White Sands (1992): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot
White Sands is a 1992 action thriller directed by Roger Donaldson, starring Samuel L. Jackson, Maura Tierney and Willem Dafoe. It runs 1 hour 41 minutes and earned $9 million worldwide. Critics gave it 46 on Metacritic.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 41m (101 min)
- Director
- Roger Donaldson
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Warner Bros.
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is White Sands About?
The premise of White Sands without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
In rural New Mexico, a local sheriff's investigation into a discovered body and a suitcase of money spirals into a dangerous game of deception. Assuming the dead man's identity, he infiltrates a network of ruthless gun runners and uncovers a conspiracy involving corrupt FBI agents. He must navigate a high-stakes operation, risking his life to expose the truth and bring the criminals to justice.
White Sands Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- new mexico desert
- iran contra
- covert operation
- government conspiracy
- cia conspiracy
- aerial camera shot
- fbi federal bureau of investigation
- cia central intelligence agency
- white briefs
- dark comedy
- suitcase
- investigation
+38 more Show fewer
- desert
- sheriff
- suitcase full of money
- lightning
- rainstorm
- heavy rain
- assumed identity
- existentialism
- rich woman
- yelling
- revelation
- sports car
- violence
- blood splatter
- cynicism
- ambush
- arrest
- nosebleed
- pool of blood
- blood
- macguffin
- american midwest
- cow
- fundraiser
- montage
- paranoia
- slow motion scene
- hit by a car
- foot chase
- chase
- exploding car
- explosion
- rocket launcher
- bazooka
- c4 explosives
- machine gun
- revolver
- pistol
White Sands Cast
Samuel L. Jackson leads the cast, with Maura Tierney and Willem Dafoe. Directed by Roger Donaldson; 10 actors are credited in all.
-
Director Roger Donaldson
Also Starring in White Sands
· 6 moreMore from Roger Donaldson
More films directed by Roger Donaldson, best-rated first: No Way Out, The World's Fastest Indian, Thirteen Days and The Bounty.
White Sands Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave White Sands 46 on Metacritic.
-
Metacritic 46 Metascore
See on Metacritic
White Sands Plot Summary
What happens in White Sands from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Ray Dolezal, a bored Torrance County deputy sheriff, played by Samuel L. Jackson, investigates what looks like a desert suicide. Next to the body of Bob Spencer lies a suitcase stuffed with $500,000, and an autopsy reveals a digested scrap of paper bearing a phone number. Dolezal, assuming the identity of Spencer, calls the number, follows a lead to a meeting, is robbed, and told to rendezvous with Gorman Lennox, a gripping figure who operates at the edge of the law in a restaurant setting. The encounter rattles him, and FBI agent Greg Meeker, who intercepts Dolezal, explains that Spencer was actually an undercover agent. With the money now gone, Meeker urges Dolezal to either continue posing as Spencer to recover the cash or to help arrest Lennox.
Full summary
The whole story of White Sands, scene by scene
White Sands Box Office
White Sands grossed $9 million worldwide.
Worldwide gross
$9M
- US & Canada
- $9M
White Sands Trailers & Videos
2 videos: 2 trailers.
- Trailer White Sands (1992) ORIGINAL TRAILER
How Well Do You Know White Sands?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
Which actor portrays deputy sheriff Ray Dolezal?
Cars in White Sands
33 cars on screen, including the 1966 Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray C2 and the 1983 Chevrolet K-Series.
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1966 Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray C2 Main role -
1983 Chevrolet K-Series Important role -
1984 Dodge Diplomat Important role -
1986 Dodge Ramcharger Important role
White Sands Also Known As
16 alternative titles, including “White Sands - Der große Deal” and “Białe Piaski”.
- Also known as
-
- White Sands - Der große Deal
- Białe Piaski
- White Sands - Tracce nella sabbia
- Белые пески
- Arenas blancas
- Sables mortels
- Fehér sivatag
- חולות לבנים
- Areias Brancas
- Бели пясъци
- Білі піски
- Het sand
+4 more Show fewer
- 화이트 샌드
- 血溅黄沙
- Bílé písky, თეთრი ქვიშები
- Areias Escaldantes
Seen White Sands?
Movies Like White Sands
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Desert Saints, Desert Dawn and Sand.
White Sands FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of White Sands, each answered in a sentence.
How long is White Sands?
White Sands runs 1 hour 41 minutes (101 minutes).
When was White Sands released?
White Sands was released on April 24, 1992.
Who directed White Sands?
White Sands was directed by Roger Donaldson.
More films by Roger Donaldson Who is in the cast of White Sands?
White Sands stars Samuel L. Jackson, Maura Tierney and Willem Dafoe, among 10 credited actors.
How much did White Sands make at the box office?
White Sands grossed $9 million worldwide.
How is White Sands rated?
White Sands has 46 on Metacritic.
Does White Sands have a post-credit scene?
No. White Sands has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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