One of the best movies of the 1980s, Runaway Train, gets an upgrade and restoration to 4K UHD, along with new special features thanks to Kino Lorber.
The Film
Cannon Films was never known for quality. The iconic studio was known for its 1980s output, which felt more fueled by commerce than by artistry. That is putting it generously. With even the most crass of B-Movie houses, a few good films manage to get out, and every once in a great while, a truly great one does as well. That was the case with Cannon Films and Director Andrei Konchalovsky’s Runaway Train.
The most legendary of Convicts in Alaska’s Stonehaven Maximum Security Prison, Oscar “Manny” Manheim (Jon Voight) has been welded into his solitary cell for three years. After a court victory, Warden Ranken (John P Ryan) must release him. Thus begins the battle of wills: Manny vs Ranken. Ranken quickly tries to have an inmate and Prison Guards kill Manny to no avail. Manny has his own plans. Escape. Freedom. In the form of a train. Taking Buck (Eric Roberts) along with him, both get more than they bargained for as the train, through a series of mishaps, barrels down the tracks towards inevitable destruction.
The barest of plot outlines does not do the film justice. With a script originally by Akira Kurosawa and rewritten by Eddie Bunker is a deft amazing piece of narrative. One would think that Kurosawa and Bunker make for strange bedfellows, but they actually turn out to be the best choices to handle scripting. Both share a common trait. Mainly, their interest in society’s treatment of humans. Specifically, the outcasts of society. As a result, the film’s script nimbly moves from prison film to escape film, to adventure film, to eventually social commentary. All the while being a cohesive whole rather than a disjointed narrative.
The film never diverges into cartoonish buffoonery that many of the Cannon Films do. The 88-year-old Konchalovsky (at the time of writing), whose career is as diverse as having directed the DEAR, COMRADES! in 2020 to much acclaim, to being one of the 18 noted directors on the infamous Tango & Cash to having written Ivan’s Childhood for Tarkovsky. This film feels as though it is a bridge between nonsense like Tango & Cash and his screenwriting work with Tarkovsky. The film is as visually impressive as anything he’s done. Working with cinematographer Alan Hume is jaw-dropping in its execution and delivery.
Not to be outdone by the visuals, Konchalovsky’s real power is in his actors’ performances. Konchalovsky’s direction was so strong it led to both Voight and Roberts both being nominated for Academy Awards for Runaway Train. Voight and Roberts ebbing back and forth and playing the reality of the “friendship” and its eventual deterioration is one of the strongest narrative throughlines of the film. One that allows both actors to center stage over the course of the film.
Not to say that the film is a two-hander. The work by Rebecca De Mornay and John P Ryan is as good as both Voight and Roberts. Ryan’s Warden Ranken is as quietly menacing a character as has been put on screen. De Mornay is shortchanged, but it doesn’t take away from her excellent work. Even smaller roles filled by Bunker, TK Carter, and Kenneth McMillian are textured and fully realized.
Runaway Train is the rarest of all films, a socially aware popcorn film of the highest order. One that any action fan will want to revisit again and again.
The Transfer
The all-new HDR/Dolby Vision Master – From a 4K Scan of the 35mm Original Camera Negative is nothing short of amazing. This new 4K UHD disc outshines all iterations of the film, even the recent Blu-ray from Kino Lorber. The image is sharp without any defects or blemishes, with a beautiful active grain structure. Cannon films were often not the best-shot films; more succinctly, they were terribly murky, ugly, and shot on cheap film stock. The image photographed by the great Alan Hume is dynamic and robust, everything that Cannon films never were. The resulting transfer from Hume’s work is beautiful, mimicking the look of a freshly struck 35mm archival print. The Dolby Vision encoding adds a layer of detail in the black levels and contrast levels that adds to the overall experience and depth of the image.
The Extras
They include the following;
DISC 1 (4KUHD):
Audio Commentary by Co-Star Eric Roberts with Film Historians David Del Valle and C. Courtney Joyner
DISC 2 (BLU-RAY):
Brand New HD Master – From a 4K Scan of the 35mm Original Camera Negative
Audio Commentary by Co-Star Eric Roberts with Film Historians David Del Valle and C. Courtney Joyner
The Moment is Real: NEW Interview with Actor Eric Roberts
From Thespian to Fugitive: Jon Voight Remembers Runaway Train (37:45)
Running on Empty: An Interview with Director Andrei Konchalovsky (15:54)
The Calm Before the Chaos: Kyle T. Heffner Reflects on Runaway Train (17:01)
Sweet and Savage: 2018 Interview with Eric Roberts (15:59)
Theatrical Trailer
The archival commentary by star Eric Roberts, historians David Del Valle, and historian C Courtney Joyner is an informative, charming delight. Roberts is very forthcoming, charming, and very informative about the production (and does a great Golan impersonation). Some of the details include the production moving from Montana to Alaska; Jon Voight’s body suit; a great Eddie Bunker story about Danny Trejo being his boxing coach; working with director Andrei Konchalovsky; working with acting legend John Ryan; the differences between the film and Kurosawa’s script (his script was 300 pages); the shock of being nominated for best supporting actor; a side conversation about Robert’s work in Star 80; the Cannon films of the era; working with Faye Dunaway; working with the late Tiny Lister; the tough working conditions in and around Alaska; Roberts getting his Stuntman Union Card and keeping it for years and the reasons why he stopped doing his own stunts (it was here); Rebecca De Mornay’s first day on set; the real-life 40-mile stretch of train track they used; the train set they built; the use of Video Assist (which was a newer technology); the difficulty shooting in Alaska where it never got dark; the script work that Eddie Bunker did; the difference between working with Mickey Rourke and Jon Voight; a great tidbit about Michael Cimino; John Ryan’s career after the film; filming the final confrontation between him and Voight; the score by Trevor Jones; later era Roberts’ films post Runaway Train; a prediction from Roberts that proved unfortunately wrong; and much more. Roberts is an utter delight as he recounts making the film and discussing the production with Del Valle and Joyner.
The Moment is Real: Eric Roberts on Runaway Train (19:46) – the all-new interview with Roberts begins with the actor recalling how he was offered the film and the 300-page script from Kurosawa, and the development he did with Eddie Bunker, who rewrote the script. Roberts goes on to discuss working with Jon Voight and some of the tricks they did to make his character more imposing; working with Andrei Konchalovsky and an interesting note about his family’s place in Russian history; a discussion of the boxing match between him and Danny Trejo, who eventually became a lifelong friend; working with Golan and Globus; and much more.
From Thespian to Fugitive: Jon Voight Remembers Runaway Train (37:45) – in this archival interview, Voight begins how director Andrei Konchalovsky wanted him for the lead but had issues with the screenplay. Voight goes on to discuss the collaboration with Konchalovsky (and his admiration for his work); working with Eric Roberts; a discussion of the process and ideas that he brought, and how Konchalovsky would add to that process, and examples of how it worked; the way they accomplished some of the great, effective special effects; the stunt work and stories about his stunt double; the techniques that Konchalovsky wanted the crew to employ to create a fresher visual style; and much more.
Running on Empty: An Interview with Director Andrei Konchalovsky (15:55) – in this archival interview, Konchalovsky opens with the generosity of Golan and Globus while making Runaway Train. The director goes on to discuss the various esteemed filmmakers/artists who worked with Cannon during the era that convinced him to take the job; how Voight helped him to move to the US to make a film; how both Voight and he became attached to the project; working with the various actors (with an honest assessment of each’s shortcomings and strengths); how he feels that his films are not “political”; the release of the film and how it was fumbled; the bet he made with Golan about the Oscars; and much more.
The Calm Before the Chaos: Kyle T. Heffner Reflects on Runaway Train (17:02) – is an archival interview with the actor, opening with how he got the role while they were already in production. Heffner goes on to discuss Konchalovsky’s directing and shooting style; how the famous bathroom scene was shot; Golan and Globus being on set; the film’s premiere; and much more.
Sweet and Savage: 2018 Interview with Eric Roberts (15:59) – in this archival interview, Roberts goes over similar territory as his newer interview, with some exceptions. Though Roberts does discuss a bit more of the Alaskan on-location shoot on 40 miles of train track, Golan stealing his Academy Award nomination certificate, and his experience being nominated for an Academy Award.
One of the best movies of the 1980s, Runaway Train, gets an upgrade and restoration to 4K UHD, along with new special features thanks to Kino Lorber.
The Film
Cannon Films was never known for quality. The iconic studio was known for its 1980s output, which felt more fueled by commerce than by artistry. That is putting it generously. With even the most crass of B-Movie houses, a few good films manage to get out, and every once in a great while, a truly great one does as well. That was the case with Cannon Films and Director Andrei Konchalovsky’s Runaway Train.
The most legendary of Convicts in Alaska’s Stonehaven Maximum Security Prison, Oscar “Manny” Manheim (Jon Voight) has been welded into his solitary cell for three years. After a court victory, Warden Ranken (John P Ryan) must release him. Thus begins the battle of wills: Manny vs Ranken. Ranken quickly tries to have an inmate and Prison Guards kill Manny to no avail. Manny has his own plans. Escape. Freedom. In the form of a train. Taking Buck (Eric Roberts) along with him, both get more than they bargained for as the train, through a series of mishaps, barrels down the tracks towards inevitable destruction.
The barest of plot outlines does not do the film justice. With a script originally by Akira Kurosawa and rewritten by Eddie Bunker is a deft amazing piece of narrative. One would think that Kurosawa and Bunker make for strange bedfellows, but they actually turn out to be the best choices to handle scripting. Both share a common trait. Mainly, their interest in society’s treatment of humans. Specifically, the outcasts of society. As a result, the film’s script nimbly moves from prison film to escape film, to adventure film, to eventually social commentary. All the while being a cohesive whole rather than a disjointed narrative.
The film never diverges into cartoonish buffoonery that many of the Cannon Films do. The 88-year-old Konchalovsky (at the time of writing), whose career is as diverse as having directed the DEAR, COMRADES! in 2020 to much acclaim, to being one of the 18 noted directors on the infamous Tango & Cash to having written Ivan’s Childhood for Tarkovsky. This film feels as though it is a bridge between nonsense like Tango & Cash and his screenwriting work with Tarkovsky. The film is as visually impressive as anything he’s done. Working with cinematographer Alan Hume is jaw-dropping in its execution and delivery.
Not to be outdone by the visuals, Konchalovsky’s real power is in his actors’ performances. Konchalovsky’s direction was so strong it led to both Voight and Roberts both being nominated for Academy Awards for Runaway Train. Voight and Roberts ebbing back and forth and playing the reality of the “friendship” and its eventual deterioration is one of the strongest narrative throughlines of the film. One that allows both actors to center stage over the course of the film.
Not to say that the film is a two-hander. The work by Rebecca De Mornay and John P Ryan is as good as both Voight and Roberts. Ryan’s Warden Ranken is as quietly menacing a character as has been put on screen. De Mornay is shortchanged, but it doesn’t take away from her excellent work. Even smaller roles filled by Bunker, TK Carter, and Kenneth McMillian are textured and fully realized.
Runaway Train is the rarest of all films, a socially aware popcorn film of the highest order. One that any action fan will want to revisit again and again.
The Transfer
The all-new HDR/Dolby Vision Master – From a 4K Scan of the 35mm Original Camera Negative is nothing short of amazing. This new 4K UHD disc outshines all iterations of the film, even the recent Blu-ray from Kino Lorber. The image is sharp without any defects or blemishes, with a beautiful active grain structure. Cannon films were often not the best-shot films; more succinctly, they were terribly murky, ugly, and shot on cheap film stock. The image photographed by the great Alan Hume is dynamic and robust, everything that Cannon films never were. The resulting transfer from Hume’s work is beautiful, mimicking the look of a freshly struck 35mm archival print. The Dolby Vision encoding adds a layer of detail in the black levels and contrast levels that adds to the overall experience and depth of the image.
The Extras
They include the following;
DISC 1 (4KUHD):
DISC 2 (BLU-RAY):
The archival commentary by star Eric Roberts, historians David Del Valle, and historian C Courtney Joyner is an informative, charming delight. Roberts is very forthcoming, charming, and very informative about the production (and does a great Golan impersonation). Some of the details include the production moving from Montana to Alaska; Jon Voight’s body suit; a great Eddie Bunker story about Danny Trejo being his boxing coach; working with director Andrei Konchalovsky; working with acting legend John Ryan; the differences between the film and Kurosawa’s script (his script was 300 pages); the shock of being nominated for best supporting actor; a side conversation about Robert’s work in Star 80; the Cannon films of the era; working with Faye Dunaway; working with the late Tiny Lister; the tough working conditions in and around Alaska; Roberts getting his Stuntman Union Card and keeping it for years and the reasons why he stopped doing his own stunts (it was here); Rebecca De Mornay’s first day on set; the real-life 40-mile stretch of train track they used; the train set they built; the use of Video Assist (which was a newer technology); the difficulty shooting in Alaska where it never got dark; the script work that Eddie Bunker did; the difference between working with Mickey Rourke and Jon Voight; a great tidbit about Michael Cimino; John Ryan’s career after the film; filming the final confrontation between him and Voight; the score by Trevor Jones; later era Roberts’ films post Runaway Train; a prediction from Roberts that proved unfortunately wrong; and much more. Roberts is an utter delight as he recounts making the film and discussing the production with Del Valle and Joyner.
The Moment is Real: Eric Roberts on Runaway Train (19:46) – the all-new interview with Roberts begins with the actor recalling how he was offered the film and the 300-page script from Kurosawa, and the development he did with Eddie Bunker, who rewrote the script. Roberts goes on to discuss working with Jon Voight and some of the tricks they did to make his character more imposing; working with Andrei Konchalovsky and an interesting note about his family’s place in Russian history; a discussion of the boxing match between him and Danny Trejo, who eventually became a lifelong friend; working with Golan and Globus; and much more.
From Thespian to Fugitive: Jon Voight Remembers Runaway Train (37:45) – in this archival interview, Voight begins how director Andrei Konchalovsky wanted him for the lead but had issues with the screenplay. Voight goes on to discuss the collaboration with Konchalovsky (and his admiration for his work); working with Eric Roberts; a discussion of the process and ideas that he brought, and how Konchalovsky would add to that process, and examples of how it worked; the way they accomplished some of the great, effective special effects; the stunt work and stories about his stunt double; the techniques that Konchalovsky wanted the crew to employ to create a fresher visual style; and much more.
Running on Empty: An Interview with Director Andrei Konchalovsky (15:55) – in this archival interview, Konchalovsky opens with the generosity of Golan and Globus while making Runaway Train. The director goes on to discuss the various esteemed filmmakers/artists who worked with Cannon during the era that convinced him to take the job; how Voight helped him to move to the US to make a film; how both Voight and he became attached to the project; working with the various actors (with an honest assessment of each’s shortcomings and strengths); how he feels that his films are not “political”; the release of the film and how it was fumbled; the bet he made with Golan about the Oscars; and much more.
The Calm Before the Chaos: Kyle T. Heffner Reflects on Runaway Train (17:02) – is an archival interview with the actor, opening with how he got the role while they were already in production. Heffner goes on to discuss Konchalovsky’s directing and shooting style; how the famous bathroom scene was shot; Golan and Globus being on set; the film’s premiere; and much more.
Sweet and Savage: 2018 Interview with Eric Roberts (15:59) – in this archival interview, Roberts goes over similar territory as his newer interview, with some exceptions. Though Roberts does discuss a bit more of the Alaskan on-location shoot on 40 miles of train track, Golan stealing his Academy Award nomination certificate, and his experience being nominated for an Academy Award.
Rounding out the special features are trailers for Runaway Train (1:58); Lady on a Train (2:16); The Train (4:26); One more Train to Rob (2:36); Murder on the Orient Express (2:38); The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (2:33); Breakheart Pass (3:07); The Great Train Robbery (2:52); Throw Momma from the Train (1:27); Narrow Margin (2:01);
The Final Thought
Runaway Train is an Action Classic. Highest Possible Recommendations!!
Kino Lorber’s 4K UHD Edition of Runaway Train is out April 14th.
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