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Grounded with a desk job by incompetent superiors, a clever CIA agent retires and writes a tell all memoir that will embarrass his bosses, prompting him to go on the run and elude them.

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(novel), (screenplay) | 1 more credit »
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Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 2 nominations. See more awards »

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
...
...
...
...
...
David Matthau ...
Ross
...
Westlake
Ivor Roberts ...
Ludlum
Lucy Saroyan ...
Severn Darden ...
Maddox
George Pravda ...
Saint Breheret
Jacquelyn Hyde ...
Realtor
Mike Gwilym ...
Alfie
Terry Beaver ...
Tobin
Ray Charleson ...
Clausen
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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. Written by P. Wong <pwong@nt.net>

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Taglines:

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

Genres:

Adventure | Comedy

Certificate:

R | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

 »
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Details

Country:

Language:

| | |

Release Date:

10 October 1980 (Finland)  »

Also Known As:

2 sotto il divano  »

Filming Locations:

 »

Company Credits

Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Color:

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1
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Did You Know?

Trivia

The photograph of Ned Beatty on the desk where Matthau is typing his book is first seen with a smiling face. As the writing continues throughout the film, the expression gradually changes to anger and is finally shot off the desk, the bullet hitting the middle of his forehead. See more »

Goofs

There's a scene at Myerson's house in Savannah where Kendig is getting ready to start typing and sees a photo of Myerson. When the photo is first shown, Myerson is facing to the left of the screen, but when Kendig picks it up Myerson is facing to the right. The photograph changes several times later. In fact, each change is intentional, and is intended to show Myerson getting more frustrated and dour as the plot wears on, culminating in the picture being shot in the forehead (as explained in the introductory video on the DVD). See more »

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.
See more »

Connections

References Casablanca (1942) See more »

Soundtracks

Non Pui Andrai
Sung by Hermann Prey
Courtesy of Deutsche Grammophon and Polygram Classics
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User Reviews

A true delight
6 January 2004 | by (Greenbush, Minnesota) – See all my reviews

I saw this movie when it was released twenty-four years ago and I am happy to say that it has not aged at all. It is just as funny and delightful today as it was then. "Hopscotch" is a diamond in the rough and a real gem. Walter Matthau plays an experienced CIA agent, Miles Kendig, who is sentence to a desk job by his idiot boss, for disciplinary reasons.

If you are a Walter Matthau fan then this is a must see movie. If you are not familiar with Matthau then `Hopscotch' will be a great introduction to one of the most talented actors in Hollywood history. Even though `Hopscotch' is based from a novel the role of Miles Kendig must have been written for Walter Matthau. He was brilliant!

I certainly don't want to over shadow the terrific supporting cast. Ned Beatty and Glanda Jackson were superb. You will also get to see a very young Sam Waterston. Pay special attention to CIA agent `Ross' played my Matthau's son David.


27 of 29 people found this review helpful.  Was this review helpful to you?

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