Here is a fine example of some good ol' Hollywood exploitation. They took the story of famed airplane hijacker D.B. Cooper and decided to make it into a "what if..." scenario by adapting a fictional novel called "Free Fall." Talk about a missed opportunity! Cooper (Treat Williams) lands easily in the woods of Oregon. Just as easily, insurance investigator Gruen (Robert Duvall), whose company is out the ransom money, discovers Cooper is a former charge of his from the Army and begins his pursuit. If you can distance the idea that this is about D.B. Cooper, it is a pretty entertaining chase flick in the SMOKEY AND THE BANDIT vein. I'm sure they threw the Cooper name on there to get the public interested which is a disservice to the film itself. Co-starring Kathryn Harrold, Ed Flanders, R.G. Armstrong and Paul Gleason (in a really scummy turn).
21 Reviews
Not As Well Organized As Was Its Subject.
rsoonsa17 May 2005
The subject of this work is the infamous D. B. Cooper, who high jacked a jet over Washington state in 1971 by utilizing a bogus bomb, collected $200,000 from the airline company, and then parachuted toward ostensible oblivion, evading one of the most extensive collections of law enforcement personnel in United States history. The production, burdened with serious problems from its outset, with directors John Frankenheimer and Buzz Kulik being replaced in turn by Roger Spottiswoode, is marked by obvious re-shooting as continuity is at times seemingly abandoned. Nonetheless, although flaws abound and logic is sparse, the film succeeds as entertainment, and since the fate of Cooper may ever remain unknown, recounting his story from whole cloth is suitable, with this version fashioned from American poet J. D. Reed's debut novel, "Free Fall". As action opens, Cooper (Treat Williams) is preparing to leap to hoped-for safety into forested Washington (played by Oregon), and he is seen as he eludes state troopers by hiding his bagged stash of 20 dollar bills inside of a freshly slain buck (Cooper jumped with, among his supplies, a collapsible rifle within his pack, and it is deer hunting season). Apparently, the only man capable of tracking the fugitive is Bill Gruen (Robert Duvall), the victim airlines' insurance company investigator and coincidentally the former Army Ranger instructor of Cooper, whose actual name is Jim Meade, and soon Gruen has trailed Meade to his home where he has joined his wife Hannah (Kathryn Harrold). Jim and Hannah head for Mexico, with Gruen close behind, as is one Remson (Paul Gleason), another former Ranger mate of Meade, with an agenda of his own, and subsequent events are stuffed with outrageous incident including a dangerous raft pursuit through Wyoming's Snake River rapids. As is no novelty, Duvall gathers in the acting laurels here with his nuanced reading as a persistent insurance company investigator. Because of its false starts, the film has too much dross to be effectively tidied up by Spottiswoode, but scoring by James Horner is consistently interesting, a musical blend featuring battling banjos, along with jew's harps, dobros, and other instruments of folkish characteristics that highlight British grounded whirligig dances. The D. B. Cooper high jacking is an incomplete story because there is no certainty as to his fate, and a variety of tales may be invented as a result; this one, in spite of its weaknesses, may be enjoyed on its own terms as it provides solid entertainment and a correctly ambiguous ending.
Yeah I'll bet that's what really happened
britneyfoxx15 July 2021
Warning: Spoilers
I'm sure it went exactly like this movie irl, especially when Cooper chases that agent guy with a plane and they both crash at the same time. Totally believable. He could've got away easy if he didn't stop to pickup his stupid ungrateful ex-wife (although Kathryn Harrold was very hot).
I hope the real Cooper watched this movie. He probably got a good laugh out of it.
I hope the real Cooper watched this movie. He probably got a good laugh out of it.
Misfire
dougdoepke13 February 2011
Plays like a backpacker's version of Midnight Run (1988), with Duvall in the de Niro role and Williams in Grodin's. Except this one substitutes mindless action for character development and rust bucket jalopies for clever dialog. The result is more tiresome than funny, despite the attractive cast. In fact, Williams plays DB Cooper's part like it's all a big joke that only he thinks is funny—I agree with the reviewer who finds him way too cutesy. In fact, that could apply to the entire movie.
Worse-- any well-meaning viewer hoping for insight into the heist itself will be sorely disappointed. We see nothing of the crime except for the dramatic dive from the airliner. I suspect that's because threats to blow up the plane would have "serious-ed up" the movie. Then Williams' Cooper would no longer be humorous at all. The one worthy aspect links Cooper to army ranger training, seemingly apt preparation for such a daring wilderness crime.
The movie does have two scenic attractions. There's the great snow-capped panorama of Jackson Hole that keeps the eye entertained whatever the nonsense on the ground. Second is Kathryn Harrold's Hannah. In skintight jeans she presents another kind of natural grandeur that may give backpacking a whole new look. Despite the visuals, however, the topic deserves better than the third-rate Keystone Cops treatment it gets here.
Worse-- any well-meaning viewer hoping for insight into the heist itself will be sorely disappointed. We see nothing of the crime except for the dramatic dive from the airliner. I suspect that's because threats to blow up the plane would have "serious-ed up" the movie. Then Williams' Cooper would no longer be humorous at all. The one worthy aspect links Cooper to army ranger training, seemingly apt preparation for such a daring wilderness crime.
The movie does have two scenic attractions. There's the great snow-capped panorama of Jackson Hole that keeps the eye entertained whatever the nonsense on the ground. Second is Kathryn Harrold's Hannah. In skintight jeans she presents another kind of natural grandeur that may give backpacking a whole new look. Despite the visuals, however, the topic deserves better than the third-rate Keystone Cops treatment it gets here.
rambling chase
SnoopyStyle9 December 2016
The mysterious hijacker with the alias D.B. Cooper (Treat Williams) jumps out of the back of the plane. The bomb is fake. Bill Gruen (Robert Duvall) is an investigator for the insurance company out $200k in ransom. He discovers that Cooper's real identity is his Ranger trainee and Vietnam hero Jim Meade. Meade had prepared by hiding equipment and a jeep. He drives out of the forest during deer season. Also on the chase for the reward is old war buddy Remson. Gruen zero in on Meade's wife Hannah (Kathryn Harrold).
There is a fair cat and mouse chase with Williams and Duvall. It isn't all logical. It's not that intense. It rambles a bit. It has a light fun tone. It's inspired by the real case but isn't real even with the start. Duvall keeps this movie just compelling enough to watch.
There is a fair cat and mouse chase with Williams and Duvall. It isn't all logical. It's not that intense. It rambles a bit. It has a light fun tone. It's inspired by the real case but isn't real even with the start. Duvall keeps this movie just compelling enough to watch.
Not the best but enjoyable
fishguy-209778 September 2017
Warning: Spoilers
I liked this movie. It was fun to see Duvall, Williams, and Gleason on the screen together. I've been fascinated with Dan Cooper ever since my father bought me a "Greatest Mysteries" book when I was about 8. That book got me going on Oak Island, too. Anyway, this is obviously not a factual account of anything. For one, none of the money cooper stole has ever made it back into circulation. The serial numbers were all noted, and the money was never used. So, if you go into the movie with the understanding that it's fiction and not based on actual events, I think you'll enjoy yourself. I really liked seeing Gleason, too. He's not in many movies, and it was fun to see him in something besides "The Breakfast Club" and "Trading Places."
Feel cheated
burton61111 December 2013
It's really hard to take this movie seriously, especially to anyone who is fascinated by the D.B. Cooper story. I think my biggest problem with the movie is that it just starts with Cooper jumping out of the plane. There is no stage of the actual highjacking and little realism of the jump itself (it happened at night time during a storm). During the actual highjacking, the bomb was not left behind by the highjacker and there was never a stewardess locked in a bathroom. The movie seems to be a parody of the events with a cheesy-hillbilly soundtrack. You almost expect a Jerry Reed/Cledus cameo or even Cheech & Chong at some point. My problem is they had the opportunity to do so much more with it and failed miserably. In recent years, the alleged highjacker was supposedly identified (see Brad Meltzer's decoded). I, for one, love the D.B. Cooper story and hope that someone will serve the story justice, but may be somewhat undeserving seeing as how the "Dan Cooper" who made the infamous jump literally flew from justice himself.
Funny even with a missed topic
tomsawyer-018587 April 2023
I understand people who were disappointed that the movie did not really dig into the real story of Coopers, hijaking a passenger plane by threatening with a bomb. He jumped out with a parachute, along with 200.000$, now worth about 1,5 mio$ and vanished completely. The traceable money was never found, and not spend, at least not in the US :-)
This true story only serves as a pretext to make a run and chase road movie, which I actually enjoyed, because of many original funny and sometimes spectacular scenes. I won't tell anything to not spoil your fun.
Suffice to say, that the script has 10x more ideas than most of todays movies. Be it his escape from the forest, or the chase with junk cars.
Each situation entertains the viewers good mood, if watching with a positive attitude and without expectations.
The movie starts with a plane, and ends with a plane.
I know what it takes to fly these old warbirds, and the stunts are fantastic, with no visual content cheating by a shaky camera or computer software.
I really would have given it a 6+, because it is a bit simple minded, and lacks sometimes a little bit in coherence.
This true story only serves as a pretext to make a run and chase road movie, which I actually enjoyed, because of many original funny and sometimes spectacular scenes. I won't tell anything to not spoil your fun.
Suffice to say, that the script has 10x more ideas than most of todays movies. Be it his escape from the forest, or the chase with junk cars.
Each situation entertains the viewers good mood, if watching with a positive attitude and without expectations.
The movie starts with a plane, and ends with a plane.
I know what it takes to fly these old warbirds, and the stunts are fantastic, with no visual content cheating by a shaky camera or computer software.
I really would have given it a 6+, because it is a bit simple minded, and lacks sometimes a little bit in coherence.
Not The Memorable Movie It Should Have Been
ccthemovieman-11 May 2007
As someone who likes chase scenes and was really intrigued by this fascinating true-life tale, I was optimistic heading into this film but too many obstacles got into the way of the good story it should have been.
THE BAD - I'm a fan of Robert Duvall and many of the characters he has played, but his role here is a dull one as an insurance investigator.
The dialog is insipid and the pretty Kathryn Harrold is real garbage-mouth. From what I read, there were several directors replacing each other on this film, and that's too bad. You can tell things aren't right with the story. I couldn't get "involved" with Treat Williams' portrayal of Cooper, either. He should have been fascinating, but he wasn't in this movie. It's also kind of a sad comment that a guy committing a crime is some sort of "folk hero," but I admit I wound up rooting for the guy, too.
Not everything was disappointing. I can't complain about the scenery, from the lush, green forests of Oregon to the desert in Arizona.
I'd like to see this movie re-made and done better, because it is a one-of-a-kind story.
THE BAD - I'm a fan of Robert Duvall and many of the characters he has played, but his role here is a dull one as an insurance investigator.
The dialog is insipid and the pretty Kathryn Harrold is real garbage-mouth. From what I read, there were several directors replacing each other on this film, and that's too bad. You can tell things aren't right with the story. I couldn't get "involved" with Treat Williams' portrayal of Cooper, either. He should have been fascinating, but he wasn't in this movie. It's also kind of a sad comment that a guy committing a crime is some sort of "folk hero," but I admit I wound up rooting for the guy, too.
Not everything was disappointing. I can't complain about the scenery, from the lush, green forests of Oregon to the desert in Arizona.
I'd like to see this movie re-made and done better, because it is a one-of-a-kind story.
I have seen better Robert Duvall pictures...
imseeg23 July 2022
I cant remember having seen this one, but even if I did, I dont blame myself for not remembering it, because it is definitely lacking in suspense and credibility. Apparently the production of this movie was a total disaster with a new director replacing the other one and basically starting all over again.
I really have seen better Robert Duvall pictures, but that doesnt mean this picture is terrible, it is merely a bit lacking in punch and spark.
The acting is still decent, but everything else about this movie feels a bit cheap, with mediocre photography, a silly soundtrack and a story that is a bit TOO much based upon coincidence upon coincidence, to be believable.
Only recommended for the Robert Duvall or Treat Williams fans, who wanna see every picture they have made...
The story: it's a cat and mouse chase game between Robert Duvall (the law) and Treat Williams (the thief).
I really have seen better Robert Duvall pictures, but that doesnt mean this picture is terrible, it is merely a bit lacking in punch and spark.
The acting is still decent, but everything else about this movie feels a bit cheap, with mediocre photography, a silly soundtrack and a story that is a bit TOO much based upon coincidence upon coincidence, to be believable.
Only recommended for the Robert Duvall or Treat Williams fans, who wanna see every picture they have made...
The story: it's a cat and mouse chase game between Robert Duvall (the law) and Treat Williams (the thief).
Only if they kept it real and true to story.
PratikDhan19 December 2018
The Pursuit of D. B. Cooper
nlmcm8 May 2005
Many who were adults in 1981 and slightly prior, recall the name D. B. Cooper, who hijacked a Boeing - 727, laden with passengers demanding a ransom, and will release them but keep the crew and plane, to be ordered to fly over the Rockies of his choosing.
Crew was ordered to stay in the front of the aircraft whilst D. B. Cooper was preparing for the jump, many investigators believed he was a former highly trained army specialist, ex-paratrooper and studied his preference of aircraft well.
He used the tail stairs to jump out of the plane, at night, and was never seen again. However, months later some people found some of the money near a small river or creek, and some believed he may have died of his injuries. Others claimed some money The Pursuit of D. B. Cooper is a story of what might have happened, at least one scenario was generated in this full chase scene by the Insurance Bounty hunter (Duvuall) and lots of bantering for some folks would simply put you on the floor.
The chase however goes both ways. Duvuall manages to locate the loot, for himself! Williams tries to find him through the use of a bi-plane and the chase begins again.
And it ends wildly, and certainly enjoyable for many. And remember too that D. B. Cooper back then was regarded as a folk hero.
It certainly should be considered a candidate for update or new release with different actors. Increase the action and the comedy, could be a hit.
In closing, Boeing and McDonald Douglas DC-9's, retooled all their aircraft of this configuration (rear stairs from the tail area) so that it could not be opened while in flight.
Crew was ordered to stay in the front of the aircraft whilst D. B. Cooper was preparing for the jump, many investigators believed he was a former highly trained army specialist, ex-paratrooper and studied his preference of aircraft well.
He used the tail stairs to jump out of the plane, at night, and was never seen again. However, months later some people found some of the money near a small river or creek, and some believed he may have died of his injuries. Others claimed some money The Pursuit of D. B. Cooper is a story of what might have happened, at least one scenario was generated in this full chase scene by the Insurance Bounty hunter (Duvuall) and lots of bantering for some folks would simply put you on the floor.
The chase however goes both ways. Duvuall manages to locate the loot, for himself! Williams tries to find him through the use of a bi-plane and the chase begins again.
And it ends wildly, and certainly enjoyable for many. And remember too that D. B. Cooper back then was regarded as a folk hero.
It certainly should be considered a candidate for update or new release with different actors. Increase the action and the comedy, could be a hit.
In closing, Boeing and McDonald Douglas DC-9's, retooled all their aircraft of this configuration (rear stairs from the tail area) so that it could not be opened while in flight.
Reminded me of Smokey and the Bandit but not funny at all if that was what the producers were leaning towards
Ed-Shullivan17 April 2022
What a disappointment this turned out to be. I realize that the actual true crime committed by the unknown thief coined as "D. B. Cooper" is still the only unsolved plane hijacking and so I was really looking forward to watching this film but unfortunately it turned into less than a crime and more like a poor mans car chase comedy that still didn't work.
Treat Williams is an excellent actor and actress Kathryn Harrold is easy on the eyes. Add to that Robert Duvall as the ex marine sergeant turned insurance investigator chasing this pair across the state lines and I thought it would be more interesting than it turned out to be.
I give it a disappointing 4 out of 10 IMDb rating.
Treat Williams is an excellent actor and actress Kathryn Harrold is easy on the eyes. Add to that Robert Duvall as the ex marine sergeant turned insurance investigator chasing this pair across the state lines and I thought it would be more interesting than it turned out to be.
I give it a disappointing 4 out of 10 IMDb rating.
Trouble production
BandSAboutMovies4 October 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Roger Spottiswoode directed everything from Terror Train, Under Fire and Shoot to Kill to Turner & Hooch, Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot, The Sixth Day and Tomorrow Never Dies. This movie originally had John Frankenheimer* as the director, but he was replaced by Buzz Kulik, the director of Bad Ronald. The script was written by an uncredited W. D. Richter (Jeffrey Alan Fiskin has the credit) and was based on the book Free Fall: A Novel by J. D. Reed.
After getting the finished film, the producers felt like it needed a stunt and some editing, so editor-director Roger Spottiswoode came in. However, Spottiswoode claimed that without new sequences, the movie would fail. He brought in Ron Shelton, a former baseball player who would later write and direct Bull Durham. Together, they'd reshoot 70% of the movie, according to "Ghostwriters" in the March/April 1983 issue of Film Comment.
It seems like two movies got made: Kulik's is a post-Vietnam movie in which Cooper is angered that he gains more fame as a thief than he did as a soldier, while the Spottiswoode movie is a chase film.
What do you do when you have a troubled production? You William Castle things. Universal offered a million dollars for any information that would lead to the capture and arrest of the real D. B. Cooper, totally missing the message that Cooper was the hero of their film and no one who saw him that way in the movie would want to see him in jail. No one ever claimed the prize.
So who is Cooper, the man who anonymously hijacked a Boeing 727 aircraft between Portland and Seattle, got a ransom of $200,000, then jumped out and disappeared, with his crime being the only unsolved air piracy in commercial aviation history? Treat Williams, who plays an army man named Jim Meade trying to impress his wife, played by Kathryn Harrold.
He won't get away easy, as Sgt. Bill Gruen (Robert Duvall), his old military boss, is now an insurance investigator. Another man from the war past, Remson (Paul Gleason), is also after him, as he recalls discussing highjacking with Meade.
The new Kino Lorber blu ray of The Pursuit of D. B. Cooper has a commentary track with writer Jeffrey Alan Fiskin and film historian Daniel Kremer, 3 TV commercials and a trailer. I remember the commercials for this playing on TV all the time, so I'm excited that I finally own a copy.
*Frankenheimer was fired after one scene was shot, telling the Los Angeles Times that this movie was "...probably my worst-ever experience. A key member in the chain of command had been lying to both management and myself with the result that we all thought we were making a different movie"
After getting the finished film, the producers felt like it needed a stunt and some editing, so editor-director Roger Spottiswoode came in. However, Spottiswoode claimed that without new sequences, the movie would fail. He brought in Ron Shelton, a former baseball player who would later write and direct Bull Durham. Together, they'd reshoot 70% of the movie, according to "Ghostwriters" in the March/April 1983 issue of Film Comment.
It seems like two movies got made: Kulik's is a post-Vietnam movie in which Cooper is angered that he gains more fame as a thief than he did as a soldier, while the Spottiswoode movie is a chase film.
What do you do when you have a troubled production? You William Castle things. Universal offered a million dollars for any information that would lead to the capture and arrest of the real D. B. Cooper, totally missing the message that Cooper was the hero of their film and no one who saw him that way in the movie would want to see him in jail. No one ever claimed the prize.
So who is Cooper, the man who anonymously hijacked a Boeing 727 aircraft between Portland and Seattle, got a ransom of $200,000, then jumped out and disappeared, with his crime being the only unsolved air piracy in commercial aviation history? Treat Williams, who plays an army man named Jim Meade trying to impress his wife, played by Kathryn Harrold.
He won't get away easy, as Sgt. Bill Gruen (Robert Duvall), his old military boss, is now an insurance investigator. Another man from the war past, Remson (Paul Gleason), is also after him, as he recalls discussing highjacking with Meade.
The new Kino Lorber blu ray of The Pursuit of D. B. Cooper has a commentary track with writer Jeffrey Alan Fiskin and film historian Daniel Kremer, 3 TV commercials and a trailer. I remember the commercials for this playing on TV all the time, so I'm excited that I finally own a copy.
*Frankenheimer was fired after one scene was shot, telling the Los Angeles Times that this movie was "...probably my worst-ever experience. A key member in the chain of command had been lying to both management and myself with the result that we all thought we were making a different movie"
Humongous waste of a great opportunity
cinecarl30 September 2004
This film was hard to get a hold of, and when I eventually saw it the disappointment was overwhelming. I mean, this is one of the great stories of the twentieth century: an unknown man takes advantage of the unsuspecting airline industry and GETS AWAY with millions in ransom without hurting anyone or bungling the attempt. With all of this built-in interest, how could anyone make such a lackluster, talk-laden flick of this true-life event. While Williams is always interesting, the screenwriters assumed that the D.B. Cooper persona was stereotypically heroic like a movie star, s what we get is a type-without any engaging details or insights into the mind of a person daring enough and clever enough to have pulled it off. Harrold practically steals the movie with her spunk and pure beauty, but the real letdown was in the handling of the plot and the lame direction. Shame on this film for even existing.
a goofy POS from the director of Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot
Jay_Rusty28 November 2020
A forgotten Gem
pmtelefon23 August 2021
In the early days of cable (at least for Queens, NY) I watched "The Pursuit of D. B. Cooper" quite a bit. Tonight was the first time I watched it in many moons. It's a great movie. It looks great with terrific location photography. The cast is top-notch with one strong performance after another. The action scenes are terrific. Nothing beats great pre-CGI stunts and this movie has a ton of it. The best part of the movie is the forever dreamy Kathryn Harrold. Harold is so stunning that it's impossible to take your eyes off her. "The Pursuit of D. B. Cooper" is very satisfying watch. Honorable mention: Waylon Jennings.
Misfiring Attempt
wilsonstuart-3234617 May 2018
D B Cooper was the pseudonym (mistakenly adopted by the media after the fact) of an unidentified skyjacker who parachuted from a commercial aircraft in appalling conditiond, at night, somewhere between Washington State and Oregon in 1971; he'd extorted $200 000 from the airline after threatening the crew with a presumed dummy bomb. Despite a massive investigation, a dozen suspects, numerous copycat episodes (all of whom were arrested), Cooper was never caught or conclusively identified.
To my knowledge, this is the only dramatic attempt to bring this fascinating mystery to the big (or small) screen. Unfortunately, despite an interesting cast, it's a misfire. Treat Williams - seemingly unsure whether to play the role straight or for laughs - does not convince as the eponymous Cooper, disinterested Robert Duvall phones it in as a dull insurance investigator, Paul Gleason overacts gloriously while Kathryn Harold gives it her best shot as Cooper's girlfriend.
Too many changes in director scuppered what should have been a tense mystery or an energetic comedy (think Smokey and The Bandit). Events seem to take forever to get going - it's flat and lifeless throughout, with a couple of jarring chases thrown in an attempt to jolt some life into affairs.
Ironically, a portion of the money was found in a riverbed a year after the release - this reignited interest in the Cooper case, but by then this film was already forgotten.
To my knowledge, this is the only dramatic attempt to bring this fascinating mystery to the big (or small) screen. Unfortunately, despite an interesting cast, it's a misfire. Treat Williams - seemingly unsure whether to play the role straight or for laughs - does not convince as the eponymous Cooper, disinterested Robert Duvall phones it in as a dull insurance investigator, Paul Gleason overacts gloriously while Kathryn Harold gives it her best shot as Cooper's girlfriend.
Too many changes in director scuppered what should have been a tense mystery or an energetic comedy (think Smokey and The Bandit). Events seem to take forever to get going - it's flat and lifeless throughout, with a couple of jarring chases thrown in an attempt to jolt some life into affairs.
Ironically, a portion of the money was found in a riverbed a year after the release - this reignited interest in the Cooper case, but by then this film was already forgotten.
Forgotten Early 80's timewaster-halfway decent
blackxmas18 October 2000
You could do a lot worse than this slight yet amiable what-if fest that speculates on just how D.B. Cooper got away with all that money. Robert Duvall shines as the insurance company's bounty hunter but Treat Williams comes off somewhat bland as the title character. He's just too boringly cutesy, if that makes any sense. Yet if you told me to choose between this and say RULES OF ENGAGEMENT, D.B. sure gets my vote.
Dukes of Harrold
prudhoeboy20 June 2022
This was a disappointing movie to watch and I did not finish it. It seemed to go on and on with repetitive Dukes of Hazard type scenes. The movie had nothing to do with DB Cooper rather it just used that title to deceive the viewer into watching it. And what a waste of talent - write the movie so your actors have something to do other than play around. If I was Kathryn Harrold looking back at this movie, I would be angry. She was in her prime then and had the talent for a much more substantial plot. As for Treat Williams, I liked him in Battle of Britain, but he was miscast in this plot. There is no information to suggest that DB Cooper was as outgoing as William's character so from the outset he was not believable. At the the very least get an actor who looks like the sketch and is a cool cucumber. This movie should have been a lot more serious and involved tracking through the wilderness and survival sort of like a fugitive idea. There could have been encounters with wild animals and a show down at the end. The humor schtick didn't work at all. The more I think about this movie the more turned off I get with it. Don't waste your time, it's not about DB Cooper.
This one bombed at the box office back in 1981...but is it any good?
planktonrules7 December 2023
"The Pursuit of D. B. Cooper" is a film that was inspired by the real life hijacking and robbery of an American 727 airliner back in 1971 by a guy who called himself Dan Cooper. The robber was never caught and considering how insanely dangerous it was jumping from the back of such a plan, many assume he was killed in the jump. A bit of the money was found along the Columbia River...but apart from that, the trail for the guy went cold. This film is set just after the robbery and makes one assumption after another after another after another. In other words, while the robbery/hijacking was real, pretty much everything in the movie was fiction.
The film lost a fortune at the box office. Part of this might be because the robbery took place a decade earlier and so the public's interest was cold by 1981. Part of it could be that the public didn't want a film which, in many ways, made Cooper seem 'cool'. Part of it might also be because it was a troubled production, with three different directors. And, part of it might be because there were no 'big name' actors in the film. While today Robert Duvall is more well known, he was not seen as a top-tier actor at the time nor were the others in the cast. Since then, he's proven himself to be an extraordinary talent. All I know is that the film only earned back about 30% of its cost...and that's very bad.
The film is a cat and mouse story where an ex-sergeant (Duvall) chases after the guy claiming to be Cooper (Treat Williams) because he somehow guessed that the guy he knew from his military years was the man who later called himself Dan Cooper. Again and again, the ex-sergeant nearly catches him but is thwarted by the likes of the wanted man's ex-wife and father.
The way I see this film is that it is an okay time-passer IF you don't consider it to be about Cooper. As a complete work of fiction, it's okay. As a 'what if film', it's far less okay. I think a score of 4 is reasonable...especially since folks who helped Cooper evade capture surely would have been sent to prison for their part in this...and yet you assume from the film that it was no big deal.
It's sad, as if they'd just made a film about the robbery and had it stop after Cooper made the jump, it would have been a much, much better movie. More interesting AND not a work of complete fiction.
The film lost a fortune at the box office. Part of this might be because the robbery took place a decade earlier and so the public's interest was cold by 1981. Part of it could be that the public didn't want a film which, in many ways, made Cooper seem 'cool'. Part of it might also be because it was a troubled production, with three different directors. And, part of it might be because there were no 'big name' actors in the film. While today Robert Duvall is more well known, he was not seen as a top-tier actor at the time nor were the others in the cast. Since then, he's proven himself to be an extraordinary talent. All I know is that the film only earned back about 30% of its cost...and that's very bad.
The film is a cat and mouse story where an ex-sergeant (Duvall) chases after the guy claiming to be Cooper (Treat Williams) because he somehow guessed that the guy he knew from his military years was the man who later called himself Dan Cooper. Again and again, the ex-sergeant nearly catches him but is thwarted by the likes of the wanted man's ex-wife and father.
The way I see this film is that it is an okay time-passer IF you don't consider it to be about Cooper. As a complete work of fiction, it's okay. As a 'what if film', it's far less okay. I think a score of 4 is reasonable...especially since folks who helped Cooper evade capture surely would have been sent to prison for their part in this...and yet you assume from the film that it was no big deal.
It's sad, as if they'd just made a film about the robbery and had it stop after Cooper made the jump, it would have been a much, much better movie. More interesting AND not a work of complete fiction.
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