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48 Hrs. (1982)
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Overview
User Rating:
Release Date:
8 December 1982 (USA) moreTagline:
When a tough cop has a cool convict as a partner and 48 hrs to catch a killer, a lot of funny things can happen in . . . 48 HRS. [Australia Theatrical] morePlot:
A hard-nosed cop reluctantly teams up with a wise-cracking criminal temporarily paroled to him, in order to track down a killer. full summary | full synopsisAwards:
Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 2 wins & 1 nomination moreNewsDesk:
(2 articles)
The Best News of All Time (From Get The Big Picture. 1 July 2008, 12:25 AM, PDT)
De Niro To Host CBS 9/11 Special
(From Studio Briefing - Film News. 14 February 2002)
User Comments:
The real thing. Accept no imitations. more (81 total)US TV Schedule:
| Wed. Nov. 18 | 8:45 AM | AMC |
Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| Nick Nolte | ... | Jack Cates | |
| Eddie Murphy | ... | Reggie Hammond | |
| Annette O'Toole | ... | Elaine | |
| Frank McRae | ... | Haden | |
| James Remar | ... | Albert Ganz | |
| David Patrick Kelly | ... | Luther | |
| Sonny Landham | ... | Billy Bear | |
| Brion James | ... | Ben Kehoe | |
| Kerry Sherman | ... | Rosalie, Hostage Girl | |
| Jonathan Banks | ... | Algren | |
| James Keane | ... | Vanzant | |
| Tara King | ... | Frizzy, Hotel Desk Clerk | |
| Greta Blackburn | ... | Lisa, Blonde Hooker | |
| Margot Rose | ... | Casey | |
| Denise Crosby | ... | Sally |
Additional Details
Also Known As:
48 Hours (USA) (alternative spelling)Forty Eight Hours (USA) (alternative spelling)
more
Parents Guide:
View content advisory for parentsRuntime:
96 minCountry:
USALanguage:
EnglishColor:
ColorAspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 moreSound Mix:
DolbyCertification:
Canada:R (Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Ontario) | Iceland:16 | Australia:R | Singapore:PG (cut) | Netherlands:12 | USA:R (Certificate #26865) | UK:15 (2009) (uncut) | UK:18 (video rating) (1986) | Argentina:18 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Finland:K-16 | New Zealand:R16 | Norway:18 | South Korea:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 (video rating) (1987) (cut version) | UK:18 (original rating) | West Germany:18Fun Stuff
Trivia:
Eddie Murphy states in his 2008 Biography special that his character's name was originally scripted to be "Willie Biggs." He had concerns with that name as it sounded too much like a "Hollywood, made-up, black guy's name." He suggested the last name Hammond based on a raspy-voiced, cool kid from his hometown named Terrance Hammond. Reggie was a compromise by having just the first name be a typical "Hollywood, made-up, black guy name." moreGoofs:
Continuity: Reggie is handcuffed when Jack throws him into his car after getting him out of prison. In the next shot, Reggie's left arm is stretched out along the back of the seat and his right arm is hanging out the window. In the following shot, he is handcuffed again. moreQuotes:
Jack: Class isn't something you buy. Look at you, you've got on a 500-dollar suit and you're still a low-life.Reggie: Yeah, but I look good.
more
Soundtrack:
ROXANNE moreFAQ
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This is the one of the movies that kicked off the buddy cop formula. Technically, Nick Nolte's the only cop, but other films have tried to imitate the style by having a tough, cranky, by-the-book cop (Nolte's character) paired off with a loose, easygoing, unorthodox cop (like Murphy's character). Some of these "imitators" have failed miserably and even those that succeeded don't match up to "48 Hours."
I haven't seen the unedited version of this movie in over ten years (it plays on TV like 4 times every month), and even when I did catch it on TV, I caught it in bits and pieces. Now that I've seen it straight-through, in its uncut form, I can regard this as an overlooked classic. Watching Nolte as the gruff, chain-smoking Jack, I thought to myself, "He owns that part." Many actors have tried to take on that same role, but nobody plays it better than Nolte. And the same goes for Eddie Murphy. His talent has been taken for granted over the recent years, since his career has hit a major slump. And rightfully so. He should choose his roles much more wisely. How do you from doing such fun, memorable films as "48 Hours," "Coming to America" and "Trading Places" to doing "Showtime" and "I-Spy." This movie proves that Murphy can go leaps and bounds with his comic talent, if the script is well-written. The scene in the all-white, country-western bar, where Murphy shows off his skills as an interrogator, is a classic.
The film is directed by Walter Hill, who's great at directing action sequences. So the movie packs a punch in both the action and comedy department. Nolte and Murphy's chemistry is priceless, and the banter between them is sharp and hilarious. One of my favorite examples is when Murphy asks Nolte, "Can you tell me a bedtime story?" Nolte responds, "F**k you." "That's my favorite one." Of course, Murphy gets most of the credit for being the comic relief, and he is terrific in one of his best comic performances, but Nolte belts out just as many funny lines as him, though he's the official straight man. He never seems to say anything intentionally funny, but that's what's funny. He says things that are hilarious, but sounds dead serious about them. And of course, it's also hilarious to watch him react furiously to Murphy's taunts.
Those who haven't seen "48 Hours" should really check it out, because it's an action classic! Sure, the "Rush Hour" films are good, but Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan don't have close to the same magic as Nick Nolte and Eddie Murphy! THIS is how an action/comedy is made!!
My score: 9 (out of 10)