Grindhouse Weekly – ‘Vanishing Point’

One of my favorite films of the 70s has been, and always will be, Vanishing Point starring Barry Newman and Cleavon Little.  Released in 1971 by director Richard C. Sarafian, this road movie takes the car chase concept to a whole new level.  The nearly non-stop action commentated by Little, a blind DJ, is some of the most fun and spectacular stunt driving you’ll see in a film.

Newman plays Kowalski, a former racer and police officer who works for a car delivery service.  His latest job involves getting a 1970 Dodge Challenger from Denver Colorado to San Francisco California.  Before starting his trip, he picks up some drugs from his buddy and proposes a bet that he can get the car there within a day’s time.

What proceeds is an hour and a half long car chase that only breaks for gas refills and cuts to the DJ and the police trying to capture him.  While the concept of a non-stop car chase may sound tiresome, Newman’s charismatic presence and Little’s jovial commentating make the entire trip and utter joy to watch.

The most amusing thing to consider during this wild ride is that Kowalski is doing all this for a small bet.  This adds an interesting dynamic to the film simply because the stakes are so low.  The viewer doesn’t have to feel the pressure of watching Kowalski get from point A to point B because of some dire emergency and in turn can just sit back and enjoy the show.

And what a show it is. In addition to typical car chases, Kowalski is constantly toying with the police, be in playing chicken with them, stopping and waiting for them to catch up, or simply by running them off the road.  Though the film itself tackles some very mature themes, much of it unfolds in a playful way, like if the Duke boys got hopped up on speed before messing with Boss Hog.

The influence of this film also knows no bounds.  From Tarantino’s Death Proof, which actually gets mentioned in the film itself, to 1979’s The Warriors, to just about any other car chase movie made after its release. There was really nothing like it at the time and it didn’t hurt that it was also an incredibly well made film. There was even a poorly done remake produced for TV in 1997 starring Viggo Mortensen. While the original could be considered a masterpiece, the remake should be avoided at all costs.

Vanishing Point is not just a film for car enthusiasts or adrenaline junkies.  It’s a film about a man who’s at the end of his rope and simply has nothing to lose.  The frequent flashbacks throughout the film delve into the troubled past of Kowalski and help us understand who he is and why he’s doing this.  It’s very much a character piece in addition to a balls to the wall action fest which pushes it very high on the pantheon of great 70s cinema.