This movie has not come out yet but hopefully they don't mess this one up because the screenplay is supposed to be really great.
Ultra by Colin Bannon You need to read if you want to sell horror. Horror scripts are quite hard to write as so much is dependent on the lighting, score, mood, etc., and the visual experience. But Ultra does one thing really well, it essentially combines something that is already full of conflict (ultra-running) and then ups it again by adding a supernatural force. If you’re writing horror, make sure that even without the blood, guts, etc., there’s still tons of conflict in the premise.
I'm glad to see Bruce's film mentioned by several posters on this thread. Last year, I talked with Bruce for several hours, mainly about running. At some point, he asked if I had seen "On the Edge." I had, of course. In fact, I had seen both versions -- the steamier version with Pam Grier as Bruce's lover, and another version with her scenes cut out. I said I preferred the version without her; Bruce agreed. (I've forgotten why Pam Grier was put in the movie, but that relationship seemed totally out of place in a film about a guy whose total focus was on making a comeback after being banned for taking money in violation of AAU rules.)
The movie clearly arose out of Bruce's abiding love for running and racing. He used a number of real runners in the movie, including Garry Bjorklund as one of the competitors, along with Marty Liquori as the race announcer and even old Walt Stack, who was well known for his longtime participation in the Dipsea race upon which the movie was based.
It didn't surprise me that "On the Edge" didn't do well at the box office. Bruce said that was because runners are "cheap mothers" who don't want to pay to see a movie, which I think was basically correct, but I also think that it was a movie made by and for real runners, which limited its appeal as a theatrical release.
Jim Ryun- America’s Greatest Miler was great. Interviews with Coaches Timmons and JD, lots of footage, and at the end a film of Jim Ryun at the state meet- breaking four by himself!
I'm glad to see Bruce's film mentioned by several posters on this thread. Last year, I talked with Bruce for several hours, mainly about running. At some point, he asked if I had seen "On the Edge." I had, of course. In fact, I had seen both versions -- the steamier version with Pam Grier as Bruce's lover, and another version with her scenes cut out. I said I preferred the version without her; Bruce agreed. (I've forgotten why Pam Grier was put in the movie, but that relationship seemed totally out of place in a film about a guy whose total focus was on making a comeback after being banned for taking money in violation of AAU rules.)
The movie clearly arose out of Bruce's abiding love for running and racing. He used a number of real runners in the movie, including Garry Bjorklund as one of the competitors, along with Marty Liquori as the race announcer and even old Walt Stack, who was well known for his longtime participation in the Dipsea race upon which the movie was based.
It didn't surprise me that "On the Edge" didn't do well at the box office. Bruce said that was because runners are "cheap mothers" who don't want to pay to see a movie, which I think was basically correct, but I also think that it was a movie made by and for real runners, which limited its appeal as a theatrical release.
I don't care if Pam Grier is in it or not, I just want this thing to come back on DVD (and not some weird bootleg site). There must be some weird rights issue going on.
Good movie. When it came out, I recall reading ( Sports Illustrated, I believe) that Michael Crawford had trained with Gordon Pirie in preparation for the role, and that he had run something like a 4:22-24 mile. I've tried to verify this over the years, without success.
I first saw The Games on television when I was a young teen who had just gotten into competitive running, and I loved it. Unfortunately, it hasn't held up so well through subsequent viewings in later years. Erich Segal's script is so cliche-ridden it's practically an unintentional comedy, Charles Azanvour looks even older than the 46 he was when the film was shot (and ran like it), Ryan O'Neal was a good 40 pounds too heavy to be portraying a world-class distance man, and his character "hits the wall" in the Olympic marathon....by literally running into a wall. Ouch.
Don’t think anyone has mentioned The Loneliest Runner. It’s 1970s film about a kid who wets the bed as a 13 yr old. His mom humiliates him by hanging his sheets out the window, so he runs home from school every day to take the sheets down before anyone sees them. This running home from school is the foundation of his running career. As a grown up he is played by Michael Landon.
Don’t think anyone has mentioned The Loneliest Runner. It’s 1970s film about a kid who wets the bed as a 13 yr old. His mom humiliates him by hanging his sheets out the window, so he runs home from school every day to take the sheets down before anyone sees them. This running home from school is the foundation of his running career. As a grown up he is played by Michael Landon.
Landon was an excellent athlete. He had the #1 high school mark in the nation that earned him a t&f scholarship to USC.
Chariots of Fire is a British film released in 1981. Written by Colin Welland and directed by Hugh Hudson, it is based on the true story of British athletes ...
Chariots of Fire, and The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner, starring a young Tom Courtenay, a terrific British actor still around today, and based on the story by Allan Sillitoe.
I'm glad to see Bruce's film mentioned by several posters on this thread. Last year, I talked with Bruce for several hours, mainly about running. At some point, he asked if I had seen "On the Edge." I had, of course. In fact, I had seen both versions -- the steamier version with Pam Grier as Bruce's lover, and another version with her scenes cut out. I said I preferred the version without her; Bruce agreed. (I've forgotten why Pam Grier was put in the movie, but that relationship seemed totally out of place in a film about a guy whose total focus was on making a comeback after being banned for taking money in violation of AAU rules.)
The movie clearly arose out of Bruce's abiding love for running and racing. He used a number of real runners in the movie, including Garry Bjorklund as one of the competitors, along with Marty Liquori as the race announcer and even old Walt Stack, who was well known for his longtime participation in the Dipsea race upon which the movie was based.
It didn't surprise me that "On the Edge" didn't do well at the box office. Bruce said that was because runners are "cheap mothers" who don't want to pay to see a movie, which I think was basically correct, but I also think that it was a movie made by and for real runners, which limited its appeal as a theatrical release.
I remember watching this back in the day. I believe I had to rent it from the video tape store. Back then, Runner's World magazine often mentioned the Dipsea race.
There was an interview with Dern somewhere and I recall that when he was running ultras he got into it a little too deeply and was sweating blood or something at the end of one race. He also felt that certain acting roles such as Tom Buchanan in The Great Gatsby were not conducive with running, that he would simply not train to stay more or less in character.
He's often played the crazy guy or someone on the edge. I recall those crazy hippy films from the 60's like The Trip and Psyche Out. People say that us runners are a little bit crazy ourselves! Love his daughter Laura, sometimes seen in David Lynch films.
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