On the Edge (1986 film)
| On the Edge | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
| Directed by | Rob Nilsson |
| Produced by |
Jeffrey L. Hayes Rob Nilsson |
| Screenplay by |
Roy Kissin Rob Nilsson |
| Starring |
Bruce Dern Pam Grier Bill Bailey Jim Haynie John Marley Marty Liquori |
| Music by | Herb Pilhofer |
| Cinematography | Stefan Czapsky |
| Edited by |
Richard Harkness Bert Lovitt |
Production company |
Alliance Communications Corporation IFI New Front Films |
| Distributed by | Skouras Pictures |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 95 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
On the Edge is a 1986 American drama film directed by Rob Nilsson and written by Roy Kissin and Rob Nilsson. The film stars Bruce Dern, Pam Grier, Bill Bailey, Jim Haynie, John Marley and Marty Liquori. The film was released on May 2, 1986, by Skouras Pictures.[1][2][3]
The competition depicted in the film is based on the Dipsea Race, a trail race over a treacherous terrain first run in 1905.
Plot
A gaunt, bushy-bearded, 44-year-old Wes Holman returns to his northern California roots after a 20-year absence, determined to enter one of America's oldest distance races.
Holman was banned from competition after being a whistle-blower about illegal under-the-table payments to amateur athletes two decades before. He seeks out his old trainer, Elmo, to help get him ready for his comeback, but is denied official entry.
After visiting with his aging father "Flash," a union-organizing radical who lives in a junkyard, Holman decides to enter the race without permission. As he negotiates the harrowing 7.5-mile trails, race organizers make strenuous attempts to impede Holman or force him out of the competition before the finish line. His fellow athletes protect his flanks, however, and escort him all the way to a victorious finish.
Cast
- Bruce Dern as Wes Holman
- Pam Grier as Cora
- Bill Bailey as Flash Holman
- Jim Haynie as Owen Riley
- John Marley as Elmo
- Marty Liquori as TV Announcer
Reaction
In his May 2, 1986 Chicago Sun-Times review, critic Roger Ebert awarded the film three-and-a-half out of a possible four stars, singling out Bruce Dern "in one of his best performances."
References
- ↑ "On the Edge (1986) - Overview". TCM.com. Retrieved 2015-12-16.
- ↑ "SCREEN: 'ON THE EDGE' DEPICTS RUNNER'S EFFORT". The New York Times. May 16, 1986. Retrieved December 16, 2015.
- ↑ "On the Edge". Afi.com. Retrieved 2015-12-16.