Flashpoint *** (1984 Kris Kristofferson, Treat Williams, Rip Torn, Kevin Conway, Miguel Ferrer, Tess Harper) – Classic Movie Review 11,523

Kris Kristofferson, Treat Williams and Rip Torn star in the flashy 1984 American neo-Western action thriller film Flashpoint, the first cinema movie produced by Home Box Office.

Director William Tannen’s 1984 American neo-Western action thriller film Flashpoint is based on the novel by George La Fountaine and stars Kris Kristofferson, Treat Williams, Rip Torn, Kevin Conway, Miguel Ferrer and Tess Harper. It is notable as the first cinema movie produced by Home Box Office (HBO).

Kristofferson and Williams enjoy key roles as Texas border patrol agents Bobby Logan and Ernie Wyatt, who discover an abandoned ancient jeep containing a skeleton, a sniper rifle and $800,000 in unused $10 and $20 bills. They want the cash but its links with an old conspiracy put their lives in danger.

Flashpoint is a flashy action thriller, with a startling concept and a good cast, tautly directed by commercials man Tannen. If it finally gets a bit hysterical and convoluted, it is sustained by the fine action, strong macho performances and general liveliness, not least from rip-roaring Rip Torn as Sheriff Wells.

It did not go well. Costing $10 million, it took $3.8 million at the box office, but maybe they made some money back on the TV sales and the soundtrack. Flashpoint is the 23rd major release and sixth soundtrack album by Tangerine Dream, all tracks written by Edgar Froese, Chris Franke and Johannes Schmoelling.

The cast are Kris Kristofferson as Bobby Logan, Treat Williams as Ernie Wyatt, Rip Torn as Sheriff Wells, Kurtwood Smith as Carson, Jean Smart as Doris, Tess Harper as Ellen, Kevin Conway as Brook, Miguel Ferrer as Roget, Guy Boyd as Bobby Joe Lambasino, Roberts Blossom as Amarillo, Mark Slade as Hawthorne, Terry Alexander as Peterson, William Frankfather as Lacy, Joaquín Martínez as Pedroza, and Dick O’Neill as Hinshaw.

Flashpoint is directed by William Tannen, runs 92 minutes, is made by Home Box Office and Silver Screen, is released by Tri-Star Pictures, is written by Dennis Shryack and Michael Butler, is shot by Peter Moss, and is scored by Tangerine Dream.

It was released on August 31, 1984.

Richard Treat Williams (December 1, 1951 – June 12, 2023).

He is remembered for The Ritz (1979), Hair (1979), Steven Spielberg’s 1941 (1979), Prince of the City (1981), Flashpoint (1984), Smooth Talk (1985), Dead Heat (1988), The Phantom (1996), The Devil’s Own (1997), Deep Rising (1998), The Deep End of the Ocean (1999), Miss Congeniality 2 (2005), and Second Act (2018).

Derek Winnert 2021 Classic Movie Review 11,523

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