Catchfire

Movie
German title	Catchfire
Original title	Backtrack
Country of production	United States
original language	English
Publishing year	1990
length	Uncut: 180 minutes, Directors Cut: 116 minutes, Theatrical Version: 95 minutes
Age rating	FSK 16
Rod
Director	Dennis Hopper (as Alan Smithee )
script	Rachel Kronstadt husband
production	Mitchell Cannold, Steven Reuther
music	Michel Colombier , Curt Sobel
camera	Edward Lachman
cut	David Rawlins
occupation
Jodie Foster : Anne Benton Dennis Hopper : Milo Dean Stockwell : John Luponi Vincent Price : Mr. Avoca John Turturro : Pinella Fred Ward : Pauling Charlie Sheen : Bob Alex Cox : DH Lawrence Bob Dylan : an artist Joe Pesci : Leo Carelli

Catch Fire (title of the original version: Backtrack ) is an American movie from the year 1990 with Jodie Foster and Dennis Hopper , who also directed resulted in the lead roles. After director Hopper got into an argument with the producers about the cut version of the film, the pseudonym Alan Smithee appeared as director in the film credits . An edited version produced by Dennis Hopper was released as Director's Cut in the United States on VHS in 1991 and was broadcast on US television.

action

In Los Angeles living artist Anne Benton ( Jodie Foster ) is looking for a breakdown in addition to a petroleum refinery at. There she happened to witness a mafia murder . She can escape and reports to the police , but the mafia has its people there. The killer Milo ( Dennis Hopper ), who is privately an art lover and saxophone player, is assigned to Anne Benton .

Milo mistakenly kills Anne's friend Bob, Anne is able to flee to Seattle and assume a new identity. Milo finds her after a while, but during the search he falls in love with her and kidnaps her without killing her. Benton is given the choice of either dying or being with Milo. She chooses life. Anne and Milo flee the Mafia together. On the way, Milo tries awkwardly to tell Anne about his feelings while killing people. They hide in a hut, where there is an argument between Milo and Anne, who does not want to forego cultural life even while on the run. She leaves Milo and drives away, not far from the hut she sees arriving cars with the killers. Anne and Milo flee first by car, then by helicopter. After landing, Milo says he doesn't see any more ways to escape the killers for long.

Finally Anne and Milo set a trap for the mafiosi: Milo arranges a meeting in the refinery known from the beginning of the film, the mafiosi are killed in a spectacular explosion. In the last scene, Milo and Anne can be seen sitting relaxed on a boat.

Director's Cut

After Hopper's film was cut from three hours to around 95 minutes and renamed, Hopper no longer wanted to be named as the director of the film and used the pseudonym Alan Smithee , which was common at the time . Actor Joe Pesci also no longer wanted to be associated with the film and was completely removed from the credits. In 1991, Hopper cut a two-hour version of the film, which was then released on VHS in the USA, naming Hopper as director and under the title Backtrack as director's cut .

criticism

"Psychological thriller full of clichés and trivial myths, which despite the many guest appearances by stars is in no way able to convince."

- Lexicon of international film

Web links

• Catch Fire in theInternet Movie Database(English)
• Catchfire atrotten tomatoes(English)
• Comparison of the cuts in the theatrical version - Director's Cut by Catchfire at Schnittberichte.com

Individual evidence

1. ^ Catchfire. In: Lexicon of International Films . Film service , accessed June 17, 2017 .