The Hunter (1980)

Director:

Buzz Kulik

Writers:

Christopher Keane (book) and
Ralph Thorson (novel) ...

Release Date:

1 August 1980 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Biography | Thriller

Tagline:

He's not as fast as he used to be... That's what makes him human. He's a bounty hunter... And that's what makes him dangerous.

Plot:

The story of professional bounty hunter Ralph "Papa" Thorson.

Plot Keywords:

Bounty Hunter | Skip Tracer | Fainting | Dynamite | Dysfunctional Marriage

Cast

Steve McQueen	...	Ralph 'Papa' Thorson
Eli Wallach	...	Ritchie Blumenthal
Kathryn Harrold	...	Dotty
LeVar Burton	...	Tommy Price
Ben Johnson	...	Sheriff Strong
Richard Venture	...	Spota
Tracey Walter	...	Rocco Mason
Thomas Rosales Jr.	...	Bernardo (as Tom Rosales)
Teddy Wilson	...	Winston Blue (as Theodore Wilson)
Ray Bickel	...	Luke Branch
Bobby Bass	...	Matthew Branch
Karl Schueneman	...	Billie Joe
Margaret Mary O'Hara	...	Child on Subway (as Margaret O'Hara)
James Spinks	...	Angry Car Owner
Frank Delfino	...	Poker Player

Runtime:

97 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:12 | Singapore:PG | West Germany:16 (f) | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | France:-12 | Norway:16 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

Alexander Hamilton High School - 2955 S. Robertson Blvd., Palms District, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Rastar Pictures

Trivia:

According to numerous biographies and documentaries on Steve McQueen's life, one of the first signs of problems relating to the cancer in his lungs (which would claim his life) occurred when shooting a scene in which McQueen is running down the street and turns a corner. When the director yelled, "Cut!," McQueen didn't come back around the corner. McQueen was found leaning against a wall trying desperately to catch his breath.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the elevated train sequence, the villain "Bernardo" is shown outside the train car as "papa" is first shown on the roof of the train. In the next cut, he is still inside the train, about to exit.

Quotes:

Ralph 'Papa' Thorson: I don't know what you've been using, Mason, but it's not good for you!

Movie Connections:

Featured in Steve McQueen: The Essence of Cool (2005) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Sempre Libera

Not great, but good

This is surely not McQueens best Movie ever. But it's fun to watch and the fact, that he insisted on playing a terrible car driver makes it even more enjoyable. The worst part of this movie is clearly its terrible musical score. It's just irritating. While most action scenes (like the famous Subway Chase) are not dubbed, the movie gets an almost soap opera like touch (barely watchable) when Steve is with his girlfried. I watched this movie the first time when I was 14 and now (20 years later) I found it on the DVD shelf in Walmart and bought it, because I liked it so much the first time I saw it.