Hooper (1978)

User Rating:

5.9/10   

Director:

Hal Needham

Writers:

Walt Green (story)
Walter S. Herndon (story)

Release Date:

28 July 1978 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Comedy

Tagline:

It just ain't summer without Burt!

Plot:

Aging stuntman Sonney Hooper is still on top as one of the best stuntmen in the business. But up and...

Plot Keywords:

Stunt | Stuntman | Rivalry | Friendship | Bar Fight

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 1 nomination

Cast

Burt Reynolds	...	Sonny Hooper
Jan-Michael Vincent	...	Ski Chinski
Sally Field	...	Gwen Doyle
Brian Keith	...	Jocko Doyle
John Marley	...	Max Berns
Robert Klein	...	Roger Deal
James Best	...	Cully
Adam West	...	Himself
Alfie Wise	...	Tony
Terry Bradshaw	...	Sherman, SWAT Commander
Norman Grabowski	...	Hammerhead (as Norm Grabowski)
George Furth	...	George Budwell, Humane Society Representative
Jim Burk	...	Jimbo
Don 'Red' Barry	...	Sheriff
Princess O'Mahoney	...	Wanda

Runtime:

99 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:L | Netherlands:AL | UK:A (original rating) | Germany:12 (2005, DVD-rating) | UK:PG (video) | Finland:K-16 | Norway:16 | Sweden:15 | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

Birmingham, Alabama, USA

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

When Hooper is asked to do the final gag while he is on the weight bench, he wears a Florida State University T-shirt. 'Burt Reynolds' attended Florida State University.

Goofs:

Audio/visual unsynchronized: When Sonny and Ski escape the cop (with the jet car) you hear the cop yell, "Great God Almighty!" but if you look into the rear view mirror his mouth isn't moving.

Quotes:

Singer: Everyone get drunk and be somebody!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: Master Ninja II (#4.24)" (1992)

HOOPER (Hal Needham, 1978) **1/2

A lightweight look at 'the life of a Hollywood stuntman' (as the song featured on the soundtrack would have it) directed by a former stunt co-ordinator. Likable and fun - it comes up with plenty of amusing situations (and, naturally, dangerous stunts) throughout - but, ultimately, it's pretty forgettable; certainly not up to the level of the more significant (and relatively more serious) THE STUNT MAN (1980). Still, it takes care to deal with the bodily harm long exposure to this kind of work puts on an individual, as well as the strain on personal relationships; the film also pays sentimental tribute to ageing exponents of this short-term field (in the persona of Brian Keith).

Lead Burt Reynolds is his usual mischievous, if limited, self; at one point, he shows hotshot newcomer Jan-Michael Vincent highlights from his past work - including scenes from John Boorman's DELIVERANCE (1972), an earlier Warner Bros. production which had co-starred Reynolds! The supporting cast includes Sally Fields as Reynolds' current girlfriend (and Keith's daughter), John Marley as a sympathetic film producer, James Best as Reynolds' sidekick, Adam West as the film star whom Reynolds' character usually doubles for - and, best of all, Robert Klein as Roger Deal, an egomaniacal film director who will stop at nothing for the sake of putting his "artistic" vision on the screen (a character reportedly based on Peter Bogdanovich, with whom Reynolds had worked on NICKELODEON [1976]!).