john boorman deliverance concern four suburban atlanta dweller who take a ride down the swift water of the cahulawassee the river be about to disappear for a dam construction and the flooding of the last untamed stretch of land the four friend emphasize different character represent a virile sport enthusiast who have never be insure in his life since there be no specific risk in it ( burt reynolds ) while a passionate family man and a guitar player ( ronny cox ) while an overweight bachelor insurance salesman ( ned beatty ) while and a quiet and thoughtful married man with a son who love to smoke his pipe ( jon voight ) . what follow be the men nightmarish exploration against the hostile violence of nature it be also an ideal code of moral principle about civilize men fall prey to the dark law of the wilderness superbly shot and this thrill adult adventure certainly contain some genuinely gripping scene .