Customer Reviews

The Pursuit of D.B. Cooper [VHS]

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The subject of this work is the infamous D. B. Cooper, who highjacked a jet over Washington state in 1971 by utilizing a bogus bomb, collected $200,000 from the airline company, and then parachuted toward ostensible oblivion, evading one of the most extensive massings of law enforcement personnel in United States history. The production, burdened with serious problems from its outset, with directors John Frankenheimer and Buzz Kulik being replaced in turn by Roger Spottiswoode, is marked by obvious reshooting as continuity is at times seemingly abandoned. Nonetheless, although flaws abound and logic is sparse, the film succeeds as entertainment, and since the fate of Cooper may ever remain unknown, recounting his story from whole cloth is suitable, with this version fashioned from American poet J. D. Reed's debut novel, "Free Fall". As action opens, Cooper (Treat Williams) is preparing to leap to hoped-for safety into forested Washington (played by Oregon), and he is seen as he eludes state troopers by hiding his bagged stash of 20 dollar bills inside of a freshly slain buck (Cooper jumped with, among his supplies, a collapsible rifle within his pack, and it is deer hunting season). Apparently, the only man capable of tracking the fugitive is Bill Gruen (Robert Duvall), the victim airlines' insurance company investigator and coincidentally the former Army Ranger instructor of Cooper, whose actual name is Jim Meade, and soon Gruen has trailed Meade to his home where he has joined his wife Hannah (Kathryn Harrold). Jim and Hannah head for Mexico, with Gruen close behind, as is one Remson (Paul Gleason), another former ranger mate of Meade, with an agenda of his own, and subsequent events are stuffed with outrageous incident including a dangerous raft pursuit through Wyoming's Snake River rapids. As is no novelty, Duvall gathers in the acting laurels here with his nuanced reading as a persistent insurance company investigator. Because of its false starts, the film has too much dross to be effectively tidied up by Spottiswoode, but scoring by James Horner is consistently interesting, a musical blend featuring battling banjos, along with jew's harps, dobros, and other instruments of folkish characteristics that highlight British grounded whirligig dances. The D. B. Cooper highjacking is an incomplete story because there is no certainty as to his fate, and a variety of tales may be invented as a result; this one, in spite of its weaknesses, may be enjoyed on its own terms as it provides solid entertainment and a correctly ambiguous ending.

This is a good action film. Lots of fun. I was the Location Manager on this picture and we made two moves while filming. WE shot about half the film in Jackson Hole, Wyoming and the other half in Tucson, AZ. Believe it or not, when Treat William jumps out of the plane, he actually lands on Mt. Lemmon here in Tucson. I had lots of fun working on it and I think it turned out really good. If you like older, action films with lots of humor, you will like the film. Something to look for...The rapids were in Jackson and when they went over the falls, that was actually done...with doubles, of course. Also, we rented the Baseball Padres 727-100 and I had to get permission from the FAA to open the back so he could jump out. You will have fun with this film and I recommend it highly.

This is an interesting movie about a bank robber who hijacked a plane and jumped out with a parachute to be pursued by the law but never found. BTW: There really was a bank robber who called himself D.B. Cooper and he did jump out of a plane but this movie is fantasy and is the directors take on what might have happened but shouldn't be taken as actual fact but as a fantasty theory. It was an interesting movie with a good cast which I believe included Robert Duvall and Treat Williams and is worth a rental.

The VHS tape was well packaged. It had some wear-and-tear (which was advertised), but overall it plays quite well. I'm very happy with my purchase and with this seller.

I am a skydiver and I knew the story so just wanted to see the movie, it is nothing special but IO have spent $10 in worse ways

This movie was okay, I was kind of hoping for a bit more truth to it. There was one scene where my hubby and I looked at each other with a 'what the heck' look. Parts of it seemed a bit like Smokey and the Bandit. A lot of extra characters and car chases. Was pretty disappointed.