Questions
What is Deliverance about?
It follows four Atlanta businessmen who set out to canoe the remote Cahulawassee River in northern Georgia before it is dammed, only to face deadly danger from both the wilderness and the locals. It was released on July 30, 1972.
Who directed Deliverance and who wrote the original story?
John Boorman directed the film, which is based on the 1970 novel by James Dickey. Dickey also has a role in the movie and helped with the screenplay.
Who starred in the movie?
The main four were Jon Voight, Burt Reynolds, Ned Beatty, and Ronny Cox. Beatty and Cox were both making their feature film debuts.
Is that famous banjo song really called Dueling Banjos?
Yes, and it won the 1974 Grammy Award for Best Country Instrumental Performance. It was originally a 1955 tune called Feudin’ Banjos by Arthur Smith, who later won a copyright infringement lawsuit over it.
Did the author really get into a fight with the director on set?
Reportedly yes. James Dickey clashed with Boorman over rewrites, and during one altercation Boorman’s nose was broken and four of his teeth were shattered.
Did the actors do their own stunts?
Yes, reportedly without insurance. Burt Reynolds cracked his tailbone going over a real waterfall, Ned Beatty nearly drowned, and Jon Voight climbed the cliff himself.
Where was Deliverance filmed?
It was shot in Rabun County, Georgia, including Tallulah Gorge and the Chattooga River along the Georgia and South Carolina border, from May to August 1971.
Who came up with the squeal like a pig line?
Its origin is disputed. Ned Beatty claimed he improvised it, Dickey’s son said a crew member suggested it, and Boorman credited a Rabun County liaison named Frank Rickman.
Who did the filmmakers originally want in the cast?
Dickey wanted Sam Peckinpah to direct and Gene Hackman to play Ed, while Boorman pursued Marlon Brando for Lewis. Jack Nicholson, Robert Redford, and George C. Scott were also considered.
Did Deliverance get any Oscar attention?
Yes, it earned three Academy Award nominations, for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Editing. It also received five Golden Globe nominations.
Was the movie a box office hit?
Very much so. Made on a roughly $2 million budget, it grossed about $46.1 million and was the fourth highest grossing film of 1972.
How did Burt Reynolds feel about the film?
He later called it the best film he had ever been in, though he criticized the assault scene as going too far.
What kind of legacy did Deliverance leave?
It sparked a tourism boom in Rabun County and helped turn local rafting into a $20 million industry. It was selected for the National Film Registry in 2008 and ranks #15 on AFI’s 100 Years, 100 Thrills.
What happened to Boorman’s gold record for the film?
His gold record for Dueling Banjos was reportedly stolen by Dublin gangster Martin Cahill, and Boorman later recreated that theft in his 1998 film The General.
