Wikipedia

Vanishing Point(1971 film)

Vanishing Pointis a 1971 Americanaction filmdirected byRichard C. Sarafian,starringBarry Newman,Cleavon Little,andDean Jagger.[3]It focuses on a disaffected ex-policeman and race car driver delivering amuscle carcross-country to California while high onspeed( "uppers" in the story), being chased by police, and meeting various characters along the way. Since its release it has developed acult following.[4]

Vanishing Point
Theatrical release poster
Directed byRichard C. Sarafian
Screenplay byGuillermo Cain
Story byMalcolm Hart
Produced byNorman Spencer
Starring
CinematographyJohn A. Alonzo
Edited byStefan Arnsten
Production
company
Cupid Productions
Distributed by20th Century Fox
Release date
  • March 13, 1971(1971-03-13)
Running time
98 minutes
CountriesUnited States
United Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
Budget$1.58 million[1]or £500,000[2]
Box office$12.4 million

Plot

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Car delivery driver Kowalski arrives in Denver, Colorado, late on a Friday night with a blackImperial.The delivery service clerk, Sandy, urges him to get some rest, but Kowalski insists on getting started with his next assignment: delivering a white1970 Dodge Challenger R/T 440 Magnum(with top speeds exceeding 160 miles per hour [260 km/h]) to San Francisco by Monday. Before leaving Denver, Kowalski pulls into a biker bar parking lot around midnight to buy Benzedrine pills to stay awake for the long drive ahead. He bets his dealer Jake that he will get to San Francisco by 3:00 pm Sunday, even though the delivery is not due until Monday. Through flashbacks and the police reading of his record, it’s revealed that Kowalski is a Medal of Honor Vietnam War veteran, former race car driver, and motorcycle racer. He is also a former police officer, expelled from the force after preventing the rape of a young woman by his superior. While driving across Colorado over the speed limit, Kowalski is pursued by two motorcycle police. He forces one officer off the road and eludes the other officer by going off-road. Later, the driver of aJaguar E-Typeroadster[5] pulls up alongside Kowalski challenging him to a race. Kowalski is nearly run off the road; he then overtakes the Jaguar which crashes into a river. Kowalski checks to see if the driver is okay, then takes off, with police cars in pursuit.

Kowalski drives across Utah into Nevada, with the police in pursuit. During the chase, his radio is tuned to station KOW, broadcasting from Goldfield, Nevada. A blind black disc jockey, who goes by the name of "Super Soul," listens to the police radio frequency and encourages Kowalski to evade the police. With the help of Super Soul, who calls Kowalski "the last American hero", Kowalski gains the interest of the news media, and people gather at the KOW radio station to offer their support. During the police chase across Nevada, Kowalski finds himself surrounded and heads offroad into the desert. After he blows a tire on a dry lake bed and becomes lost, Kowalski is helped by an old prospector who catches rattlesnakes for a Pentecostal Christian commune. The prospector gives Kowalski fuel, and directs him back to the highway. There, he picks up two homosexual hitchhikers stranded en route to San Francisco with a "Just Married" sign in their rear window. The hitchhikers attempt to rob him at gunpoint; Kowalski fights them off and continues alone on his journey.

Saturday afternoon, a vengeful off-duty highway patrolman and a group of thugs break into the KOW studio and assault Super Soul. Near the California state line, Kowalski is helped by hippie biker, Angel, who gives him pills to help him stay awake. Kowalski is recognized by Angel’s girlfriend who admires that he prevented the rape by his senior police officer. As Kowalski continues to listen to the KOW broadcast, he notices a change in Super Soul’s tone. He suspects he is being directed by the police to entrap him in California. Confirming that the police are indeed waiting at the border, Angel helps Kowalski get through the roadblock by modifying the Challenger to simulate a police car. When Kowalski finally reaches California by Saturday at 7:12 pm. He calls Jake from a payphone to reassure him that he still intends to deliver the car on Monday, while acknowledging he won't win their bet, and offering to double it for the next time.

On Sunday morning, California police, who have been tracking Kowalski's movements, set up a roadblock with two bulldozers in the small town ofCisco,which Kowalski will be passing through. A small crowd gathers, some with cameras. Kowalski approaches at high speed; failing to slow down, he smiles as he crashes into the bulldozers, destroying the car in an explosion. As firemen work to put out the flames, the crowd slowly disperses.[6]

Cast

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Production

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Development

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The screenplay forVanishing Pointwas written byG. Cabrera Infante,a Cuban living in England, under thepseudonymGuillermo Cain. The story was based on two actual events: the disgraced career of a San Diego police officer and a high-speed pursuit of a man who refused to stop and was killed when he crashed into a police roadblock.[7]Infante modeled the character of Super Soul after legendary rock and roll singerThe Big Bopper.[7]His script reflected the popularcounterculturelifestyle of the time, containing elements of rebellion, drugs, sexual freedom, and rock and roll.[8]

In 1969, directorRichard C. Sarafianturned down an offer to makeRobert Redford'sDownhill Racerin order to directVanishing Point.He was drawn to the counterculture themes in Cain's script.[7]Originally, the director wantedGene Hackmanto play Kowalski, but20th Century Foxstudio executiveRichard Zanuckinsisted on casting relative unknown actor Barry Newman in the lead role.[9]The film marked the first major screen appearances ofCleavon LittleandJohn Amos.[8]

Funds for the film were raised through Cupid Films, the company ofMichael Pearson.The budget was raised from the Bank of America in London.[2]The film had to be shot in the US because of the story. Producer Norman Spencer called it "a sort of runaway production in reverse."[10]

Vehicles

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According to Sarafian, it was Zanuck who came up with the idea of using the new 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T. He wanted to do Chrysler a favor for their longtime practice of renting cars to 20th Century Fox for $1 a day. Many of the other cars featured in the film are also Chrysler products.[11]Stunt CoordinatorCarey Loftinsaid he requested the Dodge Challenger because of the "quality of the torsion bar suspension and for its horsepower" and felt that it was "a real sturdy, good running car."[12]

Five Alpine White Dodge Challenger R/Ts were lent to the production by Chrysler for promotional consideration and were returned upon completion of filming. Four cars had 440 engines equipped with four-speed manual transmissions; the fifth car was a 383 with a three-speed automatic. No special equipment was added or modifications made to the cars, except for heavier-duty shock absorbers for the car that jumped over No Name Creek.[12]The Challengers were prepared and maintained for the movie byMax Balchowsky,who also prepared the Mustangs and Chargers forBullitt(1968). The cars performed to Loftin's satisfaction, although dust came to be a problem. None of the engines were supercharged, but sound effects of a supercharger were added inpost-productionfor some scenes.[12]Loftin remembers that parts were taken out of one car to repair another because they "really ruined a couple of those cars" while jumping ramps between highways and over creeks.[12]Newman remembers that the 440 engines in the cars were so powerful that "it was almost as if there was too much power for the body. You'd put it in first and it would almost rear back!"[12]The Challengers appear in the film with Colorado plates OA-5599.

Filming

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Principal photography began in the summer of 1970 with a planned shooting schedule of 60 days.[13]Financial troubles plaguing the studio at the time forced Zanuck to shorten Sarafian's shooting schedule by 22 days. In response, the director decided not to film certain scenes rather than rush through the rest of the shoot.[14]An average day of filming involved the actors and the crew of 19 men spending many hours traveling to the remote locations, shooting for an extended period of time and then looking for a motel to spend the night.[15]The shoot had a few mishaps, including Newman driving a Challenger equipped with three cameras into the bushes in order to avoid a head-on collision when a "civilian" driver ignored the traffic blocks installed to ensure the safety of the crew.[16]

The film's cinematographer John Alonzo used light-weight Arriflex II cameras, that offered more free movement.[17]Close-up and medium shots were achieved by mounting cameras directly on the vehicles instead of the common practice of filming the drivers from a tow that drove ahead of the targeted vehicle.[17]To convey the appearance of speed, the filmmakers slowed the film rate of the cameras. For example, in the scenes with the Challenger and the Jaguar, the camera's film rate was slowed to half speed. The cars were traveling at approximately 50 miles per hour (80 km/h) so that when projected at normal frame rate, they appeared to be moving much faster.[12]

Vanishing Pointwas filmed on location in the American Southwest in the states of Colorado, Utah, Nevada, and California.

Dean Jagger's scenes were shot on the Salt Lakes of Nevada.[14]Super Soul's radio station was filmed inGoldfield, Nevada.All of Cleavon Little's scenes were completed in under three days.

Carey Loftinwas the film's stunt coordinator and responsible for setting up and performing the major driving stunts.[citation needed]Loftin's resume at the time included work onGrand Prix(1966),Bullitt(1968), andThe French Connection(1971). Barry Newman learned from Loftin and was encouraged by the stunt coordinator to do some of his own stunts. In the scene before Kowalski crashes into the bulldozer, Newman drove and performed a 180-degree turn on the road himself without the director's knowledge.[12]

The 383 car was also used as the tow vehicle in the crash scene at the end of the movie. A quarter-mile cable was attached between the Challenger and an explosives-laden 1967Chevrolet Camarowith the motor and transmission removed. The tow vehicle was driven by Loftin, who pulled the Camaro into the blades of the bulldozers at high speed. Loftin expected the car to go end over end, but instead it stuck into the bulldozers, which he thought looked better.[12]

Ending

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Barry Newman offered his interpretation of the film's ending in an interview printed in the March 1986 issue ofMusclecar Review,"Kowalski smiles as he rushes to his death at the end ofVanishing Pointbecause he believes he will make it through the roadblock. "The August 2006 issue ofMotor Trendmagazine has a sidebar with Newman, in which he explains that Kowalski sees the light glinting from between the two bulldozers. "To Kowalski, it was still a hole to escape through. It symbolized that no matter how far they push or chase you, no one can truly take away your freedom and there is always an escape." Newman also thought that the entire film was an essay onexistentialism.Kowalski drives to drive, with no real purpose for doing what he's doing. He decides to give his life its definition and meaning, with complete freedom over his actions.

Sarafian explained that he wanted to make Kowalski appear otherworldly and that the world within the film was a temporary existence that he was just making a stop in. At the end of the film, he was ascending from this existence into another. The lyrics of the end song underscore this interpretation: "Nobody knows, nobody sees, 'til the light of life stops burning, 'til another soul goes free."

UK theatrical release

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The UK theatrical release of the film differs slightly from the US release in plot and running time. In the UK release, Kowalski picks up a mysterious hitchhiker (Charlotte Rampling) toward the end of the film. Kowalski accepts marijuana from her, despite refusing marijuana in several previous scenes. He stops the car when he starts feeling stoned. She says she has been "waiting for him, everywhere and since forever." When he awakens the next morning, she is gone without a trace. According to interviews with Barry Newman and commentary from the director, the hitchhiker was meant to be an allegorical figure representing death.[8]This scene was removed from the final US version, reducing the film from 105 minutes to 98 minutes. Newman felt that the scene gave the film "an allegorical lift" but the studio was afraid that the audience would not understand.[12][18]

Soundtrack

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Vanishing Point
Soundtrack albumby
Various Artists
ReleasedMarch 13, 1971
Recorded1970
Genre
Length40:51
LabelAmos
Producer
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusiclink

Sarafian wanted to score the majority of the film from an album calledMotel ShotbyDelaney, Bonnie & Friends.[14]Lionel Newman,head of Fox's music department at the time, denied Sarafian's request because the studio did not want to spend a substantial amount of money obtaining rights to the tracks. The director then suggested that musicianRandy Newmanscore the film, but Fox refused this request as well.[14]After watching the film, musical supervisorJimmy Bowenwrote three original songs. Delaney, Bonnie & Friends ended up performing a musical number in the film.[14]

A soundtrack of the film was released in the United States byAmos Records.The original vinyl album is long out of print. There have been reissues of the soundtrackcompact discin the United States by various record companies includingA&M Recordsand in Europe by Amos Records.

Track listing

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No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Super Soul Theme" (The J.B. Pickers)Jimmy Bowen1:50
2."The Girl Done Got It Together" (Bobby Doyle)Mike Settle2:47
3."Where Do We Go From Here?" (Jimmy Walker)Mike Settle2:53
4."Welcome to Nevada" (Jerry Reed)Barnhill,Lanier1:52
5."Dear Jesus God" (Bob Segariniand Randy Bishop)Segarini, Bishop3:57
6."Runaway Country" (Doug Dillard Expedition)Doug Dillard,Byron Berline4:09
7."You Got to Believe" (Delaney, Bonnie & Friends)Delaney Bramlett3:00
8."Love Theme" (Jimmy Bowen Orchestra)Jimmy Bowen2:40
9."So Tired" (Eve)Creamer, Sliwin, Temmer2:10
10."Freedom of Expression" (The J.B. Pickers)Jimmy Bowen5:48
11."Mississippi Queen"(Mountain)West,Laing,Pappalardi,Rea2:32
12."Sing Out for Jesus" (Big Mama Thornton)Kim Carnes1:47
13."Over Me" (Bob Segarini and Randy Bishop)Bob Segarini, Randy Bishop3:04
14."Nobody Knows" (Kim & Dave)Mike Settle2:22
Total length:40:51

"Nobody Knows" is the first-ever recording byKim Carnes,credited on the soundtrack as "Kim & Dave" (with husband Dave Ellingson). Carnes also wrote the song performed by Big Mama Thornton. The pop music group Delaney, Bonnie & Friends had a small role as aChristian musicband, which included singerRita Coolidgeand singer-songwriterDavid Gatesat the piano. The baby held by one of the singers isBekka Bramlett,who later replacedStevie NicksinFleetwood Mac.

Reception

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Vanishing Pointpremiered in January 1971 and did not receive positive notices.[19]In his review for theLos Angeles Times,Charles Champlinwrote, "Vanishing Pointmight have had a point, but it... ah... got lost. What's left is sophisticated craft and fashionably hokey cynicism ".[20]Varietymagazine said, "While stock car addicts may be able to maintain interest in the ultra-fast manipulation of the car, many viewers will just get car-sick... or sick of the car, which isn't the same thing".[21]Larry Cohen,in theReportercriticized the film for being "calculated, tedious and in desperate need of tightening, the picture, produced by Norman Spencer, is uninvolving and devoid of a cohesiveness that might have made it work".[22]

On the other hand, music journalist and essayistRobert ChristgauincludedVanishing Pointon his list of the year's best films at number four. While conceding the characterization to be "tacky", he said the "whole virtue" of this "mostly ignored B-movie" is "visual rather than romantic", while recommeding viewers see the movieunder the influenceofcannabis.[23]

Newman recalls that Fox had no faith in the film and released it in neighborhood theaters only to disappear in less than two weeks.[12]However, it was a critical and commercial success in the UK and Europe which prompted the studio to re-release it in the United States on a double bill withThe French Connection.After completing its run at the cinema box office, the film gained extended life as it became a second feature favorite in drive-in theaters across the US, often as a double-feature paired with another car chase film,Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry.A cult following began to develop, due in large part to a broadcast on network television in 1976.[12]

The film earned rentals of $4,250,000 in North America.[24]

Legacy

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Film

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The movie, which is considered acult classic,[25]is one ofSteven Spielberg's favorite films.[26]Edgar WrightnamedVanishing Pointone of his 1,000 favorite films, and used it as inspiration for his 2017 filmBaby Driver.[27][28][29][30]

Death Proof(2007), theQuentin Tarantinodirected contribution to the faux-exploitation "double feature"Grindhouse(2007), features a chase involving a Dodge Challenger resembling the one seen inVanishing Point(not being anR/Tmodel and having an automatic transmission).Death Proofalso references the film by name, repeatedly calling it "one of the best American movies ever made". The car in the film also has the license plate OA 5599.[19]

The film has a rating of 79% onRotten Tomatoes,based on 19 reviews.[31]In 2014,Time Outpolled several film critics, directors, actors and stunt actors to list their top action films.Vanishing Pointwas listed at 70th place on this list.[32]

Music

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Vanishing Pointwas the inspiration forPrimal Scream's 1997 albumof the same name.[19]Lead singer Bobby Gillespie said, "The music in the film is hippy music, so we thought, 'Why not record some music that really reflects the mood of the film?' It's always been a favourite of the band, we love the air of paranoia and speed-freak righteousness... It's a pure underground film, rammed with claustrophobia".[33]A track from the album was named "Kowalski",after the character from the film. AuthorIrvine Welshscripted the video for "Kowalski" which was directed by musicianDouglas Hart.The video features aDodge Challengerand super modelKate Mossbeating up the band.[33]The track also featured samples of Super Soul's "last American hero" speech from the film.

Super Soul's "last American hero" speech was also incorporated into the lyrics of theGuns N' Rosessong "Breakdown", from their albumUse Your Illusion II(1991).[34]

The film was the basis forAudioslave's music video "Show Me How to Live"(2003), directed by the AV Club and which included members of the band in the 1970 Challenger traveling across the desert, following the plot of the movie.[19]Cleavon Little also appears in the video.

There is an unreleased song "I Can't Believe It"(from the 11:39) of country bandLongbranch Pennywhistlemissing from the tracklist.[citation needed]

Television

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In the November 10, 2021, episode ofLate Show with Stephen Colbert,Bruce SpringsteennamedVanishing Pointas his favorite action film.[35]

Video game and other references

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The video gameGrid 2(2013) features a trophy/achievement called Vanishing Point, with the description reading "You've won a race in a white Dodge Challenger but lived to tell the tale, unlike Kowalski."[36]

The video gameDriver: San Franciscoincludes a Movie Challenge entitled “Vanishing Chance” which involves piloting a white 1970 Dodge Challenger.[37]

Remake

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Aremake of the filmwas created forFoxtelevision, first airing in 1997, and also featuring a 1970 Dodge Challenger.[19]The film starsViggo Mortensenas Jimmy Kowalski (in this version, the character has a first name). Kowalski is rewritten as a suspectedmilitiasympathizer fromIdaho,andJason Priestleyas "The Voice", a whitelibertariantalk radioshock jockwho replaces Super Soul. The sequence of events in the two films is vaguely similar, but the remake removed all of the original's mystical, existential elements,[19]replacing them with a religious motivation for Kowalski's actions. Among many other changes, it also added a sequence in which two cops attempt to chase down the Challenger in a black 1968Dodge Charger.

Home media

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There were two theatrical releases, a U.S. version and a UK version. Both are included on the Region 1 DVD and Blu-ray

Fox releasedVanishing Pointin the United States onBlu-rayon February 24, 2009.

It was also released onBlu-rayin Germany in 2013 under the titleFluchtpunkt San Franciscoand has a running time of 99 minutes with English soundtrack.

Fabulous Film's released a 2-Disc Blu-ray in June 2019 in the UK featuring both US and UK versions of the film and a load of special features.

A 4K restoration of the film was screened by theLibrary of Congressat thePackard CampusinCulpeper, Virginiaon May 24, 2024. This restoration has not been released on home media as of May 2024.[38]

The movie received also a release in the GDR as "Grenzpunkt 0" in 1975.[39]

References

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  1. ^Solomon, Aubrey.Twentieth Century Fox: A Corporate and Financial History (The Scarecrow Filmmakers Series).Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Press, 1989, p. 256.ISBN978-0-8108-4244-1.
  2. ^ab"So the rich get richer...".Sunday Mirror.22 August 1971. p. 14.
  3. ^Greenspun, Roger(1971-03-25)."Vanishing Point (1971) A Lot of Speed and Loads of Hair".The New York Times.Archivedfrom the original on 2013-09-28.Retrieved2013-02-20.
  4. ^Soha, Amber (2021-03-13)."Deconstructing the 1971 Cult Hit, Vanishing Point".Goomba Stomp Magazine.Retrieved2021-09-22.
  5. ^ Hollywood's Hottest Car Chases – Vanishing Point (1971),Speed TV,November 1, 2010, archived fromthe originalon July 25, 2012,retrieved2012-03-23
  6. ^ "Vanishing PointCredits and Transcript ".Corky. Archived fromthe originalon November 26, 2011.RetrievedDecember 2,2011.
  7. ^abcSiegel, Mike (Autumn 2008). "The Freedom of Speed".Cinema Retro.p. 26.
  8. ^abcRichard C. Sarafian(Director) (February 3, 2004).Vanishing Point Commentary(DVD).
  9. ^Siegel 2008, pp. 26–27.
  10. ^"Western US Setting for British Production".The Indianapolis Star.17 July 1970. p. 27.
  11. ^Siegel 2008, p. 27.
  12. ^abcdefghijkZazarine, Paul (March 1986). "Kowalski's Last Ride". Muscle Car Review.
  13. ^Siegel 2008, p. 28.
  14. ^abcdeSiegel 2008, p. 30.
  15. ^Siegel 2008, pp. 29–30.
  16. ^Siegel 2008, pp. 28–29.
  17. ^abSiegel 2008, p. 29.
  18. ^Wheeler Winston Dixon: Missing in Action: The Lost Version of Vanishing Point.Archived2015-08-17 at theWayback MachineFilm International 3.3.2014
  19. ^abcdefSiegel 2008, p. 31.
  20. ^Champlin, Charles (March 18, 1971). "Chase is on inVanishing".Los Angeles Times.
  21. ^"Vanishing Point".Variety.February 1, 1971.
  22. ^Cohen, Larry (February 1, 1971). "Vanishing Point".Reporter.
  23. ^Christgau, Robert(January 21, 1972)."'71-In Brief ".Fusion.RetrievedSeptember 16,2023– via robertchristgau.
  24. ^Solomon, Aubrey.Twentieth Century Fox: A Corporate and Financial History (The Scarecrow Filmmakers Series).Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Press, 1989.ISBN978-0-8108-4244-1.p231. Please note figures are rentals accruing to distributors and not total gross.
  25. ^"50 Years Later: Vanishing Point– Do We Exist?".goombastomp.March 13, 2021.
  26. ^Breznican, Anthony (December 2, 2011)."Steven Spielberg: The EW Interview".Entertainment Weekly.Archivedfrom the original on July 3, 2013.RetrievedMarch 28,2022.
  27. ^Sam DiSalle."Edgar Wright's 1000 Favorite Movies".Mubi.Archivedfrom the original on July 15, 2017.RetrievedJuly 7,2017.
  28. ^Zack Sharf (June 6, 2017)."'Baby Driver': 10 Classic Car Chase Movies That Inspired Edgar Wright ".IndieWire.Archivedfrom the original on July 22, 2017.RetrievedJuly 7,2017.
  29. ^Mark Olsen (June 23, 2017)."'Baby Driver' fever: More movies with cars, action and music ".Los Angeles Times.Archivedfrom the original on July 7, 2017.RetrievedJuly 7,2017.
  30. ^Ethan Anderton (June 29, 2017)."Edgar Wright Gushes About 10 Movies That Influenced 'Baby Driver' (Part 1)"./Film.Archivedfrom the original on July 2, 2017.RetrievedJuly 7,2017.
  31. ^"Vanishing Point".Rotten Tomatoes.Archivedfrom the original on February 2, 2012.RetrievedJanuary 23,2012.
  32. ^"The 100 best action movies: 70-61".Time Out.November 3, 2014.Archivedfrom the original on November 16, 2014.RetrievedNovember 7,2014.
  33. ^abKessler, Ted (May 3, 1997)."Vortex, Drug & Rock n Roll".New Musical Express.Archivedfrom the original on 2011-07-26.Retrieved2008-11-16.
  34. ^"Guns N' Roses: Breakdown from Use Your Illusion II".TheFrontloader.Archivedfrom the original on 2015-10-02.Retrieved2010-12-11.
  35. ^Bruce Springsteen Takes The Colbert Questionert.The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.November 11, 2021 – via YouTube.
  36. ^"GRID 2 Trophies".Ps3trophies.org.Archivedfrom the original on 2013-12-24.Retrieved2013-12-22.
  37. ^"Driver San Francisco strategy guide".IGN.28 September 2011.Archivedfrom the original on 2020-10-30.Retrieved2020-09-09.
  38. ^"Vanishing Point (20th Century-Fox, 1971)".loc.gov.Retrieved2024-05-28.
  39. ^https://werkleitz.de/grenzpunkt-null.{{cite web}}:Missing or empty|title=(help)
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