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

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

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:

Producers of "The Hunter" were not satisfied with Michel Legrand's musical score which was too baroque for a thriller, they said. Finally,they came to an agreement with the French composer. Legrand's music was kept on US copies but a new musical score composed by Charles Bernstein was mixed with the soundtrack for copies released in Europe.

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:

Referenced in La balance (1982)

Soundtrack:

Della sua pace

Simple but good.

This, of course, was McQueen's last role. It is nothing grand, and for the most part there really is no plot, but it is still a rather good movie. This movie revolves around McQueen's character who is a bounty hunter. This movie shows him go after various people and also shows his home life...which is a bit unique too. He goes after super big rednecks, small time crooks, crazy guys who blow things up, and one rather dangerous individual. Someone who he captured in the past also stalks him. All in all it isn't the greatest movie, but it mixes action and humor well. Even though McQueen was feeling the effects of his illness during the shooting of this one, he still does a great job.