‘Deliverance’ at 50: Far More Than Just Dueling Banjos

Deliverance
Warner Bros. Pictures

Certain films bring on a visceral reaction just by hearing the title, regardless of how much time has passed since its release. Sometimes, that reaction is from the emotional takeaways of the story, state-of-the-art special effects, or superb acting. While other times, that reaction is based on one particular, unforgettable, infamous scene. 

THAT scene. A scene that defines the movie so much, it becomes ingrained in pop culture and spoofed and paid homage to by countless other creative entities. Arguably one of the best examples of this is 1972’s Deliverance.

While we won’t go into too much detail on THAT scene, it is the pivotal and foundational plot point on which the entire story rests, so analyzing it to some degree is essential. Though it’s been 50 years since it was released, Deliverance tackled heavy subject matters such as PTSD, sexual assault, and negative stereotypes that still remain pertinent today. Despite that, it’s also one of the most parodied and imitated stories in all of cinema. This is mostly due to those notorious quotable lines and the now-famous “Dueling Banjos” musical sequence. 

Warner Bros. Pictures

Starring Burt Reynolds (“Lewis”), Jon Voight (“Ed”), Ned Beatty (“Bobby”), and Ronny Cox (“Drew”), Deliverance tells the tale of four friends who take what is supposed to be an adventurous canoe trip down a river in the Appalachian wilderness before it’s set to be dammed. Their excursion quickly becomes a descent into hell when they are attacked and sexually assaulted by a pair of mountain men and are forced to kill them in self-defense. The psychological effects and moral quandaries that stem from this incident, as well as the varying opinions on how to handle it all, were virtually unheard of for a movie of its time. 

Some may be surprised to learn that Deliverance was first a novel written by James Dickey, who later wrote the screenplay and provided consulting on set, as well as making a cameo as Sheriff Bullard. Dickey is said to have been an intimidating presence during filming, behaving erratically and insisting on referring to the actors by their character’s names. Dickey also reportedly told director John Boorman and several cast members that he wrote Deliverance based on an account that actually happened to him but later recanted. Dickey also allegedly often showed up to set inebriated and even got into a fist fight with Boorman over a script dispute.

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Filming proved to be arduous for the cast as well, with the majority of scenes on the river involving the actors themselves without the use of stunt doubles. Several actors received injuries during the more intense rapid scenes due to capsizing canoes. Reynolds, in particular, injured his shoulder and sustained a concussion after crashing into rocks. Voight himself climbed the treacherous cliff in the scene involving his character and the second mountain man who is killed. 

Warner Bros. Pictures

Despite the struggles to produce it, Deliverance was a box office success upon its release, earning $46 million in domestic earnings, and also received a positive critical response. It would go on to be nominated for several Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director. Although shocked by the graphic sexual assault scene between two men, audiences were overall positive in their opinions, and the movie is often found on lists of the best movies ever made.

That aforementioned scene, and the ramifications the characters face as a direct result, provide powerful and thought-provoking psychological aspects to ponder. One assailant is killed during the attack, while the second manages to escape but is later found and also shot by the group. They agonize over how to deal with the bodies and what, if anything, they’ll tell authorities (and their families) once they return to civilization.

Deliverance
Warner Bros. Pictures

It’s a horrific situation that we all would hope to never find ourselves in, and impossible to accurately state what we would do and how we would act. The second half of the film examines this with surprising sensitivity, as well as the after-effects of such an appalling attack. The characters are shown suffering understandable PTSD and overwhelming guilt over taking the lives of other human beings.

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Alternatively, its depiction of the inhabitants of the area of Georgia where its set has also drawn heavy criticism over the decades. Some have called it culturally insensitive and demeaning, though both Dickey and Boorman have stated that it is simply a work of fiction and not meant to insult or stereotype any group.

The setting itself is almost its own character, providing a moody and isolating atmosphere that only adds to the tension. The entire story is based on the river’s navigation and how the area, and the people who live there, are constantly attempting to thwart these men from their goal. 

Deliverance
Warner Bros. Pictures

Fifty years later, Deliverance still has heavy influence and staying power in pop culture and society. It’s highly quotable, with an instantly recognizable music sequence and a scene that will forever send shivers down the spines of anyone who watches it. It was undoubtedly a film way ahead of its time, and although it is to this day still widely spoofed, it has a very serious and emotional undertone. It’s part horror, part survival film, and much more intelligent and deep than most give it credit for.

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