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Bird on a Wire (film)
Encyclopedia
Bird on a Wire is a 1990 feature film
starring Mel Gibson
and Goldie Hawn
, directed by John Badham
, and shot mainly in British Columbia
, Canada
. The title refers to the Leonard Cohen
song "Bird on the Wire
". The alley motorcycle chase scene was filmed in Victoria BC, Chinatown in Fan Tan Alley
.
) helped convict a drug dealing FBI agent named Eugene Sorenson (David Carradine
) and was placed in the witness protection program. 15 years later his former fiancé Marianne Graves (Goldie Hawn
) crosses paths with him at a gas station in Detroit, Michigan
. Rick refuses to recognize Marianne as the witness protection program does not allow contact with people from the witness' previous life. If she recognizes him it may lead to Sorenson finding and killing him.
Sorenson has been let out of jail after serving his sentence and with his partner Albert Diggs (Bill Duke
) they are out to kill Rick in order to smooth the passage of their latest deal with some Columbian drug dealers. Marianne has blown Rick's cover and he makes a frantic call to his relocation officer for a new identity only to discover that his old contact has retired.
His new contact, Joe Weyburn (Stephen Tobolowsky
), is in league with Diggs and Sorenson. Just as Marianne prepares to confront Rick they are surprised by Sorenson and Diggs who show up at the gas station with guns blazing.
They kill Rick's kindly old boss at the gas station pinning the murder on Rick and Marianne who are forced to go on the run. The climax of the film takes place at a zoo, where Sorenson and his men get killed by different animals. Meanwhile, Rick, who suffered a gunshot wound, makes a promise to Marianne that he wants to marry her. In the end, he does and the two of them enjoy a vacation in the Caribbean.
Feature film
In the film industry, a feature film is a film production made for initial distribution in theaters and being the main attraction of the screening, rather than a short film screened before it; a full length movie...
starring Mel Gibson
Mel Gibson
Mel Colm-Cille Gerard Gibson, AO is an American actor, film director, producer and screenwriter. Born in Peekskill, New York, Gibson moved with his parents to Sydney, Australia when he was 12 years old and later studied acting at the Australian National Institute of Dramatic Art.After appearing in...
and Goldie Hawn
Goldie Hawn
Goldie Jeanne Hawn is an American actress, film director, producer, and occasional singer. Hawn is known for her roles in Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In, Private Benjamin, Foul Play, Overboard, Bird on a Wire, Death Becomes Her, The First Wives Club, and Cactus Flower, for which she won the 1969...
, directed by John Badham
John Badham
- External links :...
, and shot mainly in British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. The title refers to the Leonard Cohen
Leonard Cohen
Leonard Norman Cohen, is a Canadian singer-songwriter, musician, poet and novelist. Cohen published his first book of poetry in Montreal in 1956 and his first novel in 1963. His work often explores religion, isolation, sexuality and interpersonal relationships...
song "Bird on the Wire
Bird on the Wire
"Bird on the Wire" is one of Leonard Cohen's signature songs. It was recorded 26 September 1968 in Nashville and included on his 1969 album Songs from a Room. A May 1968 recording produced by David Crosby, entitled "Like a Bird", was added to the 2007 remastered CD...
". The alley motorcycle chase scene was filmed in Victoria BC, Chinatown in Fan Tan Alley
Fan Tan Alley
Fan Tan Alley is an alley in Victoria, British Columbia's Chinatown.It runs south from Fisgard Avenue to Pandora Avenue in the block between Government Street and Store Street. It was originally a gambling district with restaurants, shops, and opium dens. Today it is a tourist destination as it...
.
Plot
Rick Jarmin (Mel GibsonMel Gibson
Mel Colm-Cille Gerard Gibson, AO is an American actor, film director, producer and screenwriter. Born in Peekskill, New York, Gibson moved with his parents to Sydney, Australia when he was 12 years old and later studied acting at the Australian National Institute of Dramatic Art.After appearing in...
) helped convict a drug dealing FBI agent named Eugene Sorenson (David Carradine
David Carradine
David Carradine was an American actor and martial artist, best known for his role as a warrior monk, Kwai Chang Caine, in the 1970s television series, Kung Fu, which later had a 1990s sequel series, Kung Fu: The Legend Continues...
) and was placed in the witness protection program. 15 years later his former fiancé Marianne Graves (Goldie Hawn
Goldie Hawn
Goldie Jeanne Hawn is an American actress, film director, producer, and occasional singer. Hawn is known for her roles in Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In, Private Benjamin, Foul Play, Overboard, Bird on a Wire, Death Becomes Her, The First Wives Club, and Cactus Flower, for which she won the 1969...
) crosses paths with him at a gas station in Detroit, Michigan
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
. Rick refuses to recognize Marianne as the witness protection program does not allow contact with people from the witness' previous life. If she recognizes him it may lead to Sorenson finding and killing him.
Sorenson has been let out of jail after serving his sentence and with his partner Albert Diggs (Bill Duke
Bill Duke
William Henry "Bill" Duke, Jr. is an American actor and film director with over 30 years of experience. Known for his physically imposing frame, Duke's work frequently dwells within the action/crime and drama genres but also includes comedy.-Early life:Duke was born in Poughkeepsie, New York, the...
) they are out to kill Rick in order to smooth the passage of their latest deal with some Columbian drug dealers. Marianne has blown Rick's cover and he makes a frantic call to his relocation officer for a new identity only to discover that his old contact has retired.
His new contact, Joe Weyburn (Stephen Tobolowsky
Stephen Tobolowsky
Stephen Harold Tobolowsky is an American actor. He is well known for his role as Ned Ryerson in Groundhog Day, as well as portraying Commissioner Hugo Jarry in Deadwood for nine episodes and Bob Bishop in Heroes for eleven episodes over the second and third seasons...
), is in league with Diggs and Sorenson. Just as Marianne prepares to confront Rick they are surprised by Sorenson and Diggs who show up at the gas station with guns blazing.
They kill Rick's kindly old boss at the gas station pinning the murder on Rick and Marianne who are forced to go on the run. The climax of the film takes place at a zoo, where Sorenson and his men get killed by different animals. Meanwhile, Rick, who suffered a gunshot wound, makes a promise to Marianne that he wants to marry her. In the end, he does and the two of them enjoy a vacation in the Caribbean.
Cast
- Mel GibsonMel GibsonMel Colm-Cille Gerard Gibson, AO is an American actor, film director, producer and screenwriter. Born in Peekskill, New York, Gibson moved with his parents to Sydney, Australia when he was 12 years old and later studied acting at the Australian National Institute of Dramatic Art.After appearing in...
as Rick Jarmin - Goldie HawnGoldie HawnGoldie Jeanne Hawn is an American actress, film director, producer, and occasional singer. Hawn is known for her roles in Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In, Private Benjamin, Foul Play, Overboard, Bird on a Wire, Death Becomes Her, The First Wives Club, and Cactus Flower, for which she won the 1969...
as Marianne Graves - David CarradineDavid CarradineDavid Carradine was an American actor and martial artist, best known for his role as a warrior monk, Kwai Chang Caine, in the 1970s television series, Kung Fu, which later had a 1990s sequel series, Kung Fu: The Legend Continues...
as Eugene Sorenson - Bill DukeBill DukeWilliam Henry "Bill" Duke, Jr. is an American actor and film director with over 30 years of experience. Known for his physically imposing frame, Duke's work frequently dwells within the action/crime and drama genres but also includes comedy.-Early life:Duke was born in Poughkeepsie, New York, the...
as Albert Diggs - Stephen TobolowskyStephen TobolowskyStephen Harold Tobolowsky is an American actor. He is well known for his role as Ned Ryerson in Groundhog Day, as well as portraying Commissioner Hugo Jarry in Deadwood for nine episodes and Bob Bishop in Heroes for eleven episodes over the second and third seasons...
as Jow Weyburn - Joan SeveranceJoan Severance-Early life:Severance was born in Houston, Texas to John and Martha Severance. Her father was an IBM Systems Manager that had to move frequently around the world. According to Severance "by the time I was 11, we'd lived in 12 different places". Severance and her family also lived in Libya, but in...
as Rachel Varney - Jeff CoreyJeff CoreyJeff Corey was an American stage and screen actor and director who became a well-respected acting teacher after being blacklisted in the 1950s.-Biography:...
as Lou Baird