Cross Country (1983 film)
| Cross Country | |
|---|---|
Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Paul Lynch[1] |
| Screenplay by |
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| Based on | Cross Country by Herbert Kastle |
| Produced by |
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| Starring | |
| Cinematography | René Verzier |
| Edited by | Nick Rotundo |
| Music by | Chris Rea |
Production companies | |
| Distributed by | New World Pictures[3] |
Release date |
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Running time | |
| Country | Canada[1] |
| Language | English |
| Budget | CA$3 million[5] |
Cross Country is a 1983 Canadian erotic[6] crime thriller film directed by Paul Lynch and starring Richard Beymer, Michael Ironside, and Nina Axelrod.
Synopsis
A Philadelphia television executive, sought by police for the murder of a call girl, picks up a pair of hitchhikers en route to Los Angeles.[7]
Cast
- Richard Beymer as Evan Bley
- Michael Ironside as Detective Sgt. Ed Roersch
- Nina Axelrod as Lois Hayes
- Brent Carver as John Forrest
- August Schellenberg as Glen Cosgrove
Production
Director Paul Lynch turned down directing duties on Mother Lode to direct this film,[8] which in early stages was briefly known as Black Widows.[9]
The film was shot in 1982 in Montreal on a budget of $3 million,[5] financed by MGM through the recently acquired United Artists. UA Chairman David Begelman didn't like the film and sold the film to New World Pictures.[8]
Release
Cross Country was released in the United States on November 18, 1983.[10]
Reception
Kevin Thomas of the Los Angeles Times praised the film as a "clever thriller" and likened it to a contemporary film noir.[2] Alternately, Don Lechman of the News-Pilot derided the film, deeming it "a disgusting mess... it would be best if the film was buried and never released to any medium."[11]
References
- ^ a b Movies on TV, 1986-1987. Bantam Books. 1985. p. 129. ISBN 9780553252866.
- ^ a b c d "Murderous Bluff in 'Cross Country'". Los Angeles Times. November 19, 1983. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Cross Country". Library and Archives Canada. May 12, 2015. Archived from the original on January 29, 2026. Retrieved 2025-02-07.
- ^ "Cross Country". British Board of Film Classification.
- ^ a b Adilman, Sid (May 28, 1982). "Mancuso laurels: Beymer returns". Windsor Star. p. C3 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Contemporary North American Film Directors. Wallflower Press. November 15, 2002. p. 342.
- ^ "Television Programs Today". The Hour. December 5, 1984. p. 21. Retrieved February 6, 2025.
- ^ a b "Interview with Paul Lynch'." Hidden Films, November 18, 2011. Retrieved: September 20, 2025.
- ^ Borseti, Francesco (August 26, 2016). It Came from the 80s!: Interviews with 124 Cult Filmmakers. McFarland & Company. p. 190.
- ^ "Cross Country – Starts Tomorrow". Los Angeles Times. November 17, 1983. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Lechman, Don (November 18, 1983). "'Cross Country' proves bad choice for Beymer". News-Pilot. p. E7 – via Newspapers.com.