| Natural Causes | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | James Becket |
| Written by | Jake Raymond Needham |
| Produced by | Jake Raymond Needham |
| Starring |
|
| Cinematography | Denis Maloney |
| Edited by | Rick Fields |
| Music by | Nathan Wang |
Production company | Pacific Rim Productions |
| Distributed by | Columbia TriStar Home Video |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 90 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Natural Causes is a 1994 American political action thriller film directed by James Becket and written and produced by Jake Raymond Needham.[1][2] It stars Janis Paige,[3] Ken Wisan, Joke Tachalom, Popin Kukiatto, Tim Thomerson, Linda Purl, Kenneth Brady, Somsak Pansene, Mathee Sirijantra, and Robert Radford as former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger.[1][2]
Plot
A plot involving Vietnamese refugees is linked to the death of an American's mother in Bangkok.
Cast
- Janis Paige as Mrs. MacCarthy
- Ken Wisan as Nguyen
- Joke Tachalom as Guard
- Popin Kukiatton as Ice Cream Vendor
- Tim Thomerson as The Westerner
- Linda Purl as Jessie MacCarthy
- Robert Radford as former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger
- Kenneth Brady as Kissinger's Advisor
- Somsak Pansene as General Giap
- Mathee Sirijantra as Thai Foreign Minister
- Komson Bhibalkul as Security Man
- James Murphy as Diplomat
- Umporn Pankratork as Male Servant
- Ali MacGraw as Fran Jakes
- Kasem Poungkaew as Police Clerk
- Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa as Major Somchai
- Manop Siangsodsai as Temple Clerk
- Chokechai Tanitkul as Vietnamese #1
- Will Patton as Michael Murphy
- Chalerm Tongkrajang as Vietnamese #2
- Usana Pubhitak as Ticket Agent
- Jeremy Harrington as TV Correspondent
- Natayada Na Songkhl as Tall Man
- Siraya Chunekamrai as Thai Bartender
- Narinporn Narvrin as No #31
- Jerome Gillis as Marine Guard
- Eric Rosser as Embassy Employee
- Marc Anthony as Marine Guard
- Ryan Young as Blond Man
Release
Natural Causes was shown at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival on March 5, 1994.[4] It was released direct-to-video in the United States by Columbia TriStar Home Video on November 7, 1995.[5][6]
Reception
Critical response
Emanuel Levy, of Variety states in his review: "Set in Bangkok, Natural Causes is a messy, incoherent political thriller about a young American woman who finds herself in the midst of a plot to assassinate former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger. Pic makes good use of Bangkok's colorful scenery, but its roguish, muddled plot and maladroit, uninvolving direction should take it straight to video domestically, with some possibilities for theatrical release offshore."[4]
References
- 1 2 "Natural Causes". Turner Classic Movies. Atlanta: Turner Broadcasting System (Time Warner). Retrieved August 24, 2016.
- 1 2 "Natural Causes". Hollywood.com. Boca Raton, Florida: Hollywood.com, LLC. Retrieved August 24, 2016.
- ↑ Verswijver 2013, p. 141.
- 1 2 Levy, Emanuel (March 13, 1994). "Review: 'Natural Causes'". Variety. United States: Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved August 24, 2016.
- ↑ The Washington Post (November 2, 1995). "DIRECTOR MAKES HASH OF CLASSIC HORROR FILM". News & Record. Retrieved March 29, 2022.
- ↑ McQueen, Max (December 24, 1995). "SOMETIMES EVEN BIG STARS HAVE TO BYPASS BIG SCREEN". Deseret News. Retrieved March 29, 2022.
Sources
- Verswijver, Leo (2013). Movies Were Always Magical: Interviews with 19 Actors, Directors and Producers from the Hollywood of the 1930s through the 1950s. New York City: McFarland & Company. p. 141. ISBN 978-0786411290.