Running on Empty (1988)
- Starring:
- Christine Lahti, River Phoenix, (more)
- Director(s):
- Sidney Lumet
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- PG13
- Format(s):
- DVD
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Synopsis of Running on Empty
In this family drama from director Sidney Lumet, Judd Hirsch and Christine Lahti play Arthur and Annie Pope, a pair of '60s radicals who have eluded the FBI for 16 years after bombing a napalm laboratory as a Vietnam War protest. This lifestyle involves continually moving their base of operations and establishing new identities, which is especially hard on their children, 18-year-old Danny (River Phoenix) and 10-year-old Harry (Jonas Abry), who can never amass a group of friends or an academic record. This last problem comes to the fore when they arrive in a New Jersey town where the high school music teacher (Ed Crowley) takes an interest in Danny's piano playing, encouraging him to apply for early admission to Juilliard. Danny yearns to follow this dream, but knows that separating from his parents would be a permanent break -- the aging hippies rarely even see their own parents, and can never inform anyone where they've moved. Arthur can't stand the idea of breaking up the family unit, which has provided the support that's allowed him to tolerate life on the move, but Annie sees her own sacrificed dreams in her son's prodigious musical talents, and begins pressuring Arthur to grant the boy his independence. Complicating factors, Danny has fallen in love with the daughter of his music teacher (Martha Plimpton), but can't allow himself to get too close to her, because he may have to leave again at any moment. ~ Derek Armstrong, Rovi
- Theatrical Feature Running Time:
- 116 mins
Complete Cast of Running on Empty
- Christine Lahti - Annie Pope
- Judd Hirsch - Arthur Pope
- Jonas Abry - Harry Pope
- L.M. Kit Carson - Gus Winant
- Augusta Dabney - Mrs. Patterson
- Elzbieta Czyzewska - Julliard Woman
- Burke Pearson - Julliard Man
- Donna Hanover - Reporter
- Michael Boatman - Spaulding
- William Foeller - Man at Meeting
- Joey Thrower - Catcher
- Thomas Fraioli - Violinist
- Alice Drummond - Mrs. Powell
- Lynne Thigpen - Contact at Eldridge St.
- Sloane Shelton - Mrs. Phillips
- River Phoenix - Danny Pope
- Martha Plimpton - Lorna Phillips
- Ed Crowley - Mr. Phillips
- Steven Hill - Mr. Patterson
- David Margulies - Dr. Jonah Reiff
- Angela Pietropinto - English Teacher
- Carol Cavallo - Woman at Meeting
- Daniel Dassin - Waiter
- Justine Johnston - Librarian
- Bobo Lewis - Home Ec Teacher
- Leila Danette - Maid
- Jenny Lumet - Music Girl
- Marcia Jean Kurtz - School Clerk
- Ronnie Gilbert - Mrs. Taylor
- Herb Lovelle - Hospital Clerk
- Director(s):
- Sidney Lumet
- Writer(s):
- Naomi Foner
- Producer(s):
- Burtt Harris, Naomi Foner, Griffin Dunne
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- PG13(Questionable for Children, Adult Situations, Adult Language)
- 1988 - Hollywood Foreign Press Association - Best Screenplay
- 1987 - Los Angeles Film Critics Association - Best Actress
- 1988 - National Board of Review - Best Supporting Actor
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