Vanishing Point
SERIES: Hot Wheels and Speed Demons -
Combining the muscular thrill of machines with the philosophical dread of social conformity, Vanishing Point has influenced deep-thinking motorheads for decades--it's Existentialism and the Art of Car Racing. Kowalski (Barry Newman) is an near-otherwordly enigma in driving gloves who calmly bets his drug dealer the cost of his drugs that he can finish delivering a 1970 Dodge Challenger from Denver to San Francisco in an punishingly short time. Kowalski's motives are mysterious; he just speeds, while on speed, to win a bet to pay for his speed. With near-psychic encouragement from a blind radio DJ (Cleavon Little), we all unite with Kowalski in the pole position, blasting ahead into his destiny. Originally abandoned to the drive-in circuit ghetto, Vanishing Point made a big splash in Europe, and now enjoys cult classic status, thanks to its abstractionist view of American highways, its panoply of nutso fringe dwellers--and of course, its endless collection of white-hot carplay.
Dir. Richard Sarafian, 1971, 35mm, 106 min.
Tickets - $10
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