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The Parallax View

Play trailer Poster for The Parallax View R Released Jun 14, 1974 1h 42m Mystery & Thriller Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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87% Tomatometer 45 Reviews 77% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
After a presidential candidate is assassinated, political reporter Joe Frady (Warren Beatty) begins to suspect that the mysterious Parallax Corporation may be involved. As he investigates, others who share his suspicions start turning up dead, including his editor, Bill Rintels (Hume Cronyn). Eventually, Frady uncovers a conspiracy bigger than anyone expected and must race to prevent the corporation's next big hit as this political thriller plays out in an explosive game of cat and mouse.
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The Parallax View

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Critics Consensus

The Parallax View blends deft direction from Alan J. Pakula and a charismatic Warren Beatty performance to create a paranoid political thriller that stands with the genre's best.

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Critics Reviews

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Penelope Gilliatt The New Yorker The point of this sort of movie seems to be to arouse outrage without offending anyone. Mar 5, 2024 Full Review Molly Haskell Village Voice The Parallax View is a movie of splendid bits and pieces disappointingly strung together. Apr 20, 2022 Full Review Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times The movie's director, Alan J. Pakula, works on location to get a nice feel of outdoor menace a lot of the time. Rated: 3/4 Apr 29, 2018 Full Review Ian Kane Epoch Times “The Parallax View” is a gripping thriller that will keep viewers on the edge of their seats, eagerly anticipating each new twist and turn in the story. Rated: 4/5 Sep 3, 2024 Full Review Danielle Solzman Solzy at the Movies Fifty years after its release, The Parallax View holds up as a political thriller depicting the 1970s paranoia. Rated: 4/5 Jun 14, 2024 Full Review Alan Jones Radio Times Excellent script by David Giler and Lorenzo Semple Jr, stunning photography by... Gordon Willis, and perfect acting, the story of Beatty's infiltration of the society and his attempt to foil yet another killing is riveting, fascinating and nerve-racking. Rated: 5/5 Jan 24, 2024 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (396) audience reviews
Blu B A Political Thriller Classic. Fantastic cinematography. The framing, lighting, camerawork is all extremely sophisticated. There are tons of memorable locations in this as well. Everything else is really well done about this. As far as my knowledge goes this along with Soylent Green are among the earliest examples I've ever seen of the evil conglomerate corporation. As well made as this, as good a jib as Beatty does carrying this, and as much as this simmers withtension and paranoia, I have to say I felt like I wanted more...a lot more. This feels like it's missing parts that weren't explored enough throughout. Character & idea wise. Like Beatty's relationship with the woman reporter at the start. I would've loved to have seen more of Joe getting to see the Parallax Corporation building, the people, culture and more. I wanted to know more about their motivations, the clients, honestly a lot more world building. I just feel this is probably AT LEAST 30 minutes too short. This really doesn't do that and just gives the barebone minimum of a ending that feels like it's not fully fleshed out. The buildup just I feel sets up for so much more but left me satisifed and fustrated at the same time. Anyone though who is a fan of any actors in this, the director, or political thrillers will like this. I can see why this is a classic of it's genre. I do have to say, I would love to see a remake of this that fully fleshes out the ideas more. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 11/18/24 Full Review Audience Member I couldn't watch this on TCM as they had the volume set way too low. Warren Beatty looks ridiculous in that bushy 70's haircut, and they made the lovely Miss Prentice look like a Plain Jane, too. Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 09/15/24 Full Review David F The atmosphere of paranoia and suspicion is thick and overdeveloped, and the film starts out strong with a political assassination in the Seattle Space Needle - a shocking, unforgettable scene of political violence atop an American monument - but the weird sort of corporate, personality test-driven organization that seems to be behind it all is kind of a let down. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 09/10/24 Full Review Tom M A classic in the conspiracy thriller genre. Beatty's laid back demeanour is tested quite a few times in the film as he gets closer to the truth. Amazing direction from Pakula and a great supporting cast of fine character actors. And a typical 1970's cynical payoff. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 09/08/24 Full Review Kevin S Just too long and garbled. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 06/02/24 Full Review Kenneth P There are too many gaps and unexplained sequences. It's easy to fill in the gaps but this is a mostly unbelievable and silly movie and a waste of good talent. What Warren Beatty was able to get away with in many scenes were just laughable and I couldn't suspend enough of reality to fully enjoy the movie. Although passable I would pass on this turkey. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 01/14/24 Full Review Read all reviews
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Cast & Crew

The Parallax View

The Parallax View: Official Clip - One Way Out The Parallax View: Official Clip - One Way Out 1:15 The Parallax View: Official Clip - Warning Sign The Parallax View: Official Clip - Warning Sign 2:00 The Parallax View: Official Clip - Don't Touch Me Unless You Love Me The Parallax View: Official Clip - Don't Touch Me Unless You Love Me 2:09 The Parallax View: Official Clip - Recruitment Test The Parallax View: Official Clip - Recruitment Test 2:07 The Parallax View: Official Clip - Hammond's Assassination The Parallax View: Official Clip - Hammond's Assassination 1:36 The Parallax View: Official Clip - Boating Accident The Parallax View: Official Clip - Boating Accident 2:00 The Parallax View: Official Clip - Reporting the News, Not Creating It The Parallax View: Official Clip - Reporting the News, Not Creating It 1:53 The Parallax View: Official Clip - Space Needle Assassination The Parallax View: Official Clip - Space Needle Assassination 1:41 The Parallax View: Official Clip - Somebody's Trying to Kill Me The Parallax View: Official Clip - Somebody's Trying to Kill Me 1:48 The Parallax View: Official Clip - Cop Car Chase The Parallax View: Official Clip - Cop Car Chase 1:47 View more videos
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Movie Info

Synopsis After a presidential candidate is assassinated, political reporter Joe Frady (Warren Beatty) begins to suspect that the mysterious Parallax Corporation may be involved. As he investigates, others who share his suspicions start turning up dead, including his editor, Bill Rintels (Hume Cronyn). Eventually, Frady uncovers a conspiracy bigger than anyone expected and must race to prevent the corporation's next big hit as this political thriller plays out in an explosive game of cat and mouse.
Director
Alan J. Pakula
Producer
Alan J. Pakula
Screenwriter
David Giler, Lorenzo Semple Jr., Loren Singer
Distributor
Paramount Pictures
Production Co
Paramount Pictures, Harbor Productions, Doubleday Productions
Rating
R
Genre
Mystery & Thriller, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jun 14, 1974, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Feb 24, 2010
Runtime
1h 42m
Sound Mix
Stereo, Mono
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