Taglines: Hang on!
Cliffhanger movie storyline. Whilst crossing a ledge, 4000 feet above the earth, Gabe’s friend’s equipment fails to work and she slips out of his hand, falling to the ground. Almost a year later, Gabe is asked to go back to the same mountain range and rescue a group of ‘stranded’ people. The only catch is that these so called ‘stranded’ people are in fact looking for three boxes filled with $100,000,000 and they need a mountain ranger to lead them to them!
Cliffhanger is a 1993 American action adventure film directed by Renny Harlin and starring Sylvester Stallone, Michael Rooker, Janine Turner, and John Lithgow. Based on a concept by climber John Long, the film follows Gabe (played by Stallone, who co-wrote the screenplay), a mountain climber who becomes embroiled in the failed heist of a U.S. Treasury plane flying through the Rocky Mountains. The film earned $255 million worldwide.
About the Story
Rangers Gabriel “Gabe” Walker and Jessie Deighan are dispatched to rescue their friend Hal Tucker and his girlfriend Sarah after Hal suffered a knee injury and stranded them on a peak in the Colorado Rockies. As they try to rescue Sarah, part of her harness breaks, and though Gabe is able to grab her, her gloved hand slips out, and she falls to her death. Hal blames Gabe for Sarah’s death and Gabe is overcome with guilt, taking an extended leave.
Eight months later, Gabe returns to the ranger station to gather his remaining possessions and convince Jessie to leave with him. While there, they receive a distress call from a group of stranded climbers. Hal goes to locate the climbers and Jessie is able to convince Gabe to help out. Hal remains bitter towards Gabe over Sarah’s death, at one point threatening to send Gabe over a ledge.
When they find the climbers, they discover the distress call was a ruse and are taken prisoner by former Military Intelligence operative Eric Qualen and several mercenaries. Qualen, along with turncoat U.S. Treasury agent Richard Travers, were able to steal three suitcases full of uncirculated bills valuing over $100 million. Their escape plan backfired, sending their plane crashing into the mountain, and they now require Gabe and Hal’s help to locate the cases with the help of beacon locators.
At gunpoint, Gabe leads them to the first case, located at the top of a steep rock face. They force Gabe to tether himself to reach it, and Gabe uses the opportunity to escape. The mercenaries attempt to fire on Gabe, which causes an avalanche that kills one of their members.
When they see the money from the first case fluttering away, Qualen believes Gabe is dead, and orders Hal to lead them onward. Gabe races ahead to find Jessie at an abandoned cabin. They recover old mountaineering gear to reach the second case before Qualen does. By the time Qualen arrives, Gabe and Jessie have emptied the case and left only a single bill with the taunting message “Want to trade?” on it. Qualen orders his men to split up, allowing Gabe to dispatch two more of Qualen’s men.
Cliffhanger (1993)
Directed by: Renny Harlin
Starring: Sylvester Stallone, John Lithgow, Janine Turner, Michael Rooker, Caroline Goodall, Craig Fairbrass, Denis Forest, Michelle Joyner, Paul Winfield
Screenplay by: Michael France, Sylvester Stallone
Production Design by: John Vallone
Cinematography by: Alex Thomson
Film Editing by: Frank J. Urioste
Costume Design by: Ellen Mirojnick
Set Decoration by: Robert Gould, Cynthia Sleiter
Art Direction by: Maria-Teresa Barbasso, Aurelio Crugnola, Christiaan Wagener
Music by: Trevor Jones
MPAA Rating: R for violence and language.
Distributed by: TriStar Pictures
Release Date: May 28, 1993
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