Deliverance (1972) - John Boorman - Cinematic Flashback

This week, we take a trip downriver that we’ll never forget.

This week on The Cinematic Flashback Podcast, Chuck is joined by guest host Jay Kirk to explore Deliverance (1972), directed by John Boorman and starring Jon Voight, Burt Reynolds, Ned Beatty, and Ronnie Cox. A harrowing tale of survival and violence in the Georgia wilderness, the film remains one of the most unsettling and talked-about thrillers of the 1970s.

• The powerhouse performances by Voight, Reynolds, Beatty, and Cox
• Vilmos Zsigmond’s stunning cinematography and shooting on the Chattooga River
• James Dickey’s novel and his behind-the-scenes clashes with John Boorman
• The cultural impact of “Dueling Banjos” and its eerie legacy
• Masculinity, man versus nature, and the moral ambiguities of survival
• Whether Deliverance still grooves or skips a beat in our final verdict

Jay brings unique insight into the film’s haunting atmosphere, its unforgettable moments of violence, and why the story continues to spark debate fifty years later. He also shares his personal memories of taking classes with author James Dickey at the University of South Carolina, offering a rare firsthand connection to the film’s literary roots.

If you’re drawn to films that push boundaries, unsettle audiences, and leave lasting cultural scars, this episode will help you see Deliverance in a new light.

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Music by: “1975” – Josh Kirsch / Media Right Productions

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