Deliverance – 1972
This is the weekend they didn’t play golf
Director
John Boorman

Writers
James Dickey (novel)
James Dickey (screenplay)

Producer
John Boorman producer

Cast
Jon Voight – Ed Gentry
Burt Reynolds – Lewis Medlock
Ned Beatty – Bobby Trippe
Ronny Cox – Drew Ballinger
Ed Ramey – Old Man
Billy Redden – Lonny
Seamon Glass – First Griner
Randall Deal – Second Griner
Bill McKinney – Mountain Man
Herbert ‘Cowboy’ Coward – Toothless Man
Lewis Crone – First Deputy
Ken Keener – Second Deputy
Johnny Popwell – Ambulance Driver
John Fowler – Doctor
Kathy Rickman – Nurse Lilley
Louise Coldren – Mrs. Biddiford
Pete Ware – Taxi Driver
James Dickey – Aintry Sheriff Bullard
Macon McCalman – Deputy Queen
Hoyt Pollard – Boy at Gas Station
Belinda Beatty – Martha Gentry (as Belinha Beatty)
Charley Boorman – Charlie Gentry, Ed’s son (as Charlie Boorman)

Review by Jack Gatanella

Deliverance (1972)
One of the most amazing films ever made,

Not too many films are as tighteningly frightening and exquisitely exciting as this. Deliverance tells the story of a quartet of southern men who decide to go on a canoe trip in a hillbilly river. But then come a series of events that match the Mansons madness. The squeal scene is almost fokelore at this point, and the two villains, mountain man and toothless man (McKinney and Coward) are two of the most horrifying ones of all time making yankees squirm in they’re seats.

The dueling banjo scene is also memorable with Hoyt Pollard (I think) memorably playing the kid plucking the banjo (that song will be stuck in your head for a while). If the film teaches anything though in it’s whirlwind of excellence it’s this- 1) make sure to wear your lifevest and 2) DO NOT INBREED!

Scripted by James Dickey from his novel and masterfully directed by John Boorman. A+

Deliverance (1972)
Review by Wayne Malin

Very good,

Engrossing drama of four men on a canoing weekend down a remote river. They are pacifist Ed (Jon Voight), adventurous, violent Lewis (Burt Reynolds), obnoxious Bobby (Ned Beatty) and nice guy Drew (Ronny Cox). The first 40 minute are great–there’s the incredible dueling banjos sequence, interesting interplay among the characters and just stunning widescreen cinematography by Vilmos Zsigmond. Then two hillbillies attack Ed and Bobby. One of them rapes Bobby…and the trip becomes a nightmare.

Just unbelievable. The scenery is incredibly beautiful yet this horrific violence is taking place. To be truthful, Beatty’s rape has never bothered me–I’m very aware it’s being faked despite the good acting. This movie also shows how the characters change–Ed has his pacifism tested, Lewis becomes weak, Bobby is violated by one of the people he mocked earlier on and Drew tries to keep himself sane. Direction by John Boorman is also very assured and the sounds of the forest and the river help the mood immensely.

The acting is mostly good. Voight is just OK in the lead–he’s been better. Beatty is also just OK–but it is his debut film and he has guts for taking such a risky role. Cox is very good especially when things start falling apart. And Reynolds is just superb–one of his best acting jobs EVER! How this wasn’t even nominated for an Academy Award escapes me. Also Bill McKinney and Herbert Coward are way too believable as the hillbillies.

A powerful film–NOT for children. Try to see an uncut version–the TV version is butchered. Also letter-boxed viewing is essential to capture the breathtaking images.