Vanishing Point Pressbook
Front Cover
The front cover has a graphic of one of the movie posters.
Page 1
Page 1 shows black and white graphics of 9 versions of newspaper ads.
Page 2
Page 2 shows 2 other available newspaper or magazine ads.
Page 3
POSTERS AND ACCESSORIES
(Graphics of 3 movie posters: 30 x 40, 3-sheet insert card, 6-sheet)
ALSO AVAILABLE
--------------
1-sheet 40 x 60 24-sheet 22 x 28
Set of (8) 11 x 14 Color Stills
Set of (8) 8 x 10 Color Stills
Set of B/W Stills
TWO ADDITIONAL ITEMS FROM NATIONAL SCREEN
-----------------------------------------
--24" x 82" TITLE DISPLAY in brilliant DA-GLO (converts to a 24" x 60" by folding
back pictorial sidepiece).
--DE LUXE HI-RISE STANDEE -- IN FULL COLOR. Attention arresting. Off the floor,
at eye level. Convertible -- made for floor with special extension pole -- or to
be hung on wall.
Standee..................$9.95 Re-usable Extension Pole.................$1.50
LIVE RADIO SPOTS
----------------
60 Seconds
Anncr: Everyone wants a piece of Kowalski...but they'll have to catch him first.
Before he gets to the VANISHING POINT. Twentieth Century-Fox presents VANISHING
POINT...from Denver to San Francisco at maximum speed...it's the maximum trip.
Barry Newman is Kowalski. He won the medal of honor in Vietnam...was busted from
the San Diego police force...then his girl was killed by the Pacific Ocean. In
the last day and a half he's creamed a motorcycle cop in Colorado...wiped out a
Jaguar XK-E in Utah...wrecked a squad car in Nevada...and kept a rendezvous with
two bulldozers in California. Along the way he lived with speed, to get himself
up...and get himself...gone. In his supercharged Challenger he rammed through
every speed trap dragnet and roadblock the cops of four states could come up
with. It took him 26 hours to become a hero...a legend. Barry Newman, Dean Jagger,
and Cleavon Little in VANISHING POINT...Rated GP, All Ages, Parental Guidance.
30 Seconds
Anncr: Everyone wants a piece of Kowalski...but they'll have to catch him first.
Before he gets to the VANISHING POINT. Twentieth Century-Fox presents VANISHING
POINT...Barry Newman is Kowalski. In the last day and a half he's creamed a
motorcycle cop in Colorado...wiped out a Jaguar XK-E in Utah...wrecked a squad
car in Nevada...and kept a rendezvous with two bulldozers in California. It took
him 26 hours to become a hero...a legend. Barry Newman, Dean Jagger, and Cleavon
Little in VANISHING POINT...Rated GP, All Ages, Parental Guidance.
Page 4
PUBLICITY
20th Century-Fox presents A Cupid Production
VANISHING
POINT
PRODUCTION STAFF
Produced by................................................................Norman Spencer
Directed by...........................................................Richard C. Sarafian
Executive Producer........................................................Michael Pearson
Screenplay by..............................................................Guillermo Cain
From a Story Outline by......................................................Malcolm Hart
Music Produced and Supervised by..............................................Jimmy Bowen
Musical Associates.........................................................Pete Carpenter
Tom Thacker
Director of Photography....................................................John A. Alonzo
Film Editor................................................................Stefan Arnsten
Creative Associate..........................................................Iain Quarrier
Associate to Mr. Sarafian and Casting Supervision..........................Michael McLean
Unit Production Manager.....................................................Francisco Day
Production Administrator....................................................Maurice Unger
Assistant Director.......................................................Richard Glassman
Sound Mixers...............................................................Bill Edmondson
Tom Edwards
Theodore Soderberg
Wardrobe Master...............................................................Ed Wynigear
Makeup........................................................................Del Acevedo
Set Decoration...............................................................Glen Daniels
Jerry Wunderlich
Property Master............................................................Dennis Parrish
Stunt Coordination............................................................Cary Loftin
Louis Elias
Color by DeLuxe Rating: GP Running Time: 99 Minutes Projection: Wide screen
THE CAST
Kowalski.....................................................................Barry Newman
Super Soul.................................................................Cleavon Little
Prospector....................................................................Dean Jagger
Vera......................................................................Victoria Medlin
Young Cop......................................................................Paul Koslo
Older Cop......................................................................Bob Donner
Angel.......................................................................Timothy Scott
Nude Rider...................................................................Gilda Texter
First Male Hitch-hiker......................................................Anthony James
Second Male Hitch-hiker......................................................Arthur Malet
Clerk at Delivery Agency.....................................................Karl Swenson
J. Hovah....................................................................Severn Darden
J. Hovah's Singers.............................................Delaney & Bonnie & Friends
Jake...........................................................................Lee Weaver
First Girl..................................................................Cherie Foster
Second Girl................................................................Valerie Kairys
Sheriff.........................................................................Tom Reese
Communications Officer..........................................................Owen Bush
SONGS
"You Got To Believe"...........Composed by Delaney Bramlett
Sung by Delaney & Bonnie & Friends
(Courtesy of Atlantic Records)
"I Can't Believe It"...........Composed & Sung by
Longbranch/Pennywhistle
"Super Soul Theme"
"Freedom of Expression"........Composed & Played by The J.B. Pickers
"Got It Together"..............Composed by Mike Settle
Sung by Bobby Doyle
"Where Do We Go From Here".....Composed by Mike Settle
Sung by Jimmy Walker
"Runaway Country"..............Composed & Played by
The Doug Dillard Expedition
"So Tired".....................Composed & Sung by Eve
"Dear Jesus God"
"Over Me"......................Composed & Sung by Segarini/Bishop
(Courtesy of Electra Records)
"Welcome To Nevada"............Composed by Don Lanier
& Joe Bob Barnhill
Played by Jerry Reed
(Courtesy of RCA Victor Records)
"Mississippi Queen"............Composed by West, Laing,
Pappalardi & Rea
Sung by Mountain
(Courtesy of Windfall-Bell Records)
"Sweet Jesus"..................Composed & Sung by Red Steagall
(Courtesy of DOT Records)
"Love Theme"...................Composed by Jimmy Bowen
& Pete Carpenter
Played by Jimmy Bowen
Orchestra And Chorus
"Sing Out For Jesus"...........Composed by Kim Carnes
Sung by Big Mama Thornton
(Courtesy of Pentagram Records)
"Nobody Knows".................Composed by Mike Settle
Sung by Kim Carnes
Page 5
SYNOPSIS
--------
Kowalski (BARRY NEWMAN), ex-Marine Medal of Honor winner, ex-policeman, ex-race-
track driver, undertakes to pick up and deliver cars between San Francisco and
Denver in record time. He starts out on his journey from Denver without rest. He
stops at a Hell's Angel's hangout and gets some pep pills, making a bet with the
owner that he will be in San Francisco in 15 hours.
He is chased by two motorcycle policemen but outdrives them, leaving them in the
dust beside the road. A reverie of his reveals him as a motorcycle racer, when he
was thrown and badly hurt.
Over the radio comes the voice of Super-Soul (CLEAVON LITTLE), a blind disc
jockey, who has a sort of strange ESP connection with Kowalski. Throughout the
film he feeds the racing driver information that aids him in foiling his pursuers.
Another reverie...when he was a policeman. As he crosses into Utah, he runs the
gauntlet of a police road-block, the result of his treatment of a Colorado motor-
cycle patrolman.
As he makes it through the blockade, a speed demon in a Lotus challenges him.
Again, by his consummate driving skill he outdrives the Lotus and leaves him behind
when his adversary blows a tire.
Now a police car gives chase, but it transfers the pursuit to the police of
Nevada as Kowalski crosses the state line. Again he goes into a reverie of his days
on the police force. His partner, he finds, is taking graft...he rejects the action...
and steals his squad car and races off. He is dishonorably discharged from the
police force.
As Kowalski speeds through Nevada, Super-Soul tells him over the radio that he
is again being chased. The disc jockey, tapping a police radio, relays this inform-
ation to Kowalski.
Again a road trap. Two patrol cars. He drives straight for one of the cars,
the driver "chickens out", and he again wins freedom. The patrolman driving is
dazed but recovers and gives chase. Although he loses his pursuers momentarily, they
hang onto his trail while radioing for reinforcements.
Three patrol cars block his way. He spins his car around only to find another
posse coming towards him. He takes to the desert.
Super-Soul, still by means of ESP, relays to him the position of the police and
begs him to give up or the desert will claim him.
Another reverie...this time in the snow country with Vera (VICTORIA MEDLIN),
his love, when he was a cop. They have a row...they are surfing...again they quarrel
...then he is back in the desert.
Another recollection...this time he is driving a wounded man to a field hospital
through artillery fire. The jeep is hit and he is wounded...we are again in the
desert...as the tire on his car blows.
As he changes the tire, an old prospector (DEAN JAGGER) appears...he catches
a rattlesnake that is coiled under the car and pops it into a basketful of other
reptiles. Super-Soul tells Kowalski that the State Patrol is after him. The old
desert rat helps him camouflage the car with sand and the copter passes over him.
He takes the old man and his catch to a religious meeting of snake worshippers...
they trade the snakes for gasoline. The prospector shows him the way out of the
desert and back to the road. He phones his employer and assures him the car will
be delivered as ordered.
He picks up an old queer (ARTHUR MALET), and a boy faggot (ANTHONY JAMES). The
boy tries to hold up Kowalski but with trick driving and karate, he sends both of his
passengers flying onto the roadside.
Super-Soul again communicates with him.. His wild ride across four states has
become world-wide news. He tells Kowalski the California authorities are laying traps
on all roads. Cops in plain clothes go to Super-Soul's station and beat him up.
A motorcyclist guides him to his roadside hangout where a naked girl on a motor-
cycle (GILDA TEXTER), gives him pep pills and cigarettes. Super-Soul again contacts
him but something in his voice warns the driver that his friend is talking under
duress when he tells him to proceed through Sonora.
The highway to California is roadblocked on the Nevada side. With the help of
his new friends, he disguises the car as a Federal vehicle and makes it across the
border into California.
Again, the road...again the chase. Again Super-Soul trying to warn him that the
roadblock this time is impassable. He heads for the steel monster at full speed. He
charges it...his car goes up in flames.
Page 6
LONGEST CAR CHASE ON FILM SEEN
IN 20TH-FOX'S "VANISHING POINT"
A latter-day "cowboy" whose mounts are souped-up cars, but whose milieu--the Far
West--is the same as that of his 19th Century predecessors, is the protagonist of
20th Century-Fox's "Vanishing Point", which opens _________ at _________.
Like the legendary cowboy, the hero, Barry Newman, is a loner, a man with his
own peculiar sense of freedom. The life-style the cowpoke sought within the
apparently limitless space that surrounded him, Newman as Kowalski seeks through
the illusion of limitless speed.
The action in "Vanishing Point" encompasses the longest and, quite possibly,
the most complex car chase ever put on film. The distance he is pursued from
Denver to just over the California border line is, for Kowalski, the ultimate "trip."
The producer of the picture, Norman Spencer, is as obsessed with film as his
hero is with speed. He has performed virtually every chore associated with the
executive making of motion pictures there is to do, having had a hand in bringing
to the screen such films as "Zorba the Greek," "The Blue Max" and "Those Magnificent
Men in Their Flying Machines," to name a few.
In "Vanishing Point," Spencer, an Englishman, pulls something of a coup in
that he demonstrates, perhaps for the first time, "runaway production" in reverse,
for the Cupid Production was shot entirely on location in the Far West. The
relentless chase was photographed in DeLuxe Color at Glenwood Spring and Grand
Junction, Colorado, Green River and Wendover in Utah, and Tonopah, Goldfield,
Elko, and Austin in Nevada. Some scenes were also filmed in Los Angeles.
Spencer, along with his partner in Cupid Productions, Michael Pearson, have
heretofore made their films in Europe, one of which was the noted French director
Jean Luc Goddard's "Sympathy for the Devil," an English language picture which
featured the Rolling Stones.
The character Barry Newman portrays is a far cry from the fast-talking, urbane
title role he essayed in last year's "The Lawyer." In fact, he has starred in his
only two films to date, though daytime television audiences undoubtedly remember
him as another lawyer, John Barnes, in "The Edge of Night."
Co-starring with Newman in "Vanishing Point" is Cleavon Little who is seen
as a blind disc jockey who empathizes with his plight and who communicates en-
couragement and aid to Newman in his race for freedom. Little made his mark in
the current Broadway musical hit, "Purlie," in which he plays the title role and
for which he received the Tony award.
"Vanishing Point" was directed by Richard C. Sarafian whose feature films
include the highly-acclaimed "Andy" and "Run Wild, Run Free."
The music-track for the new film, supervised by Jimmy Bowen, contains 16
songs composed and sung by such artists as Delaney & Bonnie & Friends, Mountain
and Longbranch/Pennywhistle.
Page 7
EXPLOITATION
------------
Shot entirely on locations in the far west, from Denver across country towards San
Francisco, VANISHING POINT is a classic chase picture, featuring overtones of sex,
violence, and the power of modern machines played against a rock music backdrop.
The two strongest elements of the story are the 1970 Dodge Challenger automobile used
in the chase, and driven throughout by Kowalski (Barry Newman); and the character of the
black, blind disc jockey, Super-Soul (Cleavon Little), who develops a kind of ESP
communication over the air with Kowalski. These are the elements for building a strong
and diverse exploitation and promotion campaign:
1-The Automobile Campaign - Dodge dealers should be contacted to establish cross-
plug advertising for film in their Showrooms. Possibilities should also be explored for
having Dodge dealers participate in premieres, exhibiting new models at theatres, and
co-opting in newspaper and radio advertising. Also, the power of a caravan of Dodges, with
cross-plug posters, riding through your town during run will be good for publicizing both
the car and film.
Give-away contests might be organized with Dodge dealers and/or the Goodyear Tire
people. A new Dodge - or a used Challenger in good shape - could be given away in a
drawing for which anyone can pick up a card to fill out at a dealer or at a theater. By
the same token, tires could be used in one or more drawings.
For this kind of tie-in the exhibitor could cooperate by running type trailers
announcing contest and dealers involved. Further, this could be carried over in co-op
advertising on both radio and TV as well as in newspapers.
A special herald that will be available (from Harry McWilliams Associates, 151 Lafayette
Street, New York, N.Y. 10013) could be utilized in these contests by having 5 or 6-digit
numbers imprinted with your theater imprint. The heralds could be made available for
pick-up by anyone at showrooms, theaters, hotels, stores. At designated times during run,
drawings would be made of these numbers - with winners receiving free tickets, records,
or any other merchandise that could be contributed.
Complimentary tickets can be offered to Dodge dealers for distribution by drawings in
their Showrooms each day during run.
Special screenings for dealers should be set as early as possible to spark their
enthusiasm.
2-The Music Campaign - 16 songs are featured, composed and performed by these well-
known artists: Delaney & Bonnie & Friends, Mountain, Jerry Reid, Big Mama Thornton,
Segarini/Bishop, Jimmy Walker, Kim and Dave, Longbranch/Pennywhistle. All 16 songs are
available on a sound-track album on Amos label (catalog no. AAS-8002). Also on Amos
label is a single 45 rpm (#AJB-157) of "Nobody Knows" performed by Kim and Dave, produced
by Jimmy Bowen.
Display tie-ins should be made with music stores. All rock music radio stations and
college radio stations should be serviced with records--and you should check with your
nearest Amos distributor (Bell Records) to assure that this has been done.
3-The Disc-Jockey Campaign - This can be, if handled properly, the strong point of
the whole promotion.
Start by setting screenings for local disc-jockeys, and be certain they have records
and literature on the film as soon as possible.
Reactions from prominent disc-jockeys might be converted into effective quote ads
for papers as well as radio. In any event, get them to play the music and discuss film
on their shows. Other radio and TV commentators and music writers should also be invited
to these screenings.
4-The Youth-College Campaign - A strong word-of-mouth campaign should be started
on local campus' by inviting college press editors and college radio station commentators
to see the film before your opening. Favorable reactions can be converted into quote
ads both in their papers and their radio programs.
College radio can also be used for ticket and/or record give-away contest in which
callers are asked to identify performers and songs from film as they are played at
certain times; or asked to call in an estimate of number of miles driven by Newman across
country (answer: 1191 miles).
RADIO AND TV
The radio spots are 60, 30, and 10 seconds in length. For TV there are spots of 60, 30
and 20 seconds. Both should be ordered from National Screen Service.
TRAILER
A regular theatrical trailer is available in addition to a teaser trailer for advance
showings in your theater. Order both from National Screen Service.
Copyright MCMLXXI, Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corp. Printed in U.S.A.
Index