Carroll Ballard is a Great Director in his own right, BUT...

The true savior of this overlooked MASTERPIECE was the DP ( Director of Photography) Caleb Deschanel.

So as usual, my fixation became of one to research this lost, unjustly misplaced CLASSIC PG movie. And I find out through several sources that Mr. Deschanel went over and beyond what the typical DP would do in order to get the BEST takes. This MARVELOUS movie was shot in just over two years, much of the length had to do with Location problems( Toronto racetrack had record rains and two-feet of slush to drain out, taking weeks on end), but Mr. Deschanel did what he had to do.

The Director, Caroll Ballard should get Kudos for allowing his crew to work their MAGIC. Mr. Ballard gives great appropriate Kudos for how Mr. Deschanel did get the work "in the can".

Kudos for Francis Ford Cappola, who hired Mr. Ballard, they were classmates at UCLA's TFT school in the 1970's, and everything Mr. Cappola touches has a chance at a breakout hit. I won't roll off the DOZEN masterpieces he has been involved in over his career. If you don't know what Mr. Cappola has done in Cinema, me stringing out Timeless CLASSICS won't do you justice here.