Escape from New York

Science Fiction, Thriller

Tom Atkins	Rehme
Adrienne Barbeau	Maggie
Joel Bennett	Gypsy #4
Garrett Bergfeld	Gypsy #2
Ernest Borgnine	Cabbie
Kurt Russell	Snake Plissken
Lee Van Cleef	Police Commissioner Bob Hauk
Donald Pleasence	President of the United States
Isaac Hayes	The Duke of New York
Season Hubley	Girl in Chock Full O'Nuts
Harry Dean Stanton	Harold Helman
Charles Cyphers	Secretary of State
Frank Doubleday	Romero
John Strobel	Cronenberg
Joe Unger	Taylor
John Cothran Jr.	Gypsy #1
Richard Cosentino	Gypsy Guard
Robert John Metcalf	Gypsy #3
Vic Bullock	First Indian
Clem Fox	Second Indian

Director	John Carpenter
Producer	Larry Franco; Barry Bernardi; Debra Hill; Larry J. Franco
Writer	John Carpenter; Nick Castle
Cinematography	Dean Cundey
Musician	John Carpenter

In the future, crime is out of control and New York City is a maximum security prison. Grabbing a bargaining chip right out of the air, convicts bring down the President's plane in bad old Gotham. Gruff Snake Plissken, a one-eyed warrior new to prison life, is coerced into bringing the President, and his cargo, out of this land of undesirables. Kurt Russell put his Disney days behind him as the nicest bad guy in the picture. All comic-book sensibilities and macho posturing, this is one of writer-director John Carpenter's better brainless escapes. There are snappy one-liners and explosive action scenes. However, the film lacks tension and some believability even within the realm of SF fantasy. Even when it fails to gel, though, it always manages to amuse, thanks in great part to a varied and unusual supporting cast (watch for Ernest Borgnine as a cabdriver). Followed in 1996 by Carpenter's overdone and campy Escape from L.A. --Rochelle O'Gorman