...that unlike most other horror films, everything that happens in the film is plausible. Nothing is contrived; a wrong turn, a case of mistake identity. Deliverance is terrifying because the events portrayed could easily happen to you or me. The core of the film is the unavoidable moral conundrum with which the men are faced.

10 pm tonight on TCM

totally agree

very disturbing and realistic IMO

it's of course known for the 'squeal like a pig' scene -- but its a dang good thriller

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I've never actually seen all of it. An early 80s movie, Southern Comfort, has a similar "theme." Not a classic of course.

It could happen.

At the age of fifteen, he was discovered by Lynn Stalmaster, who was scouting for the movie Deliverance. Stalmaster recommended Redden to the director John Boorman, though Redden was not an albino child as Boorman had requested, and Redden was cast.[1]

He portrayed a banjo-playing "local" during the film's famous "dueling banjos" scene. Boorman felt that Redden's skinny frame, large head, and almond-shaped eyes made him the natural choice to play the part of an "inbred from the back woods." Because Redden could not play a banjo, he wore a special shirt which allowed a real banjo player to hide behind him for the scene, which was shot with carefully chosen camera angles that would conceal the player, whose arms were slipped around Redden's waist to play the tune.[2] Interestingly, the hidden banjo player was shown playing "clawhammer" style, while the soundtrack had the banjo music as three finger "Earl Scruggs" style.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Redden

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gsC4kf6x_Q0

Did you notice the International Harvestor Scout?

Great film. Lived in East Tennessee in that time. We used to refer to some of the locals as Deliverance outtakes. I have been through white water rapids on a canoe. I do not want to experience that again.

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:
Deliverance is terrifying because the events portrayed could easily happen to you or me.

There've been two movies in my life that have given me the heebie-jeebies: Deliverance being one of them.

It unnerved me to the point that I've never been inclined to watch it again.

Seeing this in my teens, I found it very disturbing to say the least.

Dueling banjos stay with ya...

quote:

Originally posted by CQB60:
Dueling banjos stay with ya...

Not to mention an arrow, with a drop of blood, protruding from the chest of that hillbilly.

Such a underrated and misunderstood movie.

I raced in a local canoe race with my brother for 20 years. I found another racing partner when I found out my brother quits paddling when he hears banjo music.

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:
. . . a case of mistake identity.

This has always confused me. I've seen the movie several times and am still uncertain whether or not the mountain man on the cliff was the same toothless guy with the shotgun during the infamous squeal like a pig scene. What is the general consensus? Thanks.

I don’t think he was that guy.

That was him. He had the missing teeth.

One of my favorite movies.

quote:

Originally posted by Bassamatic:
That was him. He had the missing teeth.

that was always my impression too

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@Para, I feel the same way about Cape Fear and Silence of the Lambs.

Scorsese's Cape Fear is definitely that way, to me.

Solid performance out of De Niro and Nolte and Juliette Lewis.

Recently I read that Juliette Lewis' dad is this famous character actor from the Eastwood films. No wonder there are so many similarities between those films and her persona and roles.

Reynolds's wink at the end is my favorite part.

Loved Deliverance. Lot of it was filmed in Tallulah Gorge, GA.

Been twice. If you go, take the path down from the visitors center to the swinging bridge, across the gorge then up and out the other side and across the hi-way. There is a little old burger joint there that has fantastic burgers… either that or I was famished after the hike. Then continue across the bridge / dam and around back to the start. Of course you could just stop for a burger as you drive by it in your car. At any rate it’s a nice way to spend a fall day.