Prizzi's Honor (1985)

A professional hit man and hit woman fall in love.

Director:

John Huston

Writers:

Richard Condon (novel), Richard Condon (screenplay),

Stars:

Jack Nicholson, Kathleen Turner, Robert Loggia

Won 1 Oscar. Another 30 wins & 14 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jack Nicholson	...	Charley Partanna
Kathleen Turner	...	Irene Walker
Robert Loggia	...	Eduardo Prizzi
John Randolph	...	Angelo 'Pop' Partanna
William Hickey	...	Don Corrado Prizzi
Lee Richardson	...	Dominic Prizzi
Michael Lombard	...	Rosario Filargi 'Finlay'
Anjelica Huston	...	Maerose Prizzi
George Santopietro	...	Plumber
Lawrence Tierney	...	Lt. Hanley
CCH Pounder	...	Peaches Altamont (as C.C.H. Pounder)
Ann Selepegno	...	Amalia Prizzi
Vic Polizos	...	Phil Vittimizzare
Dick O'Neill	...	Bluestone
Sully Boyar	...	Casco Vascone

Storyline

Charley Partanna is a hit-man who works for the Prizzis, one of the richest crime syndicate families in the country. Unbeknownst to Charley,the Prizzis just hired Irene Walker, a free-lance killer, to eliminate someone who double-crossed them. When Irene and Charley fall in love their jobs become complicated. Their jobs become impossible when each is given a contract that neither can go through with.

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Plot Keywords:

love | strip club | el train | mafia | three brothers | 

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Taglines:

Hired killers by day. Devoted lovers by night. Until they found their next assignment was each other.

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime | Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

14 June 1985 (USA)

Also Known As:

El honor de los Prizzi

Filming Locations:

3 Pierrepont Place, Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Gross:

$26,700,000 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

ABC Motion Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

130 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Liza Minnelli was originally offered the role of Maerose but turned it down.

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Goofs

Irene Walker's red car often has the wax on various panels. When we first see the car the left-hand door is an unusual matt color while the rest of the car is buffed to a shiny finish. You can even see swirl marks in the door at it stops. Later when we see the car again we see it from the front left. The door is clearly polished this time but the front left wing isn't. Probably an attempt to hide the crew from reflecting in the cars bodywork.

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Quotes

[Charlie is telling Maerose about Irene]
Charley Partanna: I met her in a church. It just happened. I knew she was the woman for me. She'd organized the scam in Vegas. I go looking for the bad guy and it turns out to be my woman, can you imagine this? Not only that - Pop tells me she's the piece man for the Nettabino contract. Just the same, I love her, Mae... I love her.
Maerose Prizzi: Well...
Charley Partanna: How can I live with this? I gotta do something about it. I gotta straighten it out.
Maerose Prizzi: Then do.
Charley Partanna: Do what? Do I ice her? Do I marry her? ...
[...]

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Connections

Referenced in Psychos in Love (1987)

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Soundtracks

"Le Villi"
Composer Giacomo Puccini

User Reviews

A pleasure to see again

I loved this film when I saw it in 1985. To see it again after seeing film and series like the Godfather, The Soprans etc is a treat. It is a lovely film, elegant,well-played with a with lots of humor. Jack Nicholson pays the not very intelligent Charley Partanna with flair and a lot of humour. Kathleen Turner is beautiful as ever. The rest of cast is also very good. John Rudolph playing his charing but very dangerous father, Angelica Huston is magnificent as the deserted MaeRose who wants to revenge Cahrly but still loves him. The music is very much a part of this intelligent film. It is a joy to listen to how it comments or highlights what happens in the film.

It is a loving parody of the mafia genre. A must-see for any one who likes this genre and for film lovers everywhere.