Movies / Frantic (1988)
Runtime: 120 min
Genres: Crime Drama Mystery Thriller
Following the disastrous Pirates (1986), director Roman Polanski got back on creative track with this finely-wrought thriller that, while failing to impress at the box office, was nevertheless his most critically well-received film of the decade. Harrison Ford stars as Richard Walker, an American doctor who has come to Paris, where he's scheduled to deliver a paper to a medical conference. Richard has brought along his wife Sondra (Betty Buckley), because Paris was the site of their honeymoon 20 years earlier. Sondra picks up the wrong suitcase at the airport, which leads to her kidnapping and an ever-more complicated quest that takes Richard into the seedy and dangerous underworld of European drug smuggling and terrorist arms sales. Along the way, he is rebuffed by skeptical officials at the American Embassy and meets Michelle (Emmanuelle Seigner), a sexy courier who agrees to help him in exchange for the money she's owed for trafficking in narcotics. Playing cleverly on American fears about Europe's Byzantine politics and "decadent" society, Frantic received, from many observers, perhaps the greatest compliment possible for a thriller, comparison to the work of Alfred Hitchcock. ~ Karl Williams, Rovi
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Directors (1) | Credit |
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Roman Polanski | ... |
Writers (4) | Credit |
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Gérard Brach | (written by) |
Jeff Gross | uncredited |
Robert Towne | uncredited and |
Roman Polanski | (written by) & |
Composers (1) | Credit |
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Ennio Morricone | ... |
Editors (1) | Credit |
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Sam O'Steen | ... |
Cinematographers (1) | Credit |
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Witold Sobocinski | ... |
Actors (45) | Credit |
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Alain Doutey | Hall Porter |
Alan Ladd | Bellboy 3 |
Alexandra Stewart | Edie |
André Quiqui | Blue Parrot Barman (as Andre 'Quiqui') |
Artus de Penguern | Waiter |
Betty Buckley | Sondra Walker |
Böll Boyer | Dede Martin |
Bruce Johnson | Marine Guard |
Claude Doineau | U.S. Embassy Clerk |
David Huddleston | Peter |
David Jalil | The Bodyguard (as David Jaul) |
Djiby Soumare | Taxi Driver |
Dominique Pinon | Wino |
Dominique Virton | Desk Clerk |
Ella Jaroszewicz | Restroom Attendant |
Emmanuelle Seigner | Michelle |
Fonky French Family | Houseboat band |
Gérard Klein | Gaillard |
Harrison Ford | Dr. Richard Walker |
Isabelle Soimaud | Houseboat Owner (as Isabelle Noah) |
Jacques Ciron | Le Grand Hotel Manager |
Jean-Claude Houbart | Dead Driver (as Jean-Claude Houbard) |
Jean-Pierre Delage | Florist |
Jimmie Ray Weeks | Shaap |
Joëlle Lagneau | Florist |
John Mahoney | U.S. Embassy Official |
Laurent Spielvogel | Hall Porter |
Louise Vincent | Tourist |
Marc Dudicourt | Cafe Owner |
Marcel Bluwal | Man in Tweed |
Michael Morris | U.S. Embassy Clerk |
Patrice Melennec | Hotel Detective Le Grand Hotel |
Patrick Floersheim | Man in Leather |
Raouf Ben Amor | Dr. Metlaoui |
Richard Dieux | Desk Cop |
Robert Barr | Irwin |
Robert Ground | U.S. Security Officer |
Roch Leibovici | Bellboy 2 |
Roman Polanski | Taxi Driver Who Hands Over the Matches to Dr. Walker (uncredited) |
Stéphane Copeau | Extra (uncredited) |
Stéphane D'Audeville | Bellboy |
Thomas M. Pollard | Rastafarian |
Tina Sportolaro | TWA Clerk |
Yorgo Voyagis | The Kidnapper |
Yves Rénier | Inspector |