Blow Out
1981
Not currently streaming on CaSTV
Synopsis
While recording sound effects for a slasher flick, Jack Terry stumbles upon a real-life horror: a car careening off a bridge and into a river. Jack jumps into the water and fishes out Sally from the car, but the other passenger is already dead — a governor intending to run for president. As Jack does some investigating of his tapes, and starts a perilous romance with Sally, he enters a tangled web of conspiracy that might leave him dead.
Blow Out (1981) is a 1h 48min crime feature film by Brian De Palma. While recording sound effects for a slasher flick, Jack Terry stumbles upon a real-life horror: a car careening off a...
Key facts
Cast
Nancy Allen, John Aquino, Peter Boyden, Dennis Franz, John Lithgow, Curt May, John McMartin, John Travolta
Original language
English
First release
July 24, 1981 (United States)
Production companies
GEORGE LITTO PRODUCTION, Filmways
Home video distributors
Warner Home Video (United States), HGV Video Productions (Canada), Goodtimes Home Video (United States)
Setting
Pennsylvania
Filming locations
Philadelphia
Crew
Screenplay
Bill Mesce Jr., Brian De Palma
Producer
George Litto
Cinematography
Vilmos Zsigmond
Editing
Paul Hirsch
Music
Pino Donaggio
Trailer
Stills
Reviews
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VHS & home video releases
| VHS | Warner Home Video (cat. no. 26011) | 1983, United States, clamshell |
| VHS | HGV Video Productions (cat. no. 05-04063) | 1994, Canada, slipcase |
| VHS | Goodtimes Home Video (cat. no. 05-04063) | 1995, United States, slipcase |
Soundtracks
| Vinyl LP | Blow Out (Original Sound Track Score From The Motion Picture) - Pino Donaggio, Robert Q. Lovett (1982) | 2 releases, 1982: Polydor |
| CD | Blow Out (Original Sound Track Score From The Motion Picture) - Pino Donaggio, Robert Q. Lovett (1982) | 3 releases, 2002-2014: Intrada, Prometheus Records |
Releases & classifications
| Theatrical | United States | July 24, 1981 |
| Theatrical | Netherlands | September 24, 1981 |
| Theatrical | Brazil | October 22, 1981 |
| Theatrical | Sweden | November 6, 1981 |
| Theatrical | Denmark | December 26, 1981 |
| Theatrical | Australia | February 4, 1982 |
| Theatrical | Hong Kong | February 11, 1982 |
| Theatrical | France | February 17, 1982 |
| Theatrical | Finland | March 19, 1982 |
| Theatrical | Japan | March 20, 1982 |
| Theatrical | Norway | April 7, 1982 |
| Theatrical | Italy | April 14, 1982 |
| Theatrical | Portugal | April 30, 1982 |
| Theatrical | Germany | May 7, 1982 |
| Theatrical | Colombia | September 22, 1982 |
| Theatrical | Uruguay | March 4, 1983 |
| Theatrical | Mexico | February 23, 1984 |
| Theatrical | France | June 7, 2000 |
| Television | Netherlands | May 31, 2003 |
| Streaming | France | December 5, 2025 |
| Television | France | December 5, 2025 |
| Classification | Germany | 16 |
| Classification | United States | R |
Versions & editions
| Home video VHS | United States | 1983 26011 |
| Home video VHS | Canada | 1994 05-04063 |
| Home video VHS | United States | 1995 05-04063 |
| Home video | Canada | August 28, 2001 |
| Home video | Brazil | December 24, 2003 |
| Home video | Greece | May 21, 2007 |
| Home video | Netherlands | March 27, 2012 |
Full credits
| Director | Brian De Palma |
| Cast | Nancy Allen, John Aquino, Peter Boyden, Dennis Franz, John Lithgow, Curt May, John McMartin (Lawrence Henry), John Travolta, Deborah Everton (Hooker), J. Patrick McNamara (Detective at Hospital), Roger Wilson (Coed Lover), Missy Cleveland (Coed Lover), Lori-Nan Engler (Sue), Barbara Sigel (Girl Lover), David De Felice (Boy Lover), Roberto Lombardi (Train Passenger), Missy Crutchfield (Dancing Coed), Cindy Manion (Dancing Coed), Marcy Bigelman (Ecstatic Coed), Ann Kelly (Studious Coed), Dean Bennett (Campus Guard), John Coppolino Jr. (Maniac), Archie Lang (Mixer), Dave Roberts (Anchorman), Claire Carter (Anchorwoman), Maurice Copeland (Jack Manners), John Hoffmeister (Governor McRyan), Thomas J. McCarthy (Policeman at Hospital), Reginald M. Wallace (Policeman at Hospital), Robert L. Penrose (Hospital Administrator), Larry Woody (Doctor), Dick McGarvin (TV Newscaster), Michael Borghese (Newsdealer), Rossana Fichera (Receptionist), James Jeter (Film Lab Man), Luddy Tramontana (Freddie Corso), Sid Doherty (Cop in Car), Milt Fields (Mobster), Bud Seese (Corrupt Captain), Maureen Sullivan (First Murder Victim), Brian Corrigan (Cop at Karp's Office), Elaine Filoon (Screamer), Robin Sherwood (Betty), Tim Choate (Sailor), B.J. Cyrus (Sailor's Friend), Dave DeAngelis (Sailor's Friend), Thomas Finn (Sailor's Friend), Tony Devon (Sailor's Friend), Henry Cohen (Ambulance Attendant), Bernie Rachelle (Ambulance Attendant), William Tarman (Security Guard), Michael Tearson (Hawker) |
| Screenplay | Bill Mesce Jr., Brian De Palma |
| Producer | George Litto |
| Executive producer | Fred C. Caruso |
| Cinematography | Vilmos Zsigmond |
| Editing | Paul Hirsch |
| Music | Pino Donaggio |
| Production design | Paul Sylbert |
| Visual effects | David Domeyer |
| Costumes | Vicki Sánchez |
Additional data: TMDB.
Source: Cinémathèque québécoise, linked catalogue data (CC BY 4.0)
