Search - Deliverance on DVD

MPAA Rating: R Content Advisory: Violence, Rape & Sexual Abuse, Not For Children, Profanity Movie Release: 1972 DVD Release: 09/21/1999 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV Audio Tracks: English, French Subtitles: English, French SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 49 mins Studio: Warner Home Video Members Wishing: 0 Genres: Drama, Adventure Drama, Buddy Film See Also: Deliverance [Blu-ray], Deliverance [HD DVD], Deliverance [Deluxe Edition]

Adapted from James Dickey's popular novel, John Boorman's 1972 movie recounts the grueling psychological and physical journey taken by four city slickers down a river in the backwoods of Georgia. At the behest of Iron John-esque Lewis (Burt Reynolds), the less adventuresome Ed (Jon Voight), Bobby (Ned Beatty), and Drew (Ronny Cox) agree to canoe down an uncharted section of the river before a dam project ruins the region. After warnings from the grimy, impoverished locals, and Drew's tuneful yet ominous "Dueling Banjos" encounter with a mute inbred boy, the four men embark on their trip, exulting in the beauty of nature and the initial thrill of the rapids. The next day, however, things begin to take a turn for the worse when Bobby and Ed decide to rest on shore after becoming separated from Lewis and Drew. Two rifle-wielding mountain men (Bill McKinney and Herbert "Cowboy" Coward) emerge from the woods, tying up Ed while one of them rapes Bobby and makes him "squeal like a pig." Lewis and Drew rescue them, but the attack irrevocably changes the tenor of the journey. As the river gets rougher and rougher, the men come to nightmarish grips with what it means to survive outside the safety net of "civilization." ~ Lucia Bozzola, All Movie Guide

Jon Voight - Ed Gentry
Burt Reynolds - Lewis Medlock
Ned Beatty - Bobby Trippe
Ronny Cox - Drew Ballinger

Strike up the banjo for this DVD release about four men canoeing in the Cahulawassee River, with deadly results. One of most gruesome films of its time in 1972, the film still stands as an education in classic thriller filmmaking. The DVD presentation is a decent one, but doesn't truly take advantage of the digital medium. "The Dangerous World of Deliverance" is a ten-minute studio-produced press kit promo on the film and its making as discussed by director John Boorman. What's most interesting about this promo is that it was made back in 1972, and is less sales-ish and more educational than similar promos made today. The DVD's official behind-the-scenes section unfortunately is really nothing more than a montage of text boxes and still photos. Presented in both full-screen and widescreen, the film is not a new transfer, although the audio is Dolby Digital (5:1). For such a seminal film, Warner Bros. could have spent much more time on producing a polished DVD. ~ Arthur Borman, All Movie Guide