The Hit (1984)

Director:

Stephen Frears

Writer:

Peter Prince (written by)

Release Date:

8 March 1985 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

A Journey to Destiny [Australia Theatrical]

Plot:

Ex-gangster Willie Parker has betrayed his former "colleagues" and now lives in Spain where he thinks he can hide from their vengeance...

Plot Keywords:

Spain | Road Movie | Revenge | Philosophical | Hitman

Awards:

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

Cast

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)
Camilo Vilanova	...	Kidnapper
John Hurt	...	Braddock
Tim Roth	...	Myron
Fernando Rey	...	Senior Policeman
Carlos Lucena	...	Uniformed Officer
Bill Hunter	...	Harry
Laura del Sol	...	Maggie (as Laura Del Sol)
Miguel Garmendia	...	Tavern Keeper
Carlos Zabala	...	Young Basque
Eneko Olazagasti	...	Young Basque
Patxi Barko	...	Young Basque
Xavier Aguirre	...	Young Basque
Carlos Tristancho	...	Garage Attendant (as M. Carlos Tristancho)

Directed by
Stephen Frears

Writing credits
Peter Prince		(written by)

Produced by
Joyce Herlihy	....	associate producer
Jeremy Thomas	....	producer

Original Music by
Paco de Lucía		(as Paco De Lucia)

Cinematography by
Mike Molloy		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Mick Audsley

Casting by
Sheila Trezise		(as Sheila Tresize)

Production Design by
Andrew Sanders

Art Direction by
Julio Molina

Costume Design by
Marit Allen

Makeup Department
Roy Ashton	....	makeup artist: London
Karen Dawson	....	makeup chief
Betty Glasow	....	hairdresser: London
Toñy Nieto	....	hairdresser (as Tony Nieto)

Production Management
Jesús García Gárgoles	....	production manager (as Jesus Gargoles)
Denise O'Dell	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
José Luis García Berlanga	....	second assistant director (as Jose Luis Berlanga)
Carlos Gil	....	first assistant director (as Carlos Gill)
Steve Harding	....	second assistant director
Michael Hook	....	second assistant director: London

Art Department
Luciano Arroyo	....	buyer
Luciano Arroyo	....	set dresser
Emilio Cañuelo	....	standby carpenter (as Emilio Canuelo)
Honorio Cruz	....	stagehand
Jose De Ruz	....	standby painter
George Galitzine	....	assistant art director: London
Víctor García	....	assistant propertyman (as Victor Garcia)
Luis Muñoz	....	propertyman (as Luis Munoz)

Sound Department
George Akers	....	dubbing editor
Ted Ball	....	sound maintenance: London
Manuel Ferreiro	....	sound boom operator
Steve Hancock	....	sound camera operator
Paul Le Mare	....	sound recordist
Peter Maxwell	....	sound re-recordist
Michael Saxton	....	assistant dubbing editor
Mike Tucker	....	boom operator: London

Special Effects by
Reyes Abades	....	special effects assistant
Richard Roberts	....	special effects assistant
Alan Whibley	....	special effects chief

Visual Effects by
Shulamit Levin	....	restoration artist (2007 restored version)

Camera and Electrical Department
Kenneth Atherfold	....	camera grip
George Binnersley	....	clapper loader: London
Juan Cobo	....	clapper loader
Douglas Dawson	....	stills cameraman: London (as Dougie Dawson)
Sean Herlihy	....	camera trainee
Jose Humanes	....	grip
Malcolm MacIntosh	....	follow focus
Eugenio Martínez	....	electrician (as Eugenio Martinez)
José Luis Martínez	....	chief electrician (as Jose Luis Martinez)
Eduardo Muñoz Bayo	....	stills cameraman (as Eduardo Munoz Bayo)
Francisco Ramos	....	grip
José Salgado Hipólito	....	electrician (as Jose Salcado)
Marcelino San Eugenio	....	electrician (as Marcelo San Eugenio)
Bob Smith	....	camera operator
Derek Suter	....	follow focus

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Andrés Fernández	....	wardrobe master (as Andres Fernandez)
Diana Moseley	....	wardrobe assistant: London
Isabel Perales	....	wardrobe assistant

Editorial Department
Jason Adams	....	assistant editor
Nicolette Bolgar	....	second assistant editor

Music Department
Eric Clapton	....	composer: title music
Juan Albert	....	music arranger: strings (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Ángel Megino	....	transportation manager (as Angel Megino)
Joaquín Ruiz	....	production car driver (as Joaquin Ruiz)

Other crew
Yuyi Beringola	....	continuity
Diana Brown	....	publicity consultant
Jack Carter	....	set consultant: London
Sevilla Delofski	....	assistant to producer
Ramón Díaz de Laspra	....	assistant accountant (as Ramon Diaz De Laspra)
Antonio Fernández Ávila	....	armorer (as Antonio Avila)
Rafael García	....	caterer (as Rafael Garcia)
Lisa Granditer	....	production runner
Shawn Gruskoff	....	production runner
Tony Hedges	....	production accountant
Maggie Jones	....	continuity: London
Margarita McDermott	....	production assistant
Trilby Norton	....	production office secretary
Manuel Sánchez	....	location manager (as Manuel Sanchez)
Roger Waters	....	assistant: Eric Clapton

Production Companies

• Zenith Entertainment
• Recorded Picture Company (RPC) (as The Recorded Picture Company) (in association with)
• Central Productions Ltd. (as Central Productions Limited)

Distributors

• Island Alive (1985) (USA) (theatrical)
• Artisan Home Entertainment (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• Century Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• Criterion Collection, The (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• Criterion Collection, The (2009) (USA) (DVD)
• Embassy Home Entertainment (video)
• Home Video Hellas (HVH) (1988) (Greece) (VHS)
• Kinowelt Home Entertainment (2008) (Germany) (DVD)
• Omni Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• Palace Video (1984) (UK) (VHS)
• Umbrella Entertainment (2009) (Australia) (all media)

Other Companies

• De Lane Lea  re-recorded at (as De Lane Lea Limited, 75, Dean Street, London W.1.)
• Eurosonic Madrid  music recorded at (as Eurosonic, Spain)
• General Screen Enterprises  titles and opticals
• Kaleidoscope Cameras Ltd.  supplier: Hothead
• Lee Lighting  grip and lighting equipment (uncredited)
• Monasterio de Piedra  waterfall sequences filmed by kind permission of (as The Monasterio De Piedra, Spain)
• Panavision  lenses and Panaflex camera (as Panavision®)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

98 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:MA (alternate rating) | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | Norway:15 | UK:18 | USA:R | West Germany:16 | Iceland:16 | France:U

Filming Locations:

London, England, UK

Company:

Zenith Entertainment

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 (1982) (TV). "The Hit" was the 22 year old Roth's first theatrical feature and granted him a BAFTA nomination for Best Newcomer.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: 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:

Myron:I think you're crazy, but I admire your attitude.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "At the Movies: Heartbreakers/The Hit/Alamo Bay/A Private Function" (1985)

Brilliant, top-notch movie

I can't believe I'm discovering this little gem only now, about 20 years late! Shame on me. How comes...?

Now this is the kind of stuff I like. Intelligent, brilliantly written and directed, with mindblowing actors' performances by Tim Roth, John Hurt and Terence Stamp (gee I never realized before that Stamp was SUCH a talented actor!! Shame on me again!), a real personality, an outstanding camera work, and multiple references to the cinema history... all this with just the right amount of dignity, not too much, just the right amount. And an original and tasteful use of hispanic music, that is 100% adequate.

"The hit" is suspenseful, unpredictable, funny, challenging.

Makes me wonder how many times Tarentino viewed it... he obviously viewed it several times, for sure.

Great flick. I can't believe that there are only 395 votes for this movie on Imdb, meaning that only a very selected group of people actually had the luck to come across this little diamond. Such a shame. I bet many Coen fans would really love "The hit" if they only had the opportunity to view it...