THE FUGITIVE
US, 1993, 127 minutes, Colour.
Harrison Ford, Tommy Lee Jones, Julianne Moore, Joe Pantoliano, Sela Ward, Jeroen Krabbe
The Fugitive was one of the biggest box office successes around the whole world in 1993. It is a remake and update of the very popular television series, devised by Roy Huggins, of 1963 to 1967. The stars of the series were David Janssen as a doctor falsely accused of murdering his wife and Barry Morse as an obsessive, relentless police inspector pursuing him.
The producers have chosen Harrison Ford as the 90s icon of the decent America victimised by big business and pursued by the police. The role suits Ford admirably. Tommy Lee Jones is also excellent as the relentless pursuer, an individual with eccentric characteristics, but working in a team, the image of the tough American. Sela Ward appears in flashbacks as the fugitive's wife and Jeroen Krabbe appears as his friend (and the rather obvious villain).
The film uses all the conventions of the chase genre. There is the interrogation (with flashbacks about the crime), the sentence and imprisonment, a spectacular bus and train crash enabling the fugitive to escape. Perhaps the episode at the reservoir and the fugitives dive is a little far fetched. However, the film is made quite plausible with the fugitives' reasonable ability to change clothes, get food, investigate the crime.
The film shows that old plots can be made interesting and entertaining for contemporary audiences - and it highlights some of the values in the old television series that made their mark on world wide audiences. Direction is by Andrew Davis, best known for such action films as The Package, Nico, Under Siege (both with Steven Seagle). Tommy Lee Jones appeared in The Package and Under Siege.
1. The popularity of the film, critical acclaim, box office? As thriller? As the adaptation of the old TV Series?
2. Andrew Davis and his skill in action films? Harrison Ford as an icon of the American victim? Tommy Lee Jones dramatising the tough American pursuer?
3. Chicago locations, environment? Authentic atmosphere? Action and pace and editing? The stunt work? Background songs, musical score?
4. The title and expectations? The plot from the Television series, the character of Dr. Kimble, Gerard in pursuit? The mystery of the one armed man? The indication of the chase genre and conventions?
5. The interrogation of Dr. Richard Kimble, the flashbacks to the death of his wife? The bond between them, his background, social background, medical work? The violence and her death? The one armed man?
6. Harrison Ford as Dr. Kimble, the intensity of his character, the struggle, the arrest, the interrogations?
The impact of finding his dead wife? The charge, the sentence? The wrong man as victim?
7. Prison, the transfer, the bus accident, the spectacle of the crash, the on coming train, the convicts, the guards and their injuries, releasing the handcuffs? Dr. Kimble aiding a man to escape death? His own escape? The presumption of his death?
8. His transformation, beard and clothes, on the run, through the woods, the tunnels? Gerard's pursuit, the dam - and his dive? His going into the city, the hospital, the plausible devices for his getting clothes, food, treating his wounds? His going to see Charles Nicholls, the friendship, asking for the handout and help? Disguised as the janitor, having access to the records? Pursuit of various one armed men who had prosthesis? His almost being captured and running from Gerard? The St. Patrick's day parade and his hiding himself? The discovery of the truth about Sykes? The realisation of the truth about Nicholls? The drug company conspiracy on the Doctors and their records? An intense man, life and death issues, protesting his innocence?
9. Gerard and his team, the tough American lawman – and echoes of the west? His methods, surveying the crash, pursuing Kimble through the woods, the tunnels, the confrontation at the dam? Reading Kimble's mind, going to the files, almost catching him? Matching Kimble's intensity with his own?
10. Charles Nicholls, the friendship with Kimble, the background of the money deals, a the drugs, the records? The
false friendship? His setting up Sykes, the intension to kill the Kimbles? His speech, Kimble interrupting him, the showdown and fights?
11. Kimble and his finding Sykes, the truth about the killing, his calling Gerard from Sykes home and the phone being traced? Gerard putting the truth together? The fight with Sykes and cuffing him to the railway? Going to the convention, interrupting Nicholls speech, upsetting people, the fight?
12. Sykes, his police background, his arm, going to prison?
13. The flashback to the truth?
14. The build-up to the dramatic finale, the end of the chase, the quarry and the hunter? Innocence vindicated? The pursuer satisfied? The audience entertained?
