December 6, 1985 (Original)
January 16, 1986 (Worldwide)
Runaway Train is a 1985 American action thriller film that was directed by Andrei Konchalovsky, and stars Jon Voight, Eric Roberts, Rebecca De Mornay and John P. Ryan. The screenplay by Djordje Milicevic, Paul Zindel and Edward Bunker was based on an original 1960s screenplay by Akira Kurosawa, with uncredited contributions by frequent Kurosawa collaborators Hideo Oguni and Ryūzō Kikushima. The film was also the feature debut of both Danny Trejo and Tommy "Tiny" Lister, who both proceeded to successful careers as "tough guy" character actors.
Kurosawa intended the original screenplay to be his first color film following Red Beard, but difficulties with the American financial backers led to the project being shelved.
The story concerns two escaped convicts and an assistant locomotive driver who are stuck on a runaway train as it barrels through snowy desolate Alaska. Voight and Roberts were both nominated for Academy Awards. The film first had a limited theatrical release on December 6, 1985, and then received a wider release a year later on January 16, 1986. It received generally positive reviews from critics but was a box office disappointment, only making $7.7 million back against a budget of $9 million.
Synopsis
Philosophical action thriller about two escaped prisoners who hide on board a train speeding through Alaska. The driver suffers a fatal heart attack and the train races out of control through the icy wilderness. With the railroad signalmen unable to stop it and a vindictive prison warden desperately pursuing them by helicopter, the train's passengers look set to face disaster. Based on a screenplay by Akira Kurosawa.
Sound Effects Used
NOTE: Most of these sounds are only heard in the remastered mix.
- Classic Shotgun Fire Sound (Used several times for the firing sound of a guard's lever-action rifle as he ineffectively fires at Manny after the latter is stabbed in the hand by another inmate.)
- Hollywoodedge, Body Falls Wooden Flo PE107401 (Heard once when Buck is tackled to the ground by another inmate during the prison boxing sequence.)
- Hollywoodedge, Face Body Punches Wet TE027203/Hollywoodedge, Punch Body Hit 3 Sharp PE101001 (Debut)
- Hollywoodedge, Heavy Face Punch FS040301 (Debut)
- Hollywoodedge, Kick Body Hit 1 SharpT PE101301 (Debut)
- Hollywoodedge, Train Wheels Squeak AHS018401 (Debut)
- SKYWALKER PUNCHING SOUNDS (The 2nd take is heard once when the inmate Buck boxes against hits the floor of the ring after being knocked out by the latter.)
- Sound Ideas, HORN, ALARM - KLAXON ALARM HORN
- Sound Ideas, METAL, SQUEAL - METAL DRAGGING ON METAL
- Sound Ideas, RICOCHET - CARTOON RICCO 02
- Sound Ideas, RICOCHET - CARTOON RICCO 07
- Sound Ideas, RICOCHET - LONG SHELL SCREAM RICCO