DELIVERANCE (1972) C widescreen 109m dir: dir: John Boorman

w/Jon Voight, Burt Reynolds, Ned Beatty, Ronny Cox, Bill McKinney, Herbert "Cowboy" Coward, James Dickey, Ed Ramey, Billy Redden, Seamon Glass

From The Movie Guide: "Morose, shockingly violent yet strangely beautiful, DELIVERANCE is a tale of what happens to civilized values when put to the test in a hostile wilderness environment. Four Atlanta businessmen decide to get back to nature by trekking to the Appalachian wilds to canoe, hunt, and fish in an unspoiled environment before it is permanently flooded by a new dam. But what begins as an adventurous vacation becomes a nightmare of survival as they find themselves hunted by vengeful cretinous mountain men. Voight, Reynolds, Beatty, and Cox are the four city dwellers looking to prove their manhood in the wild. Each of their personal values is put to the test in the course of their deadly adventure. What does it mean to be a man? How far will one go to survive?

"This is a tough and powerful portrait of men out of their usual environment. Nor is the deplorable squalor of the mountain communities glossed over. This is not a film for the squeamish. Some have accused the film of exploiting rather than exploring the moments of violent drama culled from James Dickey's first novel while deemphasizing its ecological concerns. Others were troubled by the seemingly perverse beauty of the film. All agree, however, that the meeting between the uneasy quartet and a deformed albino mountain child is a highlight. Cox sees that the kid has a banjo, picks up his own, and strums a few notes. The boy answers him. Then the two challenge each other until both go at a frenzied pace banging out a mountain tune. This celebrated 'Dueling Banjos' sequence is an eerie moment of grace before the violence begins.

"Boorman's direction is gripping if a bit heavy-handed. The rapids scenes in particular are electrifying. Cinematographer [Vilmos] Zsigmond presents breathtaking scenes that sere the memory. Reynolds excelled in this rare serious role. Dickey adapted his own novel and appears as a sheriff."

DELIVERANCE was nominated for three Oscars: Best Picture, Director, and Editing (Tom Priestley).