The Escape Artist
The remarkable story of an unusual boy who takes on the world...and wins.
1982 | 94m | English
Popularity: 1 (history)
| Director: | Caleb Deschanel |
|---|---|
| Writer: | David Wagoner, Stephen Zito, Melissa Mathison |
| Staring: |
| The young and self-confident Danny bluffs at the local police-station that he will escape from prison within an hour. What follows is a flashback showing his childhood with his uncle and aunt, who are 'vaudeville'-artists themselves. | |
| Release Date: | May 28, 1982 |
|---|---|
| Director: | Caleb Deschanel |
| Writer: | David Wagoner, Stephen Zito, Melissa Mathison |
| Genres: | Comedy, Crime, Drama |
| Keywords | based on novel or book, magic, escape artist, magician |
| Production Companies | American Zoetrope |
| Box Office |
Revenue: $143,369
Budget: $0 |
| Updates |
Updated: Jan 29, 2026 Entered: Apr 20, 2024 |
| Name | Character |
|---|---|
| Raúl Juliá | Stu Quiñones |
| Griffin O'Neal | Danny Masters |
| Desi Arnaz | Mayor Leon Quiñones |
| Teri Garr | Arlene |
| Joan Hackett | Aunt Sibyl |
| Gabriel Dell | Uncle Burke |
| John P. Ryan | Vernon |
| E. G. Daily | Sandra |
| M. Emmet Walsh | Fritz |
| Jackie Coogan | Magic Shop Owner |
| Hal Williams | Cop at Mayor's Office |
| Helen Page Camp | Neighbor |
| David Clennon | Newspaper Editor |
| Harry Caesar | Sax Player |
| Huntz Hall | Turnkey |
| Harry Anderson | Harry Masters |
| George Brengel | Water Commissioner |
| Carlin Glynn | Treasurer's Secretary |
| Isabel Cooley | Secretary at Newspaper Office |
| Tom Signorelli | Mailbox Cop |
| George Cantero | Jail Trustee |
| Harry Cohn | Jailmate |
| James Howard | Cop at Bridal Shop |
| R. Wayne Kruse | Reporter |
| Margaret Ladd | Reporter |
| Tom Mahoney | M.C. |
| Garry Marshall | Drummer |
| Doug McGrath | Photographer |
| Susi Sherman | Woman at Club |
| Richard Bradford | Sam (uncredited) |
| Name | Job |
|---|---|
| Caleb Deschanel | Director |
| Dean Tavoularis | Production Design |
| Aggie Guerard Rodgers | Costumer |
| Sandra Lee Gimpel | Stunt Double |
| Arthur Schmidt | Editor |
| Angelo P. Graham | Art Direction |
| Bruce A. Gibeson | Set Decoration |
| George R. Nelson | Set Decoration |
| Lola 'Skip' McNalley | Hairstylist |
| David Wagoner | Novel |
| Stephen Zito | Screenplay |
| Barbara Johnson | Casting |
| James J. Murakami | Art Direction |
| Gloria Gresham | Costume Design |
| Michael Germain | Makeup Artist |
| Lawrence J. Cavanaugh | Special Effects |
| Robert Blalack | Visual Effects |
| Andy Anderson | Second Assistant Director |
| Joe R. Marquette Jr. | Camera Operator |
| Dustin Blauvelt | First Assistant Camera |
| Peter Sorel | Still Photographer |
| Don Smetzer | Still Photographer |
| James E. Webb | Sound |
| Chris McLaughlin | Sound |
| Betsy Norton | Script Supervisor |
| Gildo A. Scarano | Costumer |
| Daniel Allan Carlin | Music Producer |
| Curt Sobel | Music Editor |
| Stephen Semel | Assistant Editor |
| Gregg Barbanell | Sound Editor |
| Ron Horwitz | Sound Editor |
| John Leveque | Sound Editor |
| Emmett Brown | Key Grip |
| Lou Tobin | Gaffer |
| John Zemansky | Property Master |
| Robert Scaife | Construction Coordinator |
| Dennis Hollis | Transportation Coordinator |
| Elise Rohden | Production Coordinator |
| Penny McCarthy | Production Coordinator |
| Anthony Cunningham | Location Manager |
| Sam Mercer | Location Manager |
| Jeff Jaffee | Location Manager |
| Kathleen Sacchi | Dialogue Coach |
| Jean Gonzalez | Studio Teacher |
| Wayne Fitzgerald | Title Designer |
| Melissa Mathison | Screenplay |
| Georges Delerue | Original Music Composer |
| Stephen H. Burum | Director of Photography |
| Jane Jenkins | Casting |
| Barrie M. Osborne | Unit Production Manager |
| Michael Haley | First Assistant Director |
| Mark Radcliffe | Additional Second Assistant Director |
| Name | Title |
|---|---|
| Doug Claybourne | Producer |
| Buck Houghton | Producer |
| Francis Ford Coppola | Executive Producer |
| Fred Roos | Executive Producer |
| Organization | Category | Person |
|---|
Popularity History
| Year | Month | Avg | Max | Min |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 4 | 6 | 9 | 3 |
| 2024 | 5 | 6 | 11 | 3 |
| 2024 | 6 | 4 | 8 | 2 |
| 2024 | 7 | 6 | 15 | 3 |
| 2024 | 8 | 5 | 12 | 2 |
| 2024 | 9 | 4 | 7 | 2 |
| 2024 | 10 | 3 | 7 | 1 |
| 2024 | 11 | 3 | 7 | 1 |
| 2024 | 12 | 4 | 7 | 2 |
| 2025 | 1 | 5 | 14 | 2 |
| 2025 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 1 |
| 2025 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 1 |
| 2025 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 1 |
| 2025 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 1 |
| 2025 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| 2025 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2025 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2025 | 9 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| 2025 | 10 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| 2025 | 11 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| 2025 | 12 | 2 | 6 | 0 |
| 2026 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 0 |
| 2026 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Trending Position