Split Image (also known as Captured) is a 1982 American drama film directed by Ted Kotcheff and starring Michael O'Keefe, Karen Allen, Peter Fonda, James Woods, Elizabeth Ashley, Brian Dennehy and Ronnie Scribner. It tells the story of an all-American college athlete who becomes involved in a youth-oriented cult, and his family's struggle to bring him home.

Split Image
Theatrical release poster
Directed byTed Kotcheff
Screenplay by
Story byScott Spencer
Produced byDon Carmody
Ted Kotcheff
Jeff Young
StarringMichael O'Keefe
Karen Allen
Peter Fonda
James Woods
Elizabeth Ashley
Brian Dennehy
Ronnie Scribner
CinematographyRobert C. Jessup
Music byBill Conti
Production
company
Distributed byOrion Pictures
Release date
  • October 3, 1982 (1982-10-03)
Running time
111 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$8 million[1]
Box office$263,635[2]

Synopsis

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Danny Stetson is a clean-cut, American college student and gymnast with dreams of Olympic gold when he's lured into Homeland, a youth-oriented religious commune, by a compellingly beautiful girl, Rebecca. Here he is programmed by the charismatic leader, Neil Kirklander, to believe that his new life now has the true meaning that it previously lacked.

Anguished by their son's disappearance, Danny's parents Diana and Kevin hire a modern-day bounty hunter, Charles Pratt, to abduct Danny and exorcise his brainwashed mind, but the psychological change could be traumatizing.

Cast

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Actor Role
Michael O'Keefe Danny "Joshua" Stetson
Karen Allen Rebecca / Amy
Peter Fonda Neil Kirklander
James Woods Charles Pratt
Elizabeth Ashley Diana Stetson
Brian Dennehy Kevin Stetson
Ronnie Scribner Sean Stetson
Pamela Ludwig Jane
John Dukakis Aaron
Lee Montgomery Walter
Michael Sacks Gabriel
Deborah Rush Judith
Peter Horton Jacob
Ken Farmer Collins
Cliff Stephens Hall
Brian Henson Jerry
David Wallace Gymnast
Kenneth Barry Big Wig
Robert A. Cowan Coach 1
Herbert Kirkpatrick Coach 2
Chris McCarty Sentry 1
Lee Ritchey Sentry 2
Lynette Walden Sexy Girl
Robert Hibbard Cop
Scott Campbell Barry Mills
Melanie Strange Debbie Cooper
Dave Tanner Guitar Player
Tom Rayhall Sargent
Jeanne Evans Newsboy's Mom
Irma P. Hall Maid
Bill Engvall Student
Peter Hans Sprague Person
John Carroll Homelander
Haley McLane Homelander
Kelly Wimberly Homelander

Production

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Ted Kotcheff said the film began when Peter Guber, then head of Polygram, approached him to make a movie about cults. Kotcheff was enthusiastic and worked on the film for two years.[3]

The film was originally written by Scott Spencer, whose novel Endless Love had been filmed by Polygram. Spencer was replaced by Larry Gross, then Robert Kaufmann. "I was never actually fired," said Spencer. "The phone calls just stopped coming."[4]

Kotcheff said " I did a lot of research and spoke to a lot of people who had been in cults. Most of them felt that society had become too materialistic and too crass. They wanted something beyond that and more spiritual. I like that film a lot."[5]

Kotcheff said he cast Peter Fonda because "I wanted all his 60s resonances brought to his character."[6]

The film was originally known as Captured. Filming took place in May 1981 in Dallas, Texas. Tatum O'Neal was originally cast in the film but she had to be let go as she was seventeen years old and not able to work night scenes, which the film required.[7] She was replaced by Karen Allen, who was ten years older than O'Neal, requiring a rewrite of the script.[8]

Reception

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Kotcheff said "the film disappeared practically without a trace. It's a subject that American people don't want to hear about."[3]

Awards

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In 1982, Ronnie Scribner was nominated in the Category of Best Supporting Young Actor in a Motion Picture at the Youth In Film Award (now known as the Young Artist Award). [9]

References

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  1. ^ "AFI|Catalog". Catalog.afi.com. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  2. ^ Split Image at Box Office Mojo
  3. ^ a b Gallagher, John (1989). Film directors on directing. p. 151.
  4. ^ Taylor, Clarke (26 July 1981). "And Back to Endless Love the Novel". Los Angeles Times. p. 30.
  5. ^ "AN INTERVIEW WITH TED KOTCHEFF (PART 1 OF 2)". Money Into Light.
  6. ^ "Kotcheff and O'Keefe: Images of Split Image". The Boston Globe. 26 September 1982. p. 83.
  7. ^ Fonda, Peter (1998). Don't tell dad : a memoir. p. 444.
  8. ^ "Film Clips". The Los Angeles Times. 8 May 1981. p. 111.
  9. ^ "4th Annual Youth in Film Awards". Youngartistawards.org. Retrieved 2011-03-16.
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