When Time Ran Out (1980)

22% of users liked it
(201 ratings)

After producer Irwin Allen highlighted the dangers of fire in the Towering Inferno and the dangers of water in the Poseidon Adventure, he is back to fire again but this time it is within the earth, at least for awhile. This fairly routine disaster film is set on a resort island with a volcano that… More After producer Irwin Allen highlighted the dangers of fire in the Towering Inferno and the dangers of water in the Poseidon Adventure, he is back to fire again but this time it is within the earth, at least for awhile. This fairly routine disaster film is set on a resort island with a volcano that is beginning to rumble. Stars include a long list of names: Paul Newman is Hank, the savvy oil driller who gets people to safety even against their will, Jacqueline Bisset is the woman he is interested in, William Holden, Eddie Albert, Barbara Carrera, Veronica Hamel and several others play individuals trapped on the island. Hank convinces some people to follow him to the highest part of the island as the volcano gets set to blow its top. They encounter several dangerous situations after the dormant volcano wakes up but nothing quite like the non-stop, action filled, death-defying scenes from the explosion of volcano movies that hit the screens in 1997: Dante's Peak, Volcano, Eruption, Volcano: Fire in the Mountain, and a few more from around the world. They formed a virtual 1997 "ring of fire." ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG, 2 hr. 24 min.
Directed By: James Goldstone
Genres: Action & Adventure

In Theaters: Mar 28, 1980 Wide
On DVD: Feb 17, 2009
Studio: Warner Home Video

Critic Reviews

John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
The characters in the film may find themselves running out of time, but the filmmakers never run out of clichés.
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
...starts running out of entertainment value pretty early and continues on fumes until it sputters to a close.
, Film4
Appalling.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
With cheesy special effects (even the volcano isn't convincing, considering the film cost $20 million) and a hole-ridden script, this film offers precious little to like.
, Time Out
A real movie disaster.

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Featured Audience Ratings

jay n

Dumb unbelievable disaster movie from the end of that cycle that inexplicably stars some of the biggest stars of the 70's. Everybody seems pretty disengaged and it's sad to see William Holden once so vital and charismatic a burnt out shell, alcoholic and rather haunted. The… More
Dumb unbelievable disaster movie from the end of that cycle that inexplicably stars some of the biggest stars of the 70's. Everybody seems pretty disengaged and it's sad to see William Holden once so vital and charismatic a burnt out shell, alcoholic and rather haunted. The special effects are laughably bad and the whole thing moves at a snail's pace.

Cast

            Paul Newman as Hank Anderson

            Jacqueline Bisset as Kay Kirby

            William Holden as Shelby Gilmore

            Edward Albert as Brian

            Red Buttons as Francis Fendly

            Barbara Carrera as Iolani

            Valentina Cortese as Rose Valdez

            Alex Karras as Tiny Baker

            Burgess Meredith as Rene Valdez

            Ernest Borgnine as Tom Conti

            James Franciscus as Bob Spangler

            John Considine as John Webster

            Sheila Allen as Mona

            Noriyuki 'Pat' Morita as Sam

            David Bair as 2nd Male Guest

            Lonny Chapman as Kelly

            Esmond Chung as Man

            James W. Gavin as Helicopter Hijacker

            Ted Gehring as Durant

            Veronica Hamel as Nikki Spangler

            Sandy Kenyon as Henderson

            Darrell Larson as Webster's Assistant

            Steven Marlo as Co-Pilot

            Bill Smille as Man in Bar

            M. James Arnett as Jim

            Glynn Rubin as Marsha

            Marcia Nicholson as Hotel Guest

            Ava Readdy as Delores
See full cast