The Hunter (1980)

Director:

Buzz Kulik

Writers:

Ted Leighton (screenplay) and
Peter Hyams (screenplay)
(more)

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 | Fist Fight | Teacher | Suicide | Chase

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Steve McQueen	...	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
Zora Margolis	...	La Maze Leader
Poppy Lagos	...	Mrs. Bernardo
Dea St. La Mount	...	Woman Bartender
Lillian Adams	...	Blumenthal's Secretary
Thor Nielsen	...	Man in Blumenthal's Office
Stan Wojno	...	Intern (as Stan Wojno Jr.)
Jodi Moon	...	Billie Joe's Girlfriend
Kathy Cunningham	...	Mother on Subway
Kelly K. Learman	...	Student (as Kelly Learman)
Michael D. Roberts	...	Poker Player
Kevin Hagen	...	Poker Player
Luis Avalos	...	Poker Player
Wynn Irwin	...	Informer
Frank Arno	...	Poker Player
Rick DiAngelo	...	Poker Player
Ralph Thorson	...	Bartender
Mathilda Calnan	...	Hospital Volunteer (as Matilda Calnan)
F. William Parker	...	Watch Commander
Nathaniel Taylor	...	Trotter
Tony Burton	...	Garbageman #2
Morgan Roberts	...	Garbageman #1
Frederick Sistaine	...	Pimp
Taurean Blacque	...	Hustler
Alex Ross	...	Clief McCurdy
Patti Clifton	...	Sexy Woman
Jay Scorpio	...	Man on Balcony
Jeff Viola	...	Young Patrolman
Christopher Keane	...	Mike
Dolores Robinson	...	Principal
Anthony Mannino	...	Policeman at School
Joella Deffenbaugh	...	Cashier
Marilyn Jones	...	Barmaid
William B. Snider	...	Policeman
Chris Richmond	...	Bystander
Willie Lee Gaffney	...	Card Player on Street
Debbie Miller	...	Car Rental Girl
Robert A. Janz	...	Motorman
Dan Frick	...	Man in Car
Ramiro Medina	...	Low Rider
Bill Hart	...	Security Guard
Bill Willens	...	Suspect in Jail
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jophery C. Brown	...	Train Passenger (uncredited)
Nicolas Coster	...	Poker Player (uncredited)
Corin Rogers	...	Passenger on 'L' (uncredited)
Al Ruscio	...	Mr. Bernardo (uncredited)

Directed by
Buzz Kulik

Writing credits
Ted Leighton		(screenplay) and
Peter Hyams		(screenplay)
Christopher Keane		book (uncredited)
Ralph Thorson		book (uncredited)
John Rester Zodrow		uncredited

Produced by
Mort Engelberg	....	producer

Original Music by
Michel Legrand

Cinematography by
Fred J. Koenekamp

Film Editing by
Robert L. Wolfe		(as Robert Wolfe)

Casting by
Jennifer Shull

Production Design by
Ron Hobbs

Set Decoration by
George Gaines
Rick Simpson

Costume Design by
Denita Del Signore		(costumes: women)
Thomas Welsh		(costumes: men)

Makeup Department
John M. Elliott Jr.	....	makeup artist (as John Elliott)
Bren Plaistowe	....	hair stylist

Production Management
William O'Sullivan	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Frank Bueno	....	additional second assistant director
Bob Dahlin	....	second assistant director (as Robert Dahlin)
Richard Learman	....	assistant director

Art Department
Cal DiValerio	....	construction coordinator (as Cal Di Valerio)
Mike Higelmire	....	lead man
Chet Laudermilk	....	assistant property master
Al Legget	....	property master
James E. Tocci	....	set designer (as Jim Tocci)
Joseph G. Pacelli Jr.	....	set designer (uncredited)

Sound Department
Rick Alexander	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Dick Alexander)
Jeff Bushelman	....	supervising sound editor
Ronald Long	....	boom operator (as Ron Long)
Andy MacDonald	....	sound re-recording mixer
Al Overton Jr.	....	sound mixer
Vern Poore	....	sound re-recording mixer
Eric Rochin	....	cable person

Special Effects by
Phil Cory	....	special effects

Stunts
Bobby Bass	....	stunts
Ray Bickel	....	stunts
Janet Brady	....	stunts
Jophery C. Brown	....	stunts (as Jophery Brown)
Gary Combs	....	stunt coordinator
Loren Janes	....	stunts
Pat E. Johnson	....	stunts (as Pat Johnson)
Thomas Rosales Jr.	....	stunts (as Tommy Rosales)
Loren Janes	....	stunt double: Steve McQueen (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Richard Barth	....	first assistant camera (as Dick Barth)
Roger Blauvelt	....	best boy (as Roger E. Blauvelt)
Dave Friedman	....	still photographer (as David Friedman)
Frank M. Holgate	....	aerial camera operator (as Frank Holgate)
Bo Miller	....	second grip
Edward Morey III	....	camera operator (as Ed Morey)
John Murray	....	key grip
Lawrence E. Peets	....	best boy
Chris Squires	....	second assistant camera (as Chris Squire)
Gene Stout	....	gaffer
Bill Young	....	dolly grip
Norman Lang	....	electrician (uncredited)
Ann Lukacs	....	second assistant camera (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Denita Del Signore	....	costumer: women
Bob E. Horn	....	set costumer
Thomas Welsh	....	costumer: men (as Tommy Welsh)

Editorial Department
Clayton Collins	....	apprentice editor
Carol Ann Jackson	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Allison Caine	....	vocal effects advisor
Erma E. Levin	....	music editor (as Erma Levin)
George Doering	....	musician (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Terry Collis	....	transportation captain
Ken Peterson	....	transportation coordinator
Robert Wallace	....	driver (uncredited)

Other crew
Susie Elkins	....	production assistant
Doris Grau	....	script supervisor
Bob Heinlein	....	technical advisor: Chicago Transit Authority
Robert A. Janz	....	technical advisor: Chicago Transit Authority (as Bob Janz)
Art 'Klondike' Jones	....	craft service
Janice Lisalda	....	production secretary
Patt McCurdy	....	assistant: Mr. Kulik
Chad McQueen	....	production assistant
Forrest Painter	....	first aid
Paul Pav	....	location manager
Ross Reynolds	....	helicopter pilot
Matt Robinson	....	production assistant
Eric Rochin	....	technician
Art Sarno	....	unit publicist
Stewart Satterfield	....	car carrier
Jette Sorensen	....	auditor
Lolly Stevenson	....	assistant: Mr. Engelberg
Ralph Thorson	....	technical advisor
Forrest Painter	....	assistant production accountant (uncredited)

Thanks
Margaret Booth	....	thanks
Jane Byrne	....	thanks: City of Chicago (as Mayor Jane Byrne)
Dominick Frigo	....	thanks (as Lt. Dominick Frigo)
Maury Lazarus	....	thanks (as Dr. Maury Lazarus)
Marvin Mandel	....	thanks (as Officer Marvin Mandel)
Bill Marks	....	thanks (as Sgt. Bill Marks)
Lucie Salenger	....	thanks (as Lucy Salenger)
James R. Thompson	....	thanks (as Governor James R. Thompson)

Production Companies

• Rastar Pictures

Distributors

• Paramount Pictures (1980) (USA) (theatrical)
• Cinema Internazional Corporation (1980) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Paramount Home Video (1980) (USA) (VHS) (pan and scan)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1983) (USA) (TV)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (2001) (USA) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Burbank Editorial Service Inc.  sound editing
• Pacific Title  titles

Also Known As:

Runtime:

97 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

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

Filming Locations:

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

Company:

Rastar Pictures

Trivia:

Steve McQueen came up with the idea of going against his famous car racing abilities by portraying Papa Thorson as a terrible driver.

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:

References The Wild Bunch (1969)

Soundtrack:

Una voce poco fà

Want to be a screenwriter? See The Hunter.

Christopher Keane has written one hell of a Novel and a screenplay. Want proof of this? Steve McQueen not only made the movie he demanded that he make THIS movie.

Ralph "Poppa" Thorsen is a professional bounty hunter with bad driving skills, a house full of cons, cops, and hanger-ons. He has a passion for the past, a love for his mate, and a sincerity that is classic.

There are fantastic moments of comic relief, great drama, and perfect chracter development. McQueen is totally loveable in this film.

If you have ever wanted to learn how to write a screenplay you should see this film and read Chris Keane's book "How to write a selling screenplay". You will know all you need to know after that.