convicts,
Manny is given a warm welcome. He is something of a hero to his fellow inmates,
and especially to young Buck (Eric Roberts).
“The
thought-provoking
Runaway Train
pulls you into the action
to identify with the
characters and delivers
as much of a buzz as
more modern thrillers...”
But
one of their own has been ordered to kill Manny and following the aborted attempt
on his life, the man who betrayed him lies dead and Manny has suffered an badly
cut hand.
Falling
foul of the callous chief warden Ranken (John P Ryan), Manny meticulously plans
his next escape. Buck smuggles him out in the laundry bin to an outbuilding
where he persuades the older man to take him along — much against
Manny's better judgement.
Leaving the isolated prison via the sewer system, the two men are literally
plunged into a bitterly cold and unforgiving land in the dead of winter. Survival
seems impossible, but making their way across the frozen Alaskan wilderness
to get as far away as possible they eventually come across a remote rail yard
where Manny spots a huge, powerful freight locomotive — destined
to be their ride out of there.
Unfortunately for the two escaped criminals, the engineer falls off the train
after suffering a heart attack and the brakes fail, leaving the train hurtling
through the countryside at breakneck speeds and totally out of control.
When it finally dawns on Manny and Buck that there is something wrong, they
have no alternative other than to sit tight. And pray. But when they discover
Sara (Rebecca DeMornay), a young woman who works for the railway, also on board
the train there seems to be some hope.
In the control room, Frank Barstow (Kyle T Heffner) and his team is frantically
trying to keep the train from a collision with other trains using the electronically-controlled
rail system.
And with his Superintendent Eddie MacDonald (Kenneth McMillan) breathing down
his neck ordering him to derail the train despite the inevitable loss of three
lives; and the insane Ranken, who is determined to get the two convicts back,
Frank has to keep his head in order to save Sara and protect the many innocent
people who may suffer as a consequence.
As the train gathers momentum, threatening passenger trains and many other lives,
Manny puts a perilous plan into action; but will it be enough to save the lives
of those on the train and to keep them out of the clutches of the insane Ranken?
One of cinema's great thrill-rides, Runaway Train is based on a script
by the legendary Japanese Director Akira Kurosawa (Seven Samurai). Hardboiled
prison slang is added by real-life ex-con Edward Bunker (Mr Blue in Reservoir
Dogs) to a script that is tight and seamless with fantastic dialogue.
A riveting thriller combining electrifying action with constant psychological
tension, the thought-provoking Runaway Train pulls you into the action
to identify with the characters and delivers as much of a buzz as more modern
CGI-rich dramas. Fasten your seatbelt to keep your butt firmly on the sofa as
you take a heart-pumping ride on the Runaway Train.
The brand new dual format DVD & Blu-ray release of Runaway Train has
been remastered in High Definition by MGM, following its 2010 premiere at the
Cannes Film Festival (Classics Selection). Special Features and Bonus Material
have been added and this is the first time these items have been sourced to
accompany the feature on a home video release.
Following its debut at the 1986 Cannes Film Festival, Runaway Train went
on to be nominated for a total of three Academy Awards: Best Actor, Best Supporting
Actor, Best Editing; and three Golden Globe Awards for Best Motion Picture (Drama),
Best Actor, and Best Supporting Actor. The film remains one of the all-time
classic break-out movies.
Runaway Train also features: Stacey Pickren as Ruby; Walter Wayatt as
Conlan; Edward Bunker as Jonath; Reid Cruickshanks as Al Turner; and T K Carter
as Dave Prince.
Original Music by Trevor Jones; Cinematography by Alan Hume; Writers: Screenplay:
Djordje Milicevic & Paul Zindel, with Edward Bunker; Based on a Screenplay by
Akira Kurosawa; Story by Ryuzo Kikushima & Hideo Oguni; Producers: Yoram Globus
and Menahem Goan; and Directed by Andrey Konchalovsky.
*
The
Worldwide Blu-ray premiere of Arrow video's brand new dual format DVD & Blu-ray
deluxe edition of the gripping thrill-ride Runaway Train is announced
for Monday 22 July 2013. Catalogue Number: FCD841 | RRP: £19.99.
Special Features (Included on the Blu-ray and DVD dual format edition):
High Definition transfer of the film prepared by MGM for the Cannes Film Festival
Premiere | High Definition Blu-ray and Standard Definition DVD Presentation
of the Film | Optional English SDH Subtitles for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
| Running On Empty: An Interview with Director Andrei Konchalovsky | From Thespian
to Fugitive: Star Jon Voight shares his memories of his Academy Award-nominated
Role | Sweet and Savage: Eric Roberts recalls his Academy Award-nominated Performance
| The Calm Before the Chaos: Co-star Kyle T Heffner Remembers Runaway Train
| Trailer with Commentary by Rod Lurie | Original Trailer | Booklet Featuring
New Writing on the Film by Michael Brooke, a new interview with Runaway Train's
Production Designer Stephen Marsh, Conducted by Calum Waddell and the Original
Life Magazine Article that Inspired the Film, Illustrated with Rare Behind-The-Scenes
Production Images.
"The thought-provoking Runaway Train pulls you into the action to identify
with the characters and delivers as much of a buzz as more modern thrillers"
—Maggie Woods
“In
Stonehaven, a brutal maximum-