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ThrillerMysteryCrime

Blow Out

- Murder has a sound all of its own.

While recording sound effects for a slasher flick, Jack Terry stumbles upon a real-life horror: a car careening off a bridge and into a river. Jack jumps into the water and fishes out Sally from the car, but the other passenger is already dead — a governor intending to run for president. As Jack does some investigating of his tapes, and starts a perilous romance with Sally, he enters a tangled web of conspiracy that might leave him dead.

Release Date : 1981-07-24

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Cinema 77Filmways PicturesGeria Productions

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles :

Cast

John Travolta

Character Name : Jack Terry

Original Name : John Travolta

Gender : Male

Nancy Allen

Character Name : Sally Badina

Original Name : Nancy Allen

Gender : Female

John Lithgow

Character Name : Burke

Original Name : John Lithgow

Gender : Male

Dennis Franz

Character Name : Manny Karp

Original Name : Dennis Franz

Gender : Male

Peter Boyden

Character Name : Sam

Original Name : Peter Boyden

Gender : Male

John Aquino

Character Name : Det. Mackey

Original Name : John Aquino

Gender : Male

John McMartin

Character Name : Lawrence Henry

Original Name : John McMartin

Gender : Male

Deborah Everton

Character Name : Hooker

Original Name : Deborah Everton

Gender : Female

J. Patrick McNamara

Character Name : Detective at Hospital

Original Name : J. Patrick McNamara

Gender : Male

Roger Wilson

Character Name : Coed Lover

Original Name : Roger Wilson

Gender : Male

Missy Cleveland

Character Name : Coed Lover

Original Name : Missy Cleveland

Gender : Female

Curt May

Character Name : Donahue

Original Name : Curt May

Gender : Male

Lori-Nan Engler

Character Name : Sue

Original Name : Lori-Nan Engler

Gender : Female

Barbara Sigel

Character Name : Girl Lover

Original Name : Barbara Sigel

Gender : Male

David De Felice

Character Name : Boy Lover

Original Name : David De Felice

Gender : Male

Roberto Lombardi

Character Name : Train Passenger

Original Name : Roberto Lombardi

Gender : Male

Missy Crutchfield

Character Name : Dancing Coed

Original Name : Missy Crutchfield

Gender : Female

Cindy Manion

Character Name : Dancing Coed

Original Name : Cindy Manion

Gender : Female

Marcy Bigelman

Character Name : Ecstatic Coed

Original Name : Marcy Bigelman

Gender : Male

Ann Kelly

Character Name : Studious Coed

Original Name : Ann Kelly

Gender : Male

Dean Bennett

Character Name : Campus Guard

Original Name : Dean Bennett

Gender : Male

John Coppolino Jr.

Character Name : Maniac

Original Name : John Coppolino Jr.

Gender : Male

Archie Lang

Character Name : Mixer

Original Name : Archie Lang

Gender : Male

Dave Roberts

Character Name : Anchorman

Original Name : Dave Roberts

Gender : Male

Claire Carter

Character Name : Anchorwoman

Original Name : Claire Carter

Gender : Male

Maurice Copeland

Character Name : Jack Manners

Original Name : Maurice Copeland

Gender : Male

John Hoffmeister

Character Name : Governor McRyan

Original Name : John Hoffmeister

Gender : Male

Thomas J. McCarthy

Character Name : Policeman at Hospital

Original Name : Thomas J. McCarthy

Gender : Male

Reginald M. Wallace

Character Name : Policeman at Hospital

Original Name : Reginald M. Wallace

Gender : Male

Robert L. Penrose

Character Name : Hospital Administrator

Original Name : Robert L. Penrose

Gender : Male

Larry Woody

Character Name : Doctor

Original Name : Larry Woody

Gender : Male

Dick McGarvin

Character Name : TV Newscaster

Original Name : Dick McGarvin

Gender : Male

Michael Borghese

Character Name : Newsdealer

Original Name : Michael Borghese

Gender : Male

Rossana Fichera

Character Name : Receptionist

Original Name : Rossana Fichera

Gender : Male

James Jeter

Character Name : Film Lab Man

Original Name : James Jeter

Gender : Male

Luddy Tramontana

Character Name : Freddie Corso

Original Name : Luddy Tramontana

Gender : Male

Sid Doherty

Character Name : Cop in Car

Original Name : Sid Doherty

Gender : Male

Milt Fields

Character Name : Mobster

Original Name : Milt Fields

Gender : Male

Bud Seese

Character Name : Corrupt Captain

Original Name : Bud Seese

Gender : Male

Maureen Sullivan

Character Name : First Murder Victim

Original Name : Maureen Sullivan

Gender : Male

Brian Corrigan

Character Name : Cop at Karp's Office

Original Name : Brian Corrigan

Gender : Male

Elaine Filoon

Character Name : Screamer

Original Name : Elaine Filoon

Gender : Male

Robin Sherwood

Character Name : Betty

Original Name : Robin Sherwood

Gender : Female

Tim Choate

Character Name : Sailor

Original Name : Tim Choate

Gender : Male

B.J. Cyrus

Character Name : Sailor's Friend

Original Name : B.J. Cyrus

Gender : Male

Dave DeAngelis

Character Name : Sailor's Friend

Original Name : Dave DeAngelis

Gender : Male

Thomas Finn

Character Name : Sailor's Friend

Original Name : Thomas Finn

Gender : Male

Tony Devon

Character Name : Sailor's Friend

Original Name : Tony Devon

Gender : Male

Henry Cohen

Character Name : Ambulance Attendant

Original Name : Henry Cohen

Gender : Male

Bernie Rachelle

Character Name : Ambulance Attendant

Original Name : Bernie Rachelle

Gender : Male

William Tarman

Character Name : Security Guard

Original Name : William Tarman

Gender : Male

Michael Tearson

Character Name : Hawker

Original Name : Michael Tearson

Gender : Male

Reviews

J

John Chard

@John Chard

2024-05-16

Superior entry on De Palma's CV. Brian De Palma has always gotten a bad rap for his penchant for essaying his heroes and favourite thrillers, what often gets forgotten is just how great he could be in crafting said thrillers. Blow Out has John Travolta as a sound engineer for low budget horror movies, who while out recording sounds one night witnesses a car crash and dives into the river to rescue the call girl trapped in the back seat (Nancy Allen). Upon listening back to the footage of the crash, he hears two noises which point to a gun shot being fired at the car. So with the dead man in the car turning out to be a big political mover, he quickly finds himself spun into a web of intrigue, peril, paranoia and conspiracies. Can he and the girl stay alive long enough to solve the case? Blow Out finds De Palma at the top of his game, blending the twisty plot dynamics with virtuoso technical smarts. A number of scenes are striking, both visually and in execution and the garnering of acting performances. Pino Donaggio provides an unforgettable music score to marry up to the layers of sub-plots folding together, and cinematographer Vilmos Zsigmond sharpens the primary colours (pic is awash with lurid pinks and purples - true neo-noir style) to give the story a Giallo like sheen that runs concurrent with the emotional states of the major players. A sprawling and bustling Philadelphia plays host to a conspiracy sandwich, with a corking side order of the film making process. Sometimes bleak and complex (how great it is to find a true noir finale), but never over stuffed, Blow Out is both thrilling and smart, while Travolta has never been better and John Lithgow is tailor made as the unstoppable crack-pot unleashed into our two protagonists' world. 9/10

W

Wuchak

@Wuchak

2021-06-23

_**Colorful De Palma crime mystery with Travolta and Lithgow**_ A sound effects man in Philadelphia (John Travolta) obtains evidence that a fatal accident involving the governor wasn’t really an accident, which thrusts him into danger with shady characters. John Lithgow, Dennis Franz and Nancy Allen are all somehow involved in the nefarious conspiracy. Written & directed by Brian De Palma, "Blow Out” (1981) is a crime drama/thriller whose colors, artistic style, cast and Philadelphia locations make it worthwhile. It’s similar to Francis Ford Coppola’s “The Conversation” (1974) but more dynamic. Allen plays a ditzy character, yet is alluring and enjoyable, while Travolta is in his prime. Meanwhile Lithgow makes for a great shady character. I loved the colorful, well-staged sequence under the Henry Avenue Bridge, but started to lose interest in the second half for some reason. The storytelling became increasingly contrived. Nevertheless, respectable critics rave about this flick. The film runs around 1 hour, 48 minutes, and was shot in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; with additional stuff done in New York City and Burbank, California. GRADE: B-

J

JPV852

@JPV852

2022-09-08

This is one I've watched a few times over the years and it's still great with each viewing. John Travolta and Nancy Allen give great performances and although it's not one of these thrill-a-minute films, it still maintains the suspense throughout. It's one of the gems for Brian De Palma. **4.5/5**