The Hit (1984)

Ex-gangster Willie Parker has betrayed his former "colleagues" and now lives in Spain where he thinks he can hide from their vengeance. But one day, ten years later, two hitmen (Braddock ... See full summary »

Director:

Stephen Frears

Writer:

Peter Prince

Stars:

Freddie Stuart, Ralph Brown, A.J. Clarke

Nominated for 1 BAFTA Film Award. Another 2 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Freddie Stuart	...	First Man
Ralph Brown	...	Second Man
A.J. Clarke	...	Third Man
Terence Stamp	...	Willie Parker
Lennie Peters	...	Mr. Corrigan
Bernie Searle	...	Hopwood (as Bernie Searl)
Brian Royal	...	Fellows
Albie Woodington	...	Riordan
Willoughby Gray	...	Judge
Jim Broadbent	...	Barrister
Manuel de Benito	...	Juan (as Manuel De Benito)
Juan Calot	...	Priest
Enrique San Francisco	...	Kidnapper (as Quique San Francisco)
Joaquín Alonso	...	Kidnapper (as Joaquin Alonso)
José Luis Fernández 'Pirri'	...	Kidnapper (as Jose Luis Fernandez)

Storyline

Ex-gangster Willie Parker has betrayed his former "colleagues" and now lives in Spain where he thinks he can hide from their vengeance. But one day, ten years later, two hitmen (Braddock and Myron) show up and kidnap Willie. They are ordered to escort him back to Paris where he should stand trial. But it is a long way to Paris...

---

Plot Keywords:

spain | road movie | revenge | philosophical | hitman | 

---

Taglines:

A Journey to Destiny [Australia Theatrical]

---

Genres:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

---

Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

8 March 1985 (USA)

Also Known As:

Az áruló

Filming Locations:

London, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Zenith Entertainment, Recorded Picture Company (RPC), Central Productions Ltd.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Joe Strummer was originally considered for the part of Myron, but his band mates (in The Clash) nixed the idea. Strummer then recommended Tim Roth for the part based on his appearance as "Trevor the Skinhead" in the TV movie Made in Britain. "The Hit" was the 22 year old Roth's first theatrical feature and granted him a BAFTA nomination for Best Newcomer.

---

Goofs

At the beginning of the film, a black Ford Zephyr Mark III pulls up outside Willie Parker's flat. It has a number plate ending in K, denoting that it was first registered in 1971 or 1972. However this model of car was only made between 1962 and 1966. The DVLA rules on personalised number plates forbid a plate that makes a car look "younger" that its actual year of manufacture.

---

Quotes

[a few minutes earlier, Maggie bit Braddock's hand and drew blood]
Myron: Mr Braddock, d'you think we could stop for something to eat soon? I ain't had nothing all day and I'm really hungry. 'Spect I'm not the only one. Her too, she's probably hungry too.
Braddock: [drily] She's already eaten.

---

Connections

Remade as The Hit

User Reviews

The Hit: brilliant and inpredictable

Willie Parker (Terence Stamp) has been preparing for death for ten years. After testifying against mobsters he left England, got a shelter in Spain and began waiting for the killers. He read books, thought about meaning of life and death and finally got more or less comfortable with the idea of his mortality. When killers finally arrive, he's almost happy, because waiting for something terrible is actually much worse than the thing itself. At first professional hitman Braddock (John Hurt) and his cocky apprentice Myron (Tim Roth) are confused by Parker's attitude to death. They've got orders to bring Parker to Paris, where the mobsters prepare his execution. Situation complicates as the police begins the search. Killers are forced to communicate with their victim. And the more they communicate (and even collaborate), the more strange and bizarre their relationship becomes. "The Hit" is one of the most unpredictable movies of the decade. Although we understand from the beginning that the outcome must be far from happy, the actual bitter and wry denouement shocks by its intensity and logical simplicity. If you're a killer, don't try to do anything good, because any attempt only increases the body count. The film is pregnant with terrible revelations and is especially intense in the scenes where nothing obvious happens. Set against the backdrop of arid, desert plains, "The Hit" is full of desperation, and yet offers the possibility of redemption to the characters and the our old tired society. Raw, animal striving for life can overcome everything. Ironically, woman becomes the personification of the will to live in this strictly masculine world. In his second feature Frears already shows terrific sense of atmosphere and expertly works with actors. Terence Stamp is absolutely credible in challenging part of a man who's not afraid of dying. He's already beyond human foibles; there is a shadow of death in his eyes and something ethereal in his face of fallen angel. John Hurt exudes quiet desperation "just the English way" and very soon we begin to perceive his character as victim too. As to Tim Roth, he's so fresh and innocent in his insolence that his character's hesitation between two older men's views seems pathetic and convincing. "The Hit" is now 15 years old, but since 1984 the film hadn't aged at all. It's double pleasure to watch it now, knowing that Tim Roth, whose character Myron tried to figure out doomed stoolie Parker, later became the most brilliant stoolie of "Reservoir Dogs", and Terence Stamp is today the Chancellor of the Universe. Hopefully Hurt's best movie is in the future.