Midnight Run
Midnight Run is a 1988 American action comedy film directed by Martin Brest and written by George Gallo.[1] It stars Robert De Niro as Jack Walsh, a former Chicago police officer turned bounty hunter, and Charles Grodin as Jonathan "The Duke" Mardukas, a mild-mannered accountant who embezzled $15 million from the Chicago mob and jumped bail.[2] Produced by City Light Films and distributed by Universal Pictures, the film follows Walsh's assignment to transport Mardukas cross-country from New York to Los Angeles for trial, turning into a chaotic road trip as they evade pursuit by a rival bounty hunter, the FBI, and the mob boss Jimmy Serrano (played by Dennis Farina).[1] With a runtime of 126 minutes, Midnight Run blends buddy comedy elements with thriller action, emphasizing the evolving rapport between the mismatched protagonists.[3] The film's narrative unfolds as a series of comedic mishaps and tense confrontations during the 3,000-mile journey, highlighting themes of redemption and unlikely friendship.[3] Supporting cast includes Yaphet Kotto as FBI agent Alonzo Mosely, John Ashton as rival bounty hunter Marvin Dorfler, and Joe Pantoliano as bail bondsman Eddie Moscone.[2] Released on July 20, 1988, Midnight Run was a commercial success, grossing over $38 million at the domestic box office against a modest budget.[4] Critically, the movie earned widespread praise for the chemistry between De Niro and Grodin, with Roger Ebert awarding it three-and-a-half stars out of four for its sharp writing and emotional depth amid the humor.[3] It holds a 95% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 57 reviews, certified fresh for its blend of action and comedy.[2] Though it received no major Academy Award nominations, Midnight Run has achieved cult status as a quintessential 1980s road movie and inspired direct-to-video sequels featuring other characters.[3]Story and characters
Plot
Bounty hunter Jack Walsh is hired by bail bondsman Eddie Moscone to apprehend Jonathan "The Duke" Mardukas, an accountant who embezzled $15 million from Chicago mob boss Jimmy Serrano and jumped bail after his arrest. Walsh, a former Chicago police officer who left the force after being implicated in corruption involving mob money, travels to New York City where he locates Mardukas hiding in a Franciscan friary. Despite Mardukas's severe phobia of flying, which prevents an immediate return by air, Walsh captures him and insists they must cross the country to Los Angeles by train and car within five days to avoid forfeiting the $450,000 bail bond.[5][3] As the duo begins their road trip, they face multiple pursuers intent on claiming Mardukas. Rival bounty hunter Marvin Dorfler, who was also hired for the job but arrived too late in New York, tracks them down and attempts to hijack the bounty through ambushes and fights, including a violent confrontation on a train in Arizona. FBI Special Agent Alonzo Mosely joins the chase after Mardukas steals his credentials during an early escape attempt, leading to impersonations and bureaucratic mix-ups that complicate Walsh's efforts. Meanwhile, Serrano dispatches enforcers Tony Darvo and Joey to eliminate Mardukas and recover the money, resulting in high-speed pursuits and shootouts across states like Texas and Nevada.[5][3] Throughout the harrowing journey filled with chases, brawls, and humorous banter, Walsh and Mardukas gradually form an unlikely bond. Mardukas reveals his backstory: as Serrano's bookkeeper, he uncovered the mob's money-laundering operations and siphoned the funds to anonymously donate to orphanages and charities, driven by a moral imperative to combat the crime he enabled. Walsh shares his own past as a once-honest cop turned cynical after his partner framed him for taking a mob bribe, eroding his trust in the system and fueling his relentless determination. These disclosures, combined with mutual reliance during escapes—such as Mardukas helping Walsh evade the FBI and Walsh protecting Mardukas from the mob—mark turning points, transforming their adversarial dynamic into camaraderie marked by witty exchanges about food, flying, and forgiveness. During the journey, they visit Walsh's ex-wife Gail and daughter Denise in Chicago, where the encounter is strained but highlights Walsh's personal regrets.[5][3] In the climax, all antagonists converge at Moscone's bail office in Los Angeles. Mardukas escapes to the airport, where Walsh recaptures him but, moved by their bond and Mardukas's justifications, releases him and allows him to board a flight. Mardukas reveals he has been carrying $300,000 in a money belt and gives it to Walsh as a gift to support his future. Walsh's act of letting Mardukas go signifies his redemption and reclaiming of personal integrity.[5][3]Cast
The principal cast of Midnight Run is led by Robert De Niro as Jack Walsh, a tough ex-cop turned bounty hunter tasked with apprehending a fugitive.[1] Charles Grodin portrays Jonathan "The Duke" Mardukas, a witty accountant who has embezzled funds from the mob and is evading capture.[1] Yaphet Kotto plays FBI Special Agent Alonzo Mosely, a determined law enforcement official pursuing the same target.[6] John Ashton appears as Marvin Dorfler, a rival bounty hunter competing for the bounty.[6] Dennis Farina embodies Jimmy Serrano, the ruthless Chicago mob boss seeking revenge on Mardukas.[6] In supporting roles, Joe Pantoliano stars as Eddie Moscone, Walsh's fast-talking bail bondsman employer who hires him for the job.[6] Richard Foronjy is cast as Tony Darvo, one of Serrano's enforcers in the mob hierarchy.[6] Jack Kehoe plays Jerry Geisler, employee of the bail bondsman.[7] Wendy Phillips portrays Gail, Walsh's ex-wife.[6] Notable minor roles include Danielle DuClos as Denise Walsh, Jack's estranged daughter; Robert Miranda as Joey, another of Serrano's henchmen; and Thomas Sanchez as Carlos, an informant who aids in tracking leads.[6] De Niro prepared extensively for the role of Walsh by researching real-life bounty hunters, including riding along with New York Police Department patrols and observing arrests to capture the physical and procedural demands of the job.[1] Grodin's performance as Mardukas drew on his improvisational style, with director Martin Brest granting him leeway to deviate from the script, which enhanced the film's banter-heavy dialogue between the leads.[8]Production
Development
The screenplay for Midnight Run originated with writer George Gallo, who crafted it as a buddy road comedy blending action, drama, and humor, drawing inspiration from classic films like The Treasure of the Sierra Madre and personal family dynamics for the central relationship between the two leads.[9] Gallo faced significant challenges during the writing process, including skepticism from industry readers who dismissed key comedic scenes as unworkable, leading to multiple rejections before the project gained traction.[9] Martin Brest became attached to direct in the mid-1980s, following his success with Beverly Hills Cop, and collaborated closely with Gallo to revise the script, shifting emphasis toward character development and authentic interplay over pure action spectacle.[10] Initially developed at Paramount Pictures, the project stalled due to disagreements over casting and perceived risks, prompting the studio to abandon it; Universal Pictures then acquired the rights and greenlit production with an initial budget that Brest's commitment to on-location shooting ultimately exceeded by approximately $6 million, pushing total costs above $30 million.[11][12] Casting began with Robert De Niro as bounty hunter Jack Walsh, marking his deliberate pivot to lighter comedic fare after intense dramatic roles; De Niro advocated for added depth by shadowing real bounty hunters and law enforcement during pre-production research.[1] For the role of accountant Jonathan Mardukas, Universal favored bigger names like Robin Williams, who eagerly auditioned, but Brest selected Charles Grodin after screen tests revealed exceptional chemistry with De Niro, prioritizing their natural rapport over star power.[11][10] Pre-production spanned roughly four years from the script's inception around 1984 through 1987, involving iterative rewrites by Gallo and Brest to refine the balance of humor, tension, and emotional arcs while accommodating the leads' input on character motivations.[9][10]Filming
Principal photography for Midnight Run commenced on October 26, 1987, and wrapped on February 20, 1988, spanning 17 weeks, though originally budgeted for just 50 days.[1] The extended timeline accommodated the film's cross-country road trip narrative, necessitating shoots across multiple states and requiring meticulous weekly planning by director Martin Brest to coordinate the intricate sequence of events.[13] Filming began in New York City, capturing the bounty hunter's starting point with scenes on Remsen Street in Brooklyn Heights and other urban locales to establish the story's gritty origins.[14] The production then moved westward, incorporating a Chicago layover with interiors at Wabash Avenue in the Jewelers Row district, before reaching the Southwestern deserts of Arizona for high-stakes chase sequences filmed in Sedona's Red Rock Park, Flagstaff, and the Upper Salt River Canyon.[15] The journey culminated in Los Angeles, including the finale at Grand Central Market, with additional stops in Michigan for train scenes and Las Vegas for transitional shots; authenticity was prioritized through the use of real Amtrak trains, commercial planes, and period-appropriate cars rather than constructed sets.[1] A key river rapids sequence started on an Arizona cliff but concluded in New Zealand's warmer waters after frigid January temperatures in the U.S. Southwest halted filming, causing delays and forcing the cast and crew to relocate overseas.[16] Production faced significant challenges from harsh desert weather, including freezing conditions that exacerbated the physical toll on the actors and led to Brest's hospitalization from exhaustion near the end of principal photography.[17] Stunts emphasized practical effects, such as the river escape where Robert De Niro was swept 200 yards downstream, car crashes during desert pursuits, and hand-to-hand fights, all executed without major visual effects to maintain a grounded, visceral road movie aesthetic.[18] De Niro's commitment to method acting intensified rehearsals and on-set dynamics; he auditioned supporting cast members to foster realistic intimidation and refused warm breaks during cold shoots to mirror his character's deteriorating state, contributing to the production's demanding pace.[13] Cinematographer Donald E. Thorin employed Panavision Panaflex cameras to capture the widescreen format, focusing on natural lighting to evoke the expansive, unpolished feel of the American landscape and cross-country travel.[19] The reliance on practical stunts and location shooting avoided digital enhancements, allowing for dynamic, in-camera action that highlighted the film's buddy-comedy tension.[18] On-set anecdotes underscored the improvisational spirit, with De Niro and Charles Grodin frequently ad-libbing dialogue to build their characters' rapport; notable examples include Grodin's off-script vulgar quip about "sex with an animal" in the boxcar scene, which genuinely broke De Niro's focus, and De Niro's gentle improvisation of folding Grodin's coat during a car entry.[13] Brest's directive for multiple takes—up to 17 for key moments like the duo's final silent exchange—ensured precise comedic timing, often drawing from the actors' real-time chemistry to refine the script's banter.[20]Music
Soundtrack
The original motion picture soundtrack for Midnight Run consists of the film's score composed by Danny Elfman and was released by MCA Records in 1988.[21] The album captures the film's buddy-road-trip energy through a blend of blues-rock riffs, boogie grooves, and orchestral flourishes, performed by a small ensemble including guitars, brass, bass, and drums rather than a full symphony orchestra.[22] Elfman, drawing from his rock background with Oingo Boingo, crafted the music to evoke the open-road tension and humor, with production handled by Elfman himself alongside frequent collaborator Steve Bartek at Sunset Sound in Hollywood.[23] The soundtrack's rock-infused style marked an early evolution in Elfman's film work, influencing subsequent action-comedy scores.[24] The album contains 24 tracks totaling approximately 42 minutes, focusing exclusively on instrumental cues from the film without any licensed pop or rock songs. Key contributions include Elfman's guitar-driven themes and the end-credits vocal track "Try to Believe," composed by Danny Elfman and performed by Mosley & the B-Men (featuring Oingo Boingo members).[22] No original vocal songs were composed specifically for the movie; the score integrates seamlessly with the narrative's chases, montages, and character moments.[25]| Track No. | Title | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Walsh Gets the Duke | 1:47 |
| 2 | Main Titles | 2:21 |
| 3 | Stairway Chase | 0:54 |
| 4 | J.W. Gets a Plan | 1:41 |
| 5 | Gears Spin I | 0:54 |
| 6 | Dorfler's Theme | 1:24 |
| 7 | F.B.I. | 1:16 |
| 8 | Package Deal | 0:28 |
| 9 | Mobocopter | 0:39 |
| 10 | Freight Train Hop | 1:47 |
| 11 | Drive to Red's | 0:44 |
| 12 | In the Next Life | 0:35 |
| 13 | The River | 1:35 |
| 14 | The Birthday Song | 0:41 |
| 15 | The Chase | 1:04 |
| 16 | Gears Spin II | 0:34 |
| 17 | Desert Run | 1:03 |
| 18 | The Arrival | 0:28 |
| 19 | Walsh Frees the Duke | 2:52 |
| 20 | End Credits: Try to Believe (performed by Mosley & the B-Men) | 4:16 |
| 21 | Coda (Is That Right?) | 0:30 |
| 22 | Showdown | 1:09 |
| 23 | The Wild Ride | 1:15 |
| 24 | End Title | 2:30 |