Running Against Time

{{short description|1990 American science fiction television film}}

{{Infobox television

| image = Running_Against_Time_Film_Poster-VHS_cover.jpg

| alt =

| caption = VHS artwork

| genre = Science fiction

| director = Bruce Seth Green

| teleplay = {{Plainlist|

Stanley Shapiro
Robert Glass

}}

| based_on = {{based on|A Time to Remember|Stanley Shapiro}}

| starring = {{Plainlist|

}}

| music = Don Davis

| country = United States

| language = English

| executive_producer = {{Plainlist|

Pat Finnegan
Sheldon Pinchuk

}}

| producer = David Roessell

| cinematography = Brian R. R. Hebb

| editor = Heather Jo MacDougall

| company = {{Plainlist|

Finnegan/Pinchuk Productions
MCA Television Entertainment
Coastline Partners

}}

| network = USA Network

| released = {{Start date|1990|11|21}}

| runtime = 92 minutes

| budget =

}}

Running Against Time is a 1990 American science fiction television film directed by Bruce Seth Green, written by Stanley Shapiro and Robert Glass, and starring Robert Hays, Catherine Hicks, and Sam Wanamaker. Based on Shapiro's 1986 novel A Time to Remember, the film is about a college professor who travels back in time in an attempt to prevent the assassination of John F. Kennedy. The film was Shapiro's final work; it aired on the USA Network on November 21, 1990, four months after his death, and was dedicated to his memory.

Plot

A college professor, who has not recovered after the death of his brother in Vietnam, hears rumors about a famous professor working on a time machine. He meets him and persuades the professor to send him back in time in order to stop the assassination of John F. Kennedy and the Vietnam War, but things don't go according to plan.{{Cite web|title=Running against Time (1990)|url=https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b7af4aa31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210130024535/https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b7af4aa31|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 30, 2021|access-date=2021-01-25|website=BFI|language=en}}{{Citation|last=Green|first=Bruce Seth|title=Running Against Time|date=1990-11-21|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0100529/|type=Sci-Fi|others=Robert Hays, Catherine Hicks, Sam Wanamaker, Wayne Tippit|publisher=Coastline Partners, Finnegan/Pinchuk Productions, MCA Television Entertainment (MTE)|access-date=2021-01-25}}

File:Running_Against_Time_Alternative_Cover.jpg

Cast

Robert Hays as David Rhodes
Catherine Hicks as Laura Whittaker
Sam Wanamaker as Hendryk Koopman, Ph.D.
Wayne Tippit as FBI Agent Landry
James DiStefano as Lee Harvey Oswald
Paul Scherrer as Chris Rhodes
Brian Smiar as President Lyndon B. Johnson
Milt Tarver as FBI Agent Clemens
Russ Marin as Chris's Doctor
Julie Ariola as Mrs. Rhodes
Duncan Gamble as Mr. Rhodes
Damion Stevens as Young David
Michael Whaley as Security Guard

Reception

Ken Tucker, writing for Entertainment Weekly called the movie "simultaneously solemn and wacky" but "not without charm".{{Cite web|title=Running Against Time|url=https://ew.com/article/1990/11/16/running-against-time/|access-date=2021-01-25|website=EW.com|language=EN}} The LA Times compared it unfavorably to the Back to the Future films.{{Cite web|last=|first=|last2=|last3=|first3=|last4=|last5=|last6=|last7=|last8=|first8=|last9=|date=1990-11-21|title=TV Review : 'Against Time' on USA|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-11-21-ca-4470-story.html|access-date=2021-01-25|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US}}

Years later, the similarities and differences with Stephen King's novel 11/22/63 and its TV adaptation, were referenced by critics.{{Cite web|title=11.22.63 Bonus Episode 3: A Time To Remember Running Against Time – 11.22.63|url=https://barrenspace.com/112263/11-22-63-bonus-episode-3-a-time-to-remember-running-against-time/|access-date=2021-01-25|website=barrenspace.com}}