''Jump!'' is a 2007 British-Austrian

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. The drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular ...

written and directed by

Joshua Sinclair John Louis Loffredo (born May 7, 1953), known by the pen name Joshua Sinclair, is an American writer, actor, filmmaker and physician. Biography Sinclair was born John Louis Loffredo in New York City. He initially planned to be a missionary, an ...

and starring Ben Silverstone,

Patrick Swayze Patrick Wayne Swayze ( ; August 18, 1952 – September 14, 2009) was an American actor, singer, songwriter, and dancer. Known for his romantic, tough, and comedic roles in blockbusters and cult films, Swayze was nominated for three Golden Glob ...

and

Martine McCutcheon Martine Kimberley Sherrie McCutcheon (formerly Ponting, born 14 May 1976) is an English actress and singer. She began appearing in television commercials at an early age and made her television debut in the children's television drama '' Bluebir ...

. It is loosely based on the real-life Halsman murder case. The film was premiered during the 2007

Shanghai International Film Festival The Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF, , French: ''Festival international du film de Shanghai'') is the largest film festival in Asia and China's longest-running international cinema event. The first festival was established in Octobe ...

Synopsis

Set in Austria, in 1928, with the spectre of Nazism on the rise, a young

Jew Jews (, , ), or the Jewish people, are an ethnoreligious group and nation, originating from the Israelites of ancient Israel and Judah. They also traditionally adhere to Judaism. Jewish ethnicity, religion, and community are highly inte ...

Philippe Halsman Philippe Halsman (; ; 2 May 1906 – 25 June 1979) was an American portrait photographer. He was born in Riga in the part of the Russian Empire which later became Latvia, and died in New York City. Life and work Halsman was born in Riga to a Jew ...

, is accused of patricide after his father's death during a hike through the

Alps The Alps () are some of the highest and most extensive mountain ranges in Europe, stretching approximately across eight Alpine countries (from west to east): Monaco, France, Switzerland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Germany, Austria and Slovenia. ...

. His strained relationship with his father, and the apparent evidence that he has been struck on the head with a rock, point towards the son's guilt. Halsman is put on trial, in

Innsbruck Innsbruck (; ) is the capital of Tyrol (federal state), Tyrol and the List of cities and towns in Austria, fifth-largest city in Austria. On the Inn (river), River Inn, at its junction with the Wipptal, Wipp Valley, which provides access to the ...

, where his case is taken up by one of the country's leading lawyers.

Cast

* Ben Silverstone as Phillippe Halsman *

as Richard Pressburger *

as Liuba Halsman *

Stefanie Powers Stefanie Powers (born November 2, 1942) is an American actress. She is best known for her role as Jennifer Hart on the mystery television series ''Hart to Hart'' (1979–1984), for which she received nominations for two Primetime Emmy Awards an ...

as Katherine Wilkins *

Sybil Danning Sybil Danning (born Sybille Johanna Danninger; May 24, 1952) is an Austrian–American former actress, model, and film producer. She is best known for her frequent appearances in B movies during the 1970s and 1980s. Biography Early life Dannin ...

as Anna Gruber *

Heinz Hoenig Heinz Hoenig (born 24 September 1951) is a German actor who participated in over 100 feature films and TV productions. Filmography Accolades * 1982: category ''Nachwuchspreis'' * 1992: Telestar for ''Die Angst wird bleiben'' * 1993: Deut ...

as Morduch Halsman * Anja Kruse as Ita Halsman * Heinz Trixner as Emil Groeschel * Christoph Schobesberger as Siegfried Hohenleitner *

Richard Johnson Richard or Dick Johnson may refer to: Academics * Dick Johnson (academic) (1929–2019), Australian academic * Richard C. Johnson (1930–2003), professor of electrical engineering * Richard A. Johnson, artist and professor at the University of ...

as Judge Larcher * Wolfgang Fierek as Leopold Zipperer * Adi Hirschal as Dr. Stein * Alf Beinell as Franz Eicher * Christian K. Schaeffer as Johan Weiler * Erik Jan Rippmann as Josef Eder * Cornelia Albrecht as

Marilyn Monroe Marilyn Monroe ( ; born Norma Jeane Mortenson; June 1, 1926 August 4, 1962) was an American actress and model. Known for playing comic "Blonde stereotype#Blonde bombshell, blonde bombshell" characters, she became one of the most popular sex ...

* Bernd Jeschek as Josef Weil

Production

Producer Lily Berger has stated that she wanted the movie to serve as a "definitive account of what happened" and that she hoped that it "helps to rehabilitate Philippe Halsman’s name once and for all." The film had a budget of approximately six million Euros. Filming took place partially in

, Austria during 2006 and 850 extras were hired for ''Jump!''. Berger has stated that Swayze considered the film "his most important work".

Reception

LA Weekly ''LA Weekly'' is a free weekly alternative newspaper in Los Angeles, California. The paper covers music, arts, film, theater, culture, and other local news in the Los Angeles area. ''LA Weekly'' was founded in 1978 by Jay Levin (among others), ...

'' panned the film, calling it "Handsomely produced but dramatically inert." Linda Cook reviewed the movie for the ''

Quad City Times The ''Quad-City Times'' is a daily morning newspaper based in Davenport, Iowa, and circulated throughout the Quad Cities metropolitan area, including Davenport, Iowa, Davenport, Bettendorf, Iowa, Bettendorf and Scott County, Iowa, Scott County ...

'', praising the performances of Silverstone and Swayze.

References

External links

* * 2007 films 2007 drama films British drama films Austrian drama films English-language Austrian films Films set in 1928 Films set in Austria Films about murder Cultural depictions of Marilyn Monroe 2000s English-language films 2000s British films {{Austria-film-stub