TWO MINUTE WARNING

US, 1976, 115 minutes, Colour.
Charlton Heston, John Cassavetes, Martin Balsam, Beau Bridges, Marilyn Hassett, David Janssen, Jack Klugman, Gena Rowlands, Walter Pidgeon, Brock Peters, David Groh, Mitchell Ryan, Pamela Bellwood.
Directed by Larry Peerce.

Two Minute Warning was released in the mid-70s, a time of many disaster movies and movies of menace and threat. Black Sunday, by John Frankenheimer, was released at the same time, with a not dissimilar story – but with some greater tension and greater authenticity as it was filmed during actual Super Bowl sports events.

The film focuses on a sniper, psychotic, firing at the two minute warning at the end of the football match causing panic in the stadium. The investigation is led by Charlton Heston and assisted by John Cassavetes. The supporting cast is standard veteran material for this kind of film, especially for television movies of the period.

The film was altered for release on television, showing footage that was not included in the theatrical version. In the television version, the attack was done to cover an art robbery adjacent to the stadium.

The film is entertaining, received an Oscar nomination for its editing with its strong pace and sense of suspense and menace as well as panic.

The film was directed by Larry Peerce who made a number of films for theatre in the 1970s including The Sporting Club, The Other Side of the Mountain and who made a number of television movies in the 70s and 80s.

As with many other films from Universal Studios in the '60s and '70s, this film has been altered for television release. Extra scenes were added to some controversial films of the '60s e.g. Three Into Two Won't Go, Secret Ceremony. For disaster blockbusters, additional material was added for television release e.g. Airport 1977.

The additional material for this film has been to alter the central film considerably. Perhaps fearing reaction to the activities of a sniper in an atmosphere of terrorism, the producers have re-edited the film and introduced a story about art thefts. The sniper in the stadium is linked with the art theft. New stars have also been added to the film e.g. Joanna Pettit, Rossano Brazzi, William Prince. While much of the original material is there, it has been re-cut for the concurrent story. It is interesting to note that the credits at the end, even of the television version, are those of the original film.

1. An interesting and enjoyable disaster film? Its place in the disaster trend of the seventies? The detail, horror, speculation, what if…? Identification with characters and their plight, fears?

2. The quality of this example, an authentic atmosphere, plausible plot? Action drama? The identification with sport?

3. Panavision colour photography, the atmosphere of Los Angeles, ordinary homes, people, cross-section of the people of the city, aerial views, television? The focus on the sport and] the spectators? The title and its reference to sport, to the ominous sniper, to police action?

4. The contribution of the cast - Charlton Heston and his sturdy leadership, John Cassavetes and his aggressiveness? The guest stars representing the cross-section of people? The screen play and its use of one day the focus on the stadium, its layout, personnel, the sports fixture, the crowd? What happened in that arena? The end of the day and the change of feelings? excitement, ordinary people and their experience of a disaster day?

5. The police, panic, SWAT? Issues of life and death?

6. The atmosphere of the prologue, the sniper and the telescopic sights, the rifle, the ordinary bike rider and death? The arbitrary choice of the victim? The anonymity of the sniper throughout the film and the selection of arbitrary victims? The violent tone of the film? (The selection of optical effects for the sniper and communicating his mentality?)

7. The subjective shots from the sniper's point of view, the range of optical effects, the editing? The sniper's killing, moving towards the stadium and the car, entering, the dogs and the killing, settling in the tower, testing his sights etc.?

8. The views of the crowd and the spectator participation, potential victims? The television screens - observing the crowd and the audience sharing this? The blimp and its communication, the blocking of various views from the blimp? The anonymous observation by television? The build-up of the puzzle, the sighting of the sniper, the danger? The fear for the safety of the spectators, Paul and his going up to investigate, the suddenness of his death, the viewing of the shooting through the television screens, the technicians and their deaths, the shooting into the television box? The T.V. commentators and their close observation and inability to help?

9. Charlton Heston and his presence and style as the police officer, his presenting himself as a peace officer? Strategies, the question of the V.I.P's, the possibility of the president's presence and decisions? Trying to cope with the sniper, decision about the two minute warning? The clash with the SWAT personnel? The regrets at the end and the only partial success? The character portrait of this policeman?

10. John Cassavetes and his style as Button - in action, seeing him at home with his family, tough aggressiveness, his having to wait, the clashes, bashing the suspect, the skill of the strategies and the energy demanded, success of his group with the tower, his wry comments at the end? The SWAT men and the risks they were prepared to take, the disguises, the deaths? the men hanging from the fence etc.?

11. Mc Keever and his responsibility, relationship with the police, Paul and the dogs, his anxiety, his being a target for the sniper, the political implications and the V.I.P’s?

12. How well did the film present the desperate nature of the situation, the need for quick decisions? The reaction to the sniping, the victims, the panic and the crowd rushing?

13. The focus on the cross-section of the spectators to give the audience an impression of the people there? The use of the guest stars for these roles to identify the people quickly? the Ramsays and the family having the picnic, buying things, the children, young husband and wife, Ramsay and his noticing the sniper and trying to tell the police, his being harassed in the interrogation? Al and his flirting with Lucy, her resistance and then friendship with him, the repercussions at the end when Lucy was almost crushed and went over the stairway? Janet and Steve coming in from the last, their arrival, their relationship, Steve out of work, the reconciliation and the potential of marriage, the irony of Steve's death and Janet's grief? Stu and the background of the money loans, the pressure being put on him, his desperate bet, the humour of the priest next to him and their talking? The irony of Stu dying? Walter Pidgeon as the pickpocket and his operations? His death? A sufficient cross-section of people to help the audience feel for the vast crowd? Identification with them?

14. The anonymity of the sniper, his subjective looking at the crowd, testing the sights, killing the dogs? The end and the violence experienced, his whimpering? The possibilities of whom he might be and the audience not knowing?

15. What was the audience left with - an interesting disaster film, the plausibility of such sniping in public areas and people's panic? The analogy of this kind of disaster film with horror films and audience reaction to them?