The Parallax View

R

Released Jun 14, 1974

1h 42m

Mystery & Thriller

Drama

List

87%

Tomatometer

45 Reviews

78%

Audience Score

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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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.

Read Critics Reviews

Penelope Gilliatt

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

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

Roger Moore

Movie Nation

This isn’t the only political picture Hollywood icon Warren Beatty ever tackled. But it’s the most despairing.

Rated: 3/4

Jan 9, 2024

Full Review

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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

Alec B

It's silly in the way most of the paranoid conspiracy thrillers from the 70s are and yet it's not without genuine suspense. The opening sequence and the climax are both damn near perfectly executed.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/03/24

Full Review

Steve D

A frustrating resolution guts the ok thriller.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

03/17/23

Full Review

TheFilmReviewer 1

A definitively underrated film from the 70s, Alan J. Pakula's direction and Gordon Willis' camerawork and lighting provides an extremely dark overtone for a controversial film.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/02/23

Full Review

Shioka O

All the president's men is definitely better, but still a decent 70s conspiracy film by Pakula. Overall dry and subdued direction in my view, but the climax is particularly great cinematography.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

10/30/22

Full Review

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Alan J. Pakula

Director

Warren Beatty

Joseph Frady

Paula Prentiss

Lee Carter

William Daniels

Austin Tucker

Hume Cronyn

Bill Rintels

Kelly Thordsen

Sheriff L.D. Wicker

Show Less Cast & Crew

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The Parallax View: Official Clip - One Way Out

1:15

The Parallax View: Official Clip - Warning Sign

2:00

The Parallax View: Official Clip - Don't Touch Me Unless You Love Me

2:09

The Parallax View: Official Clip - Recruitment Test

2:07

The Parallax View: Official Clip - Hammond's Assassination

1:36

The Parallax View: Official Clip - Boating Accident

2:00

The Parallax View: Official Clip - Reporting the News, Not Creating It

1:53

The Parallax View: Official Clip - Space Needle Assassination

1:41

The Parallax View: Official Clip - Somebody's Trying to Kill Me

1:48

The Parallax View: Official Clip - Cop Car Chase

1:47

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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, Doubleday Productions, Harbor 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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