Monsieur Hire (1989)

Director:

Patrice Leconte

Writers:

Georges Simenon (novel)
Patrice Leconte (scenario, adaptation and dialogue) ...
(more)

Release Date:

June 1990 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

Plot:

Monsieur Hire is a maladjusted, balding, middle-aged man living in France. He doesn't like to talk to people...

Plot Keywords:

Murder | Neighborhood | Police Detective | Self Sacrifice | Obsessive Love

Awards:

6 wins & 8 nominations

Cast

Michel Blanc	...	Monsieur Hire
Sandrine Bonnaire	...	Alice
Luc Thuillier	...	Emile
André Wilms	...	L'inspecteur de police
Eric Bérenger	...	Le gérant du bowling
Marielle Berthon	...	Pierrette Bourgeois
Philippe Dormoy	...	François
Marie Gaydu	...	La jeune fille du massage
Michel Morano	...	Le chauffeur de taxi
Nora Noël	...	La gardienne
Cristiana Réali	...	L'adolescente au bowling (as Christina Reali)
Bernard Soufflet	...	Le tatoueur
André Bauduin	...	Le consommateur de crèpes
Rozeen Landrevie	...	La petite fille au bouquet
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Francis Baudet	...	Le locataire sur le palier

Directed by
Patrice Leconte

Writing credits
Georges Simenon		(novel "Les Fiançailles de M. Hire")
Patrice Leconte		(scenario, adaptation and dialogue) &
Patrick Dewolf		(scenario, adaptation and dialogue)

Produced by
Philippe Carcassonne	....	producer
René Cleitman	....	producer

Original Music by
Michael Nyman

Cinematography by
Denis Lenoir

Film Editing by
Joëlle Hache

Casting by
Catherine Chambelland

Production Design by
Ivan Maussion

Costume Design by
Elisabeth Tavernier

Makeup Department
Judith Gayo	....	makeup artist: Paris
Tina Kopecka	....	makeup artist: Brussels

Production Management
Denis Castel	....	unit production manager
Frédéric Sauvagnac	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Marie-Claude Beauchaud	....	second assistant director
Étienne Dhaene	....	assistant director
Isabelle Han	....	trainee assistant director

Art Department
Lisa Azuelos	....	assistant art director (as Lisa Alessandrin)
Jacques Brizzio	....	assistant art director
Michel Charvaz	....	props
Dominique Hue	....	art department crew

Sound Department
Fabrice Adelin	....	sound recordist
Denis Carquin	....	assistant sound
Jean Goudier	....	sound editor
Dominique Hennequin	....	sound mixer
Jean-Louis Lebras	....	boom operator
Pierre Lenoir	....	sound
Jacques Lévy	....	post-synchronization
Jérôme Lévy	....	foley artist
Maguelone Pouget	....	assistant sound editor

Stunts
Patrick Cauderlier	....	stunts
Gilles Conseil	....	stunts
Dan Schwarz	....	stunts (as Dan Schwartz)
Daniel Vérité	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Eric Aupetit	....	grip
Louis Bihi	....	gaffer
Olivier de Pessemier	....	electrician
Maurice Defait	....	generator operator
Pascal Lagriffoul	....	second assistant camera
Patrice Leconte	....	camera operator
Jean-Marie Leroy	....	still photographer
Pascal Ridao	....	first assistant camera

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Khadija Zeggaï	....	dresser (as Khadija Zeggai)

Editorial Department
Maryline Monthieux	....	assistant editor

Music Department
David Cunningham	....	artistic musical director
Johnny Q.	....	music recordist

Transportation Department
Dominique Hue	....	driver

Other crew
Julie Belthoise	....	assistant location manager
Jean Brun	....	production administrator
Donatienne Desmarestz	....	production secretary
Anahi Leclerc	....	poster designer
Vincent Lichtle	....	location manager
Maggie Perlado	....	script supervisor
Dominique Segall	....	press attache
Anita Vermeulen	....	location manager: Belgium

Production Companies

• Cinéa (co-production)
• Hachette Première (co-production) (as Hachette Première et Cie)
• FR3 Films Production (co-production)
• Sofinergie 1 (financial support) (as Sofinergie)
• Sofimage (financial support)
• Sofica Créations (financial support) (as Creations)
• Centre National de la Cinématographie (CNC) (participation)

Distributors

• UGC International (1989) (worldwide) (all media) (as UGC D.A. International)
• Union Générale Cinématographique (UGC) (1989) (France) (theatrical)
• Union Générale Cinématographique (UGC) (1989) (worldwide) (all media) (as U.G.C. Export)
• Fox Pathé Europa (2006) (France) (DVD)
• Cor Koppies Filmverhuur (I) (1990) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Orion Classics (1990) (USA) (theatrical) (subtitled)
• Kinowelt Home Entertainment (2011) (Germany) (DVD)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1999) (USA) (VHS)
• Orion Home Video (199?) (USA) (VHS)
• Palace Pictures (1990) (UK)
• Palace Video (1990) (UK) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Redwood Recording Studios  music recording studio (as Studios Redwood - Londres)
• Panavision France  filmed in (as Panavision)
• Studios 91  filmed at
• Studios de Billancourt  auditorium
• Copra Films  sound re-recording
• Euro-Titres  titles
• Kodak  color by
• Pyral  prints
• Ciné Lumières de Paris  grip and lighting equipment
• S.G.A.C. Bellan  insurance (as S.G.A.C.)
• S.N.C.F.  support

Also Known As:

Runtime:

81 min

Country:

France

Language:

French

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:M | Iceland:L | Argentina:13 | Finland:K-12 | Sweden:11 | UK:15 | USA:PG-13 | West Germany:12

Filming Locations:

Studios 91 Arpajon, Saint-Germain-les-Arpajon, Essonne, France

Company:

Cinéa

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: In the opening shot of the film, you can plainly see the stomach of the 'corpse' moving up and down.

Movie Connections:

Remake of Panic (1946)

Soundtrack:

Quatuor en Sol Mineur Op. 25 de Brahms

Not For Everyone, But a Suspenseful, Erotic, Sad Thriller

If you've ever been in a love triangle, or were kind to someone who loved you but you didn't really love them in return, you'll appreciate the sad dance of the three main characters in this film. A young man and woman are lovers, and she is watched by her neighbor, the unpopular Mr. Hire, black sheep of a Paris near-suburban nabe. They begin a friendship, and even a relationship of sorts, while a cop tries to pin the murder of a young local girl, also an odd duck, on Mr. Hire. Not wanting to spoil the story for you, I won't say more, except to say that the slow parts are tolerable if you know in advance that this is a very thoughtful, haunting movie and you've got to be a little patient for the wonderful reward, which comes right at the end. Very pretty music, beautiful colors and details, lots of sad little moments that remind you of the loneliness of daily life. I wouldn't actually recommend this to most people. I don't think they'd tolerate the lack of Hollywood flash. If you're smart, you'll watch it though. I got it on DVD at a public library and wish I could see it on a big screen, though the DVD images are very lovely.