Hopscotch (1980)

A CIA agent tired of his incompetent colleagues retires and dares them to stop him from publishing an embarrassing book of memoirs.

Director:

Ronald Neame

Writers:

Brian Garfield (novel), Brian Garfield (screenplay),

Stars:

Walter Matthau, Glenda Jackson, Sam Waterston

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Walter Matthau	...	Miles Kendig / James Butler / Mr. Hannaway / Leonard Ross
Glenda Jackson	...	Isobel
Sam Waterston	...	Cutter
Ned Beatty	...	Myerson
Herbert Lom	...	Yaskov
David Matthau	...	Ross
George Baker	...	Westlake
Ivor Roberts	...	Ludlum
Lucy Saroyan	...	Carla
Severn Darden	...	Maddox
George Pravda	...	Saint Breheret
Jacquelyn Hyde	...	Realtor
Mike Gwilym	...	Alfie
Terry Beaver	...	Tobin
Ray Charleson	...	Clausen

Storyline

CIA agent Miles Kendig decides to get out of 'the game' and to ensure he's left alone he threatens to send his memoirs to the world's intelligence agencies. When the CIA doesn't believe him, he calls their bluff and starts writing and sending out chapters one by one. Realizing that their operations would be compromised, the CIA (led by Myerson and Cutter) set out to put an end to Kendig's plan by whatever means necessary. The heart of the movie follows a game of cat and mouse between a fumbling CIA and an artful Kendig.

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Plot Keywords:

cia | memoir | spy | seaplane | false passport | 

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Taglines:

The most dangerous man in the world. He's about to expose the CIA, the FBI, the KGB...and himself.

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Genres:

Adventure | Comedy

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English German French Russian

Release Date:

10 October 1980 (Finland)

Also Known As:

Agenten som pratade för mycket

Filming Locations:

Atlanta, Georgia, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Edie & Ely Landau Inc., International Film Investors, Sham Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

106 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Glenda Jackson was cast as Isobel in the film on the suggestion of Walter Matthau. The film is the second and final star teaming of actors Walter Matthau and Glenda Jackson who had previously starred together two years previous in House Calls.

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Goofs

In the scene where Kendig is chased by FBI cars in Georgia, and spills the oil on the road, we see it as he left it, then again a moment later as the FBI cars career off the road. The splash-pattern of the oil on the road is different in the two cases.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Kendig: Hey Yaskov, how are ya?
Yaskov: Kendig. What as unexpected pleasure.
Kendig: May I have it please?
Yaskov: Have what?
Kendig: I got it all on film, Yaskov. You don't want to deal with the West Germans, they don't like Russian Intelligence, you know that. Just give it to me, and we'll forget all about it.
Yaskov: I could make a run for it, you know.
Kendig: Come on, Yaskov. You running, me chasing? We'd look like Laurel and Hardy.

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Connections

References Casablanca (1942)

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Soundtracks

"Largo Al Factotum"
Sung by Tito Gobbi
From The Barber of Seville by Gioachino Rossini (as Rossini)
Courtesy of Capitol-Angel Records and EMI Records Ltd.

User Reviews

Perfect Fun

Walter and Glenda together again after House Calls, what more could you ask for? Witty intelligent comedy, a romance between two not so beautiful people and despite the sweetness and the light touch you still worry about how its all going to turn out. Why don't they make movies like this any more?

For the record this is the story of a CIA man who quits when he's given a desk job and then gives everyone in the spy business kittens by writing is autobiography. Its wicked fun.

Perhaps the only flaw, and the reason the film is rated R is that Ned Beatty curses up a blue streak needlessly, the again since no one else does it simply shows how out of place he is.

See this movie. Do not pass go, do not collect two hundred dollars, just go get this movie and enjoy.