Prisoner of Rio
| Prisoner of Rio | |
|---|---|
 DVD cover | |
| Directed by | Lech Majewski |
| Produced by |
Juliusz Kossakowski Mark Slater |
| Written by |
Lech Majewski Ronald Biggs Julia Frankel |
| Starring |
Steven Berkoff Paul Freeman Peter Firth |
| Music by |
Luiz Bonfá Hans Zimmer |
| Cinematography | George Mooradian |
| Edited by | Darren Kloomok |
| Distributed by | Palace Pictures (UK) |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 104 minutes |
| Country |
United Kingdom Poland Switzerland Brazil |
| Language | English |
Prisoner of Rio is a 1988 drama film directed by Lech Majewski and starring Steven Berkoff, Paul Freeman and Peter Firth.[1] It shows the flight of the Great Train Robber Ronnie Biggs to Brazil and the attempts of Scotland Yard detectives to re-capture him. It was a co-production between several countries.
Plot
After escaping from Wandsworth prison for his part in the Great Train Robbery, Ronald "Ronnie" Biggs (Paul Freeman) goes on the run to Rio de Janeiro and becomes the world's most wanted man. Hot on his trail however is committed copper Jack McFarland (Steven Berkoff), who will stop at nothing to bring him back to justice - even if that means stepping outside the law.
Cast
- Steven Berkoff ... Jack McFarland
- Paul Freeman ... Ronald Biggs
- Peter Firth ... Clive Ingram
- Florinda Bolkan ... Stella
- Desmond Llewelyn ... Commissioner Ingram
- José Wilker ... Salo
- Zezé Motta ... Rita
- Breno Moroni ... Gil
- Ronald Biggs ... Mickey
- Dennis Bourke ... Reporter at Phonebooth
- Wilza Carla ... Woman in red
- Claudia Cepeda ... Girl in Car
- Amauri Guarilha ... Policeman in Slum
- Chris Hieatt ... John
- Elke Maravilha ... Frank
Release
The film was released in the United Kingdom by Palace Pictures and later on VHS by Palace Video.[2] It was later released on DVD in the UK by Anchor Bay Entertainment.[3]
It was released on VHS in the United States by Imperial Entertainment. Despite being released worldwide, the film has still never been officially released on DVD in the United States as of 2014.
Production
The real-life Ronald Biggs, the focus of the film, co-wrote the screenplay.
Steven Berkoff wrote a book about his experiences on this film, called "A Prisoner in Rio". He did not enjoy the making this film or his time in Rio.
References
- ↑ http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/420795
- ↑ "Company Credits for Prisoner of Rio (1988)". IMDB.com. 2014-02-27.
- ↑ "Prisoner of Rio (DVD)". amazon.com. Retrieved 2014-02-27.