In what year was the movie "Midnight Run" supposed to be set?
March 12, 2016 6:49 PM   Subscribe

To settle a bet: can anyone determine, from any particular props, signage, etc., in what year the movie "Midnight Run" took place? We know it was released in 1988, but we want to know if the setting was contemporary. I say yes, it took place in the late eighties; my friend thinks it took place in the early eighties.
posted by not_on_display to Media & Arts (9 answers total)
 
I still have the VHS, But I don't think I can pinpoint any chrono tells. Marvin's car seems old model, but that's not really helpful (car might be 10+ years old).

"But if I WERE your accountant..."
posted by Pax at 7:06 PM on March 12, 2016


The script I have (dated July 31, 1987) doesn't specify it being anything but contemporary. Changing the signage back to an earlier time period would be a hassle and would cost more money, and I'd argue it's not really worth it for a minor hop from 1987 to early 80s unless the story specifically called for it, and I don't see why it would.

If you want to be sure, you could check the airport scenes. Apparently the McCarran International Airport had a remodel in 1985:

The first phase of McCarran 2000 opened in 1985 and was completed by 1987, with the opening of the C-Gates satellite concourse and the airport's first people mover line, which links the central terminal to the south end of the concourse.

I don't have the movie around, so I can't check if they saw a people mover. Of course they might've shot it in some other airport to save money, but the script called specifically called the airport "gorgeous" so maybe they were buttering up airport officials to get it as a location?
posted by bluecore at 7:16 PM on March 12, 2016 [1 favorite]


Best answer: At around 1:44:51 there is a shot of the Las Vegas review journal with the headline "US, Canada sign historic trade agreement". This references the Canada–United States Free Trade Agreement, signed by the leaders of both countries on January 2, 1988.
posted by dilaudid at 7:16 PM on March 12, 2016 [21 favorites]


Script, if it helps.
posted by MonkeyToes at 7:19 PM on March 12, 2016 [1 favorite]


Best answer: my friend thinks it took place in the early eighties.

ಠ_ಠ We have been together for nearly eight years!

dilaudid's intel is convincing. I owe you $.50 and will have to adjust to the fact that myt high school and college years were a really long time ago....
posted by jessamyn at 7:20 PM on March 12, 2016 [33 favorites]


I don't know if this settles anything definitively but here's a gallery of the (many) cars featured, which includes several 86/87 models.
posted by drlith at 7:26 PM on March 12, 2016 [1 favorite]


Response by poster: thanks, everyone! and dilaudid, nice sleuthing. 50¢ is mine! I'm going to open a nice coffee shop with that.
posted by not_on_display at 7:30 PM on March 12, 2016 [11 favorites]


I'm going to open a nice coffee shop with that.

Oh, very nicely done!

Also, the soundtrack is simply wonderful. I have it on cassette somewhere and listened to it like a jillion times before I phased tapes out of my life. I miss it :7(
posted by wenestvedt at 9:58 AM on March 14, 2016


Response by poster: Yeah, that was one of the things we were trying to use to date the movie: it was a Danny Elfman soundtrack.
posted by not_on_display at 8:28 PM on March 14, 2016


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