The life of renowned runner Steve Prefontaine and his relationship with legendary coach Bill Bowerman.
Acting
Crudup disappears into Pre's chaotic charisma.
Direction
Towne's only film—obsessive detail in every frame.
Cinematography
Oregon's misty tracks shot like cathedral interiors.
Director
Robert Towne
Billy Crudup
Steve Prefontaine
Donald Sutherland
Bill Bowerman
Monica Potter
Mary Marckx
Jeremy Sisto
Frank Shorter
Matthew Lillard
Roscoe Devine
Dean Norris
Bill Dellinger
Billy Burke
Kenny Moore
Gabriel Olds
Don Kardong
Judith Ivey
Barbara Bowerman
William Mapother
Bob Peters
Amy Jo Johnson
Iowa's finest
Katharine Towne
Coed #1
Lisa Banes
Elfriede Prefontaine
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Towne spent 20 years trying to make this after abandoning a 1970s version with Kurt Russell. The running scenes used Steadicam operators on modified golf carts to capture that floating track sensation.
Released same year as 'Prefontaine' with Jared Leto—this film lost the box office race despite being the superior portrait. The dueling biopics phenomenon basically killed both.
US
