StudioCanal in the UK has announced a new release of the Walter Hill classic from 1978, The Driver starring Ryan O’Neal and Bruce Dern.
A cool cult classic cited by directors including Quentin Tarantino (Pulp Fiction, Kill Bill), Edgar Wright (Baby Driver) and Nicolas Winding Refn (Drive) as a major influence on their work, THE DRIVER was written and directed by Walter Hill (The Warriors) and first released in 1978.
The film stars Ryan O’Neal (Love Story), Bruce Dern (Nebraska) and Isabelle Adjani (Possession). O’Neal plays a getaway driver whose exceptional talent has prevented him from being caught, Dern plays the relentless detective who sets out to trap him and Adjani plays the mysterious gambler who goes along for the thrill of the game.
The neo-noir action thriller takes place in the dark streets of a deserted downtown LA and features a number of breath-taking car chase sequences, celebrated as some of the greatest in movie history, including The Driver hot-wiring a Ford to make good an escape from a casino heist, before being pursued by a succession of police cars; a thrilling set piece where The Driver demonstrates his abilities during the infamous destruction of a Mercedes in an underground car park; and the end chase which is an exhilarating, superbly shot sequence from the freeway to an abandoned warehouse for a tense final showdown.
Special Features and Technical Specs:
- NEW 4K RESTORATION OF THE FILM BY COLORWORKS SUPERVISED BY WALTER HILL
- HDR PRESENTATION OF THE FILM
- NEW Masterclass: Walter Hill – An exclusive masterclass with writer-director Walter Hill recorded at Reims Competition 2022
- NEW Interview with Walter Hill
- Alternate opening sequence
- Trailer
- Teasers
- Optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature
The new 4K restoration of The Driver was prepared at Colorworks and finalised under the supervision of director Walter Hill. New HDR and SDR grades were prepared at Roundabout Entertainment in Los Angeles.
