Hudson Hawk (1991)

Director:

Michael Lehmann

Writers (WGA):

Bruce Willis (story) &
Robert Kraft (story) ...
(more)

Release Date:

24 May 1991 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Comedy

Tagline:

Catch the excitement. Catch the laughter. Catch the Hawk.

Plot:

A cat burglar is forced to steal Da Vinci works of art for a world domination plot.

Plot Keywords:

Burglar | Prison | Blackmail | Leonardo Da Vinci | World Domination

Awards:

3 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

Bruce Willis	...	Hudson Hawk
Danny Aiello	...	Tommy Five-Tone
Andie MacDowell	...	Anna Baragli
James Coburn	...	George Kaplan
Richard E. Grant	...	Darwin Mayflower
Sandra Bernhard	...	Minerva Mayflower
Donald Burton	...	Alfred
Don Harvey	...	Snickers
David Caruso	...	Kit Kat
Andrew Bryniarski	...	Butterfinger
Lorraine Toussaint	...	Almond Joy
Burtt Harris	...	Gates
Frank Stallone	...	Cesar Mario
Carmine Zozzora	...	Antony Mario (as Carmine Zozorra)
Stefano Molinari	...	Leonardo da Vinci (as Stephano Molinari)
Enrico Lo Verso	...	Apprentice
Remo Remotti	...	Guy on Donkey
Giselda Volodi	...	Mona Lisa
P. Randall Bowers	...	Prison Clerk
Arthur M. Wolpinsky	...	Prison Security Guard
Frank Page	...	Mario's Driver
Robert Vazquez	...	Big Stan (as Bob Vazquez)
Michael Klastorin	...	Dean
Scott H. Eddo	...	Jerry
John Savident	...	Auctioneer
Lisa Matthews	...	Girl in Car (as Lisa Reich)
John Lucantonio	...	Vatican Guard
Antonino Iuorio	...	Vatican Guard (as Antonio Iurio)
Courtenay Semel	...	Bratty Kid
Massimo Ciprari	...	The Pope
Douglas Brian Martin	...	Igg (as Doug Martin)
Steven M. Martin	...	Ook (as Steve Martin)
Leonardo Cimino	...	Cardinal
Giangiacomo Colli	...	Waiter
Frank Welker	...	Bunny the Dog (voice)
William Conrad	...	Narrator (voice)

Directed by
Michael Lehmann

Writing credits (WGA)
Bruce Willis		(story) &
Robert Kraft		(story)
Steven E. de Souza		(screenplay) (as Steven E. deSouza) and
Daniel Waters		(screenplay)

Produced by
Michael Dryhurst	....	co-producer
Robert Kraft	....	executive producer
Joel Silver	....	producer
Suzanne Todd	....	associate producer
David Willis	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Michael Kamen
Robert Kraft

Cinematography by
Dante Spinotti

Film Editing by
Chris Lebenzon
Michael Tronick

Casting by
Jackie Burch

Production Design by
Jackson De Govia		(as Jack DeGovia)

Art Direction by
John R. Jensen

Costume Design by
Marilyn Vance		(as Marilyn Vance-Straker)

Makeup Department
Thomas R. Burman	....	special makeup effects
Bari Dreiband-Burman	....	special makeup effects
Anna Dryhurst	....	makeup artist
Scott H. Eddo	....	makeup supervisor
Scott H. Eddo	....	special makeup effects
Paolo Franceschi	....	hair stylist (as Paolo Franchesci)
Josée Normand	....	hair stylist: Bruce Willis (as Josee' Norman)
Richard Snell	....	makeup artist
R. Christopher Biggs	....	special makeup effects artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Carlo Barbieri	....	unit manager: second unit, Rome/Budapest (as Carlos Barbieri)
Donna E. Bloom	....	assistant unit production manager: New York (as Donna Bloom)
Lynn Guthrie	....	unit production manager: Los Angeles (as Lynn H. Guthrie)
Hugh Harlow	....	production manager: Budapest
Eddee Kolos	....	assistant production manager: Budapest
Paolo Lucidi	....	production manager: Rome
Jack Phelan	....	production manager: Budapest
David A. Starke	....	unit production manager: New York (as David August Starke)
Maria Ungor	....	production manager: Budapest
Giuseppe Cioccarelli	....	unit manager (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Julie A. Bloom	....	second second assistant director: New York
Enrico Coletti	....	assistant director: Rome
Barbara Farkas	....	second assistant director: Los Angeles (as Barbara N. Farkas)
Robert V. Girolami	....	first assistant director (as Bob Girolami)
William Jennings	....	DGA trainee: New York
Michael Alan Kahn	....	first assistant director
Timothy J. Lonsdale	....	second assistant director: New York (as Timothy Lonsdale)
Edoardo Margheriti	....	assistant director: second unit, Rome/Budapest
Gabor Nagy	....	assistant director: Budapest
Francesco Papa	....	third assistant director: Rome
Charlie Picerni	....	second unit director (as Charles Picerni)

Art Department
Alessandro Alberti	....	set designer: Rome
Bruno Amalfitano	....	assistant art director: Rome (as Bruno Maria Amalfitano)
Pasquale Avvisato	....	leadman: Rome
Maria-Teresa Barbasso	....	set designer: Rome (as Maria Teresa Barbasso)
Leonardo Coen Cagli	....	assistant art director: Rome
Giacomo Calò Carducci	....	set designer: Rome (as Giacomo Calo Carducci)
Francesco Chianese	....	art director: Rome
Joe Dipple	....	props: Rome
Kathleen Dolan	....	set decorator: New York (as Kathleen Dolan-Giorgini)
Lee Fischer	....	art director: Budapest (as Lee Fisher)
Ron Higgins	....	props: second unit, Rome/Budapest
Steven Curtis Husch	....	leadman: Los Angeles
Michael Anthony Jackson	....	storyboard artist
Beth Jasper	....	art department coordinator
John L. Jensen	....	storyboard artist
Nikita Knatz	....	storyboard artist
Woods Mackintosh	....	art director: New York (as William Woods Mackintosh)
Hal Martin	....	set dressing coordinator: Los Angeles
Daniel Loren May	....	set decorator: Los Angeles (as Dan May)
Sam Moore	....	property master: Los Angeles
John Oates Jr.	....	set dresser: New York
Nazzareno Piana	....	set designer: Rome
Massimo Razzi	....	set designer: Rome
John E. Spina	....	set dresser: Los Angeles
Reg Wheeler	....	props: Rome
Barry Wilkinson	....	property master
Simon Wilkinson	....	props
Thomas Wright	....	property master: New York (as Tom Wright)
Michael Zansky	....	chargeman scenic artist: New York
Anthony Zappia	....	construction coordinator: New York
Brick Mason	....	storyboard artist (uncredited)
Antonio Murer	....	prop buyer (uncredited)
James Passanante	....	paint supervisor: Budapest (uncredited)
Fernando Valento	....	construction manager (uncredited)

Sound Department
Rusty Amodeo	....	boom operator: Los Angeles (as Orie R. Amodeo)
Glenn E. Anderson	....	sound mixer: Los Angeles (as Glenn Anderson)
Michael J. Benavente	....	sound effects editor
George Berndt	....	adr supervisor
Rene Borisewitz	....	sound mixer (as Rene' Borisowitz)
A. Coletta	....	sound recordist: second unit, Rome/Budapest (as A.H. Coletta)
Clive Copland	....	boom operator (as Clive Copeland)
Susan Dudeck	....	adr editor
John Duvall	....	foley editor (as John Duval)
Christopher Flick	....	foley editor
Mark Harris	....	machine operator
Scott Hecker	....	sound effects editor
Peter Ilardi	....	sound mixer: New York
Rick Kline	....	sound re-recording mixer
Dave Kulczycki	....	sound effects editor
Gregg Landaker	....	additional sound re-recording mixer
Michael Minkler	....	additional sound re-recording mixer
John Morris	....	sound effects editor
Dan O'Connell	....	foley artist
Kevin O'Connell	....	sound re-recording mixer
Greg Orloff	....	foley mixer
Lauren Palmer	....	adr editor
Mark Pappas	....	foley editor
Rodger Pardee	....	sound effects editor
Matt Patterson	....	sound recordist
Jim Quinn	....	machine operator (as James Quinn)
Charleen Richards	....	adr mixer
Daniel Rosenblum	....	boom operator: New York
Jerry Ross	....	supervising sound editor
Reilly Steele	....	adr mixer (as Riley Steele)
Alicia Stevenson	....	foley artist
Peter Michael Sullivan	....	sound effects editor (as Peter Sullivan)
Bill Voigtlander	....	adr editor
Hugo Weng	....	dialogue editor
Karen G. Wilson	....	dialogue editor (as Karen Wilson)
Gary Dowling	....	boom operator: ILM unit (uncredited)
Philip Perkins	....	sound mixer: ILM unit (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Connie Brink	....	special effects: New York
Gábor Budaházi	....	special effects: Budapest (as Gabor Budahazi)
Trevor Butterfield	....	gold machine crew: Budapest (as Trevor Antony Butterfield)
Chris Corbould	....	special effects technician
Steve Cullane	....	special effects
Neil Davis	....	gold machine crew: Budapest
Gino De Rossi	....	special effects: Rome
Rodney Fuller	....	gold machine crew: Budapest (as Rodney Malcolm Fuller)
Frank Guiney	....	gold machine crew: Budapest (as Francis John Guiney)
John Hatt	....	gold machine crew: Budapest (as John Stewart Hatt)
Paul Knowles	....	special effects
Gyula Krasnyánszky	....	pyrotechnician: Budapest (as Gyula Krasnyansky)
Derek Meddings	....	special effects supervisor
Shaun Rutter	....	special effects (as Shawn Rutter)
Phil Stokes	....	gold machine supervisor: Budapest (as Philip Norman Stokes)
Brian Warner	....	special effects
Andy Williams	....	special effects

Visual Effects by
Angus Bickerton	....	camera operator: The Magic Camera Company
Kim Bromley	....	visual effects coordinator: ILM
Rob Doherty	....	electrician: ILM
Pat Fitzsimmons	....	gaffer: ILM
John Gazdik	....	camera assistant: ILM
Bruno George	....	digital supervisor: ILM
José Granell	....	art director: The Magic Camera Company (as Jose' Granell)
Chris R. Green	....	animator: ILM (as Chris Green)
Rae Griffith	....	production coordinator: ILM
James Hagedorn	....	digital operator: ILM (as Jim Hagedorn)
Andrew Hansard	....	process engineer: Los Angeles
Bill Hansard	....	process projection supervisor: Los Angeles
Don Hansard	....	process projection coordinator: Los Angeles (as Donald R. Hansard Jr.)
David Heron	....	key rigger: ILM (as Dave Heron)
Rebecca Heskes	....	rotoscope supervisor: ILM (as Rebecca A. P. Heskes)
Edward Hirsh	....	stage manager: ILM (as Ed Hirsh)
Sandy Houston	....	rotoscope artist: ILM
Stephanie S. Jaffee	....	production assistant: ILM (as Stephanie Jaffee)
Keith Johnson	....	optical camera operator: ILM
John Knoll	....	visual effects supervisor: ILM
Pete Kozachik	....	camera operator: ILM
Brad Kuehn	....	optical photography supervisor: ILM
Jennifer Lee	....	optical line-up: ILM
Robin Lee	....	assistant editor: ILM
Roger Lofting	....	producer: The Magic Camera Company
Patrick McArdle	....	camera assistant: ILM
Mickey McGovern	....	visual effects editor: ILM (as Michael McGovern)
Derek Meddings	....	supervisor: visual effects and miniatures, The Magic Camera Company
Mark S. Miller	....	post-production producer: ILM
Terry Molatore	....	rotoscope artist: ILM
John Morgan	....	camera operator: The Magic Camera Company
Karl Morgan	....	clapper loader: The Magic Camera Company
Patrick T. Myers	....	effects camera supervisor: ILM
Kimberly K. Nelson	....	visual effects producer: ILM
Michael Owens	....	visual effects plate supervisor: ILM
Joshua Pines	....	scanning operator: ILM (as Josh Pines)
John Rogers	....	chief electrician: The Magic Camera Company
Thomas Rosseter	....	optical line-up: ILM (as Tom Rosseter)
Robbie Scott	....	senior model maker: The Magic Camera Company (as Robert Scott)
Kenneth Smith	....	optical camera operator: ILM
Thomas J. Smith	....	digital operator: ILM (as Tom Smith)
Chris G. Spanoudis	....	process engineer: Los Angeles
Charles Staffell	....	process projection: Rome (as Charles Staffel)
Peter Talbot	....	focus puller: The Magic Camera Company
Jonathan Taylor	....	camera operator: The Magic Camera Company
Paul Wilson	....	director of photography: The Magic Camera Company
Antony Hunt	....	executive producer: The Magic Camera Company (uncredited)
Andy Stevens	....	camera assistant: The Magic Camera Company (uncredited)

Stunts
Danny Aiello III	....	stunts
Pete Antico	....	stunts (as Peter Antico)
Kenny Bates	....	stunts (as Ken Bates)
John Cade	....	stunts
John Cenatiempo	....	stunts (as John S. Cenatiempo)
Frank Ferrara	....	stunts
Tony Guida	....	stunts
Keii Johnston	....	stunts
Tom Morga	....	stunts
Claudio Pacifico	....	stunt performer
Chuck Picerni Jr.	....	stunts (as Charles Picerni Jr.)
Charlie Picerni	....	stunt coordinator (as Charles Picerni)
Sandra Picerni	....	assistant to stunt coordinator
Steve Picerni	....	stunts
Franco Maria Salamon	....	stunt liaison: second unit, Rome/Budapest (as Franco Salamon)
Laura Santoni	....	stunts
Tierre Turner	....	stunts
Webster Whinery	....	stunts
Chuck Zito	....	stunts
Ray Abbott	....	precision driver (uncredited)
Nick Brett	....	utility stunts (uncredited)
Gene Harrison	....	stunts (uncredited)
John Hayden	....	stunts (uncredited)
Keii Johnston	....	stunt double: Mr. Willis (uncredited)
Steve Kelso	....	stunts (uncredited)
Ferenc Novinecz	....	stunts (uncredited)
Shawn O'Neil	....	stunt driver (uncredited)
Gábor Piroch	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Alfio Amborgi	....	electrical best boy: Rome
Florian Ballhaus	....	camera assistant: New York
Lou Barlia	....	camera operator (as Louis Barlia)
Gerald H. Boatright	....	chief lighting technician: Los Angeles (as Gerald H. Boatwright)
Maurizio Broglio	....	chief lighting technician: second unit, Rome/Budapest
Aldo Colanzi	....	key grip: Rome
Stefano Falivene	....	camera assistant
James Fitzpatrick	....	chief lighting technician: New York (as Jim Fitzpatrick)
Kevin Fitzpatrick	....	best boy: New York
Cristina Gauttieri	....	camera assistant
Ron Goodman	....	crew: SpaceCam, Rome
Kerry Hayes	....	still photographer: New York
Peter Hodgson	....	video playback
Greg Langham	....	electrical best boy: Los Angeles
John London	....	key grip: Los Angeles
Giuseppe Maccari	....	director of photography: second unit, Rome/Budapest
Dennis P. McClean	....	dolly grip: Los Angeles
Claudio Nannuzzi	....	camera operator: second unit, Rome/Budapest
Alberico Novelli	....	chief lighting technician: Rome
Billy Patsos	....	dolly grip: New York (as Bill Patsos)
George Patsos	....	key grip: New York
Marco Sacerdoti	....	camera assistant
Pietro Santarelli	....	key grip: second unit, Rome/Budapest
Steve Sass	....	crew: SpaceCam, Rome (as Steven Sass)
Sergio Serantoni	....	dolly grip: Rome
Attila Szalay	....	crew: SpaceCam, Rome
Donald E. Thorin Jr.	....	first assistant camera: Los Angeles
Stephen Vaughan	....	still photographer
Elizabeth Ziegler	....	Steadicam operator: Los Angeles
Fabrizio Ancillai	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Bob Becchio	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera (uncredited)
Fabio De Meis	....	electrician (uncredited)
Chris Hammond	....	electrician (uncredited)
Douglas C. Hart	....	first assistant camera: second unit (uncredited)
Carlos Melville	....	electrician (uncredited)
Massimo Rinella	....	grip (uncredited)
Marco Santarelli	....	grip (uncredited)
Paolo Tiberti	....	grip (uncredited)
Chris Warren	....	video operator: second unit (uncredited)
Matthew Wood	....	stand-in: on-camera (uncredited)

Casting Department
Felicia Fasano	....	casting associate
Joy Todd	....	extras casting: New York

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Jacqueline G. Arthur	....	assistant costume designer (as Jacki Arthur)
Fabrizio Caracciolo	....	costumer
Adriana Mattiozzi	....	wardrobe: Rome
Giacoma Mellini	....	wardrobe: Rome
Barcie Waite	....	costume supervisor

Editorial Department
Jonathan Cates	....	assistant editor (as Jonathan Michael Cates)
Mark Herman	....	assistant editor
Laura Krumholz	....	second assistant editor
Alessandro Lucidi	....	assistant film editor: Rome
Tom Seid	....	first assistant editor (as Thomas Seid)
Scot Deer	....	telecine colorist (uncredited)
Simon Harris	....	assistant editor: London (uncredited)
Tara Timpone	....	assistant editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Stuart Balcomb	....	orchestrations (as Stu Balcomb)
Chris Boardman	....	orchestrations
Christopher Brooks	....	electronic music programming (as Christopher S. Brooks)
Christopher Brooks	....	supervising music editor (as Christopher S. Brooks)
Harvey Cohen	....	orchestrations
Don Davis	....	orchestrations
Brad Dechter	....	orchestrations
Robert Fernandez	....	scoring mixer
J.J. George	....	assistant music editor (as James J. George)
Jack Hayes	....	orchestrations
Michael Kamen	....	orchestra conductor
Robert Kraft	....	music supervisor
Stephen McLaughlin	....	electronic music programming (as Steve McLaughlin)
Stephen McLaughlin	....	music mixer (as Steve McLaughlin)
Albert Lloyd Olson	....	orchestrations (as Albert Olsen)
Lolita Ritmanis	....	orchestrations (as Lolita Ritmanix)
Jonathan Sacks	....	orchestrations
Dan Stein	....	electronic music programming
Mark Waters	....	orchestrations
Tom Boyd	....	musician: oboe soloist (uncredited)
Jeff Porcaro	....	musician: drums (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Edward Iacobelli	....	transportation coordinator: New York
Byron Pierotti	....	transportation captain: Rome
Károly Rozsnyay	....	transportation captain: Budapest (as Karoly Rozsnyay)
Myron P. Shepherd	....	transportation coordinator: Los Angeles
Richard Curry	....	driver: Mr. Willis (uncredited)
Patrick Hogan	....	driver (uncredited)

Other crew
Gabriel Angi-Dobos	....	production office coordinator: Budapest (as Gabor Dobos)
Erin Bruno	....	assistant production office coordinator: Los Angeles
Sabrina Canale	....	assistant production office coordinator: Rome
Giorgio Catalano	....	payroll accountant: Rome
Gustavo Coscarella	....	assistant accountant: Rome
Karen Gordon	....	production accountant
Richard Greenberg	....	title designer
Joanna L. Heimgartner	....	assistant: Mr. Willis
Deborah D. Johnson	....	production accountant: New York (as Deborah Johnson)
Michael Klastorin	....	publicity coordinator
Stephanie Koules	....	assistant: Mr. Dryhurst
Russ Krasnoff	....	product placement
Gyorgy Kuntner	....	location manager: Budapest
Giovanni Lovatelli	....	location manager: Rome
Antonella Margheriti	....	script supervisor: second unit, Rome/Budapest
Anne Nevin	....	production coordinator
Stephen North	....	helicopter crew: Flying Pictures, Rome
Sheila Paige	....	script supervisor
David Paris	....	helicopter crew: Flying Pictures, Rome
Massimo Perla	....	dog trainer: Rome
Craig A. Pinckes	....	production assistant (as Craig Pinckes)
Melissa Pray	....	production office coordinator: Los Angeles
Emily Sahlman	....	assistant: Mr. Lehmann
Bruce Schluter	....	title designer
Carl Schmidt	....	armorer (as Karl Schmidt)
Franca Tasso	....	production office coordinator: Rome
Daniele Tiberi	....	production accountant: Rome
Allen Tinkley	....	location manager: Los Angeles
Debbie Wacker	....	assistant: Mr. Silver
Jack Crain	....	knife design/manufacturer (uncredited)
Christopher Gambale	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Derek N. Prusak	....	production assistant (uncredited)

Production Companies

• TriStar Pictures (presents) (as Tri-Star Pictures)
• Silver Pictures (producer)
• Ace Bone (producer)

Distributors

• TriStar Pictures (1991) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Film (1991) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Films AB (1991) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Films (1991) (France) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Films (1991) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Films de Argentina (1991) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Films de España (1991) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (1999) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (199?) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (1999) (Canada) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (1999) (USA) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• Nordisk Film (1999) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Nordisk Film (2001) (Sweden) (DVD)
• RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video (199?) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Sony Video (USA) (DVD)
• Sony Video (USA) (VHS)
• Universal Pictures Nordic (2004) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Nordic (2006) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Video Omega (199?) (Argentina) (VHS)

Special Effects

• Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) (special visual effects) (A Division of LucasArts Entertainment Company)
• Magic Camera Company, The (visual effects and miniatures)

Other Companies

• Cerruti 1881  selected men's wardrobe (as Cerruti 1881 Paris)
• Aerovironment Inc.  acknowledgment: "da Vinci" Gliders by
• Atlantic Cine Equipment  cranes and remote heads
• Bill Blass  special thanks to
• Castello di San Leo, Italy  special thanks to
• Cinecittà  special thanks to (as Cinecitta')
• Cinema Research  opticals by (as Cinema Research Corporation)
• Enterprises Unlimited  acknowledgment: "The Gold Machine" Built by
• House of Fun Music Inc.  music publisher
• Infinity Ltd.  video computer graphics
• International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE)  acknowledgment (as I.A.T.S.E.®)
• Jellybean Music Publishing  music publisher
• Mail Rail  special thanks to
• New York City Mayor's Office of Film, Theater & Broadcasting, The  special thanks to (as The New York City Mayor's Office for Film, Theatre and Broadcasting)
• Orion Television  courtesy of: "Mr. Ed"
• Panavision  camera and lenses
• Pasquini Espresso Co.  provided by: cappuccino machines
• Stokes/Kohne Associates  opticals
• Technicolor  color timing
• Varèse Sarabande  original soundtrack available on (as Varèse Sarabande Compact Discs And Cassettes)

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for language

Runtime:

100 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Italian

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

CDS (digital 35 mm prints) | Dolby SR (analog 35 mm prints)

Certification:

Iceland:14 | Iceland:16 (video rating) | Netherlands:12 | Portugal:M/12 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | Germany:16 | Singapore:NC-16 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:R (no. 31162) | New Zealand:R | Canada:AA

Filming Locations:

American Falls, Niagara Falls, New York, USA

Company:

TriStar Pictures

Trivia:

In the bar, Bruce Willis talks about "reindeer-goat cheese pizza", which he also mentions in The Last Boy Scout (1991).

Goofs:

Audio/visual unsynchronized: When Hudson Hawk is being dragged behind the ambulance on the gurney, Cesar Mario shoots at him hitting the IV bag. The IV bag is plastic but the sound effect is that of glass shattering.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Narrator:Long ago, the Duke of Milan commissioned a little known artist to erect a Mammoth statue of a horse. The time was 1481... The artist was Leonardo da Vinci... The guy on the donkey's just a guy on a donkey.

Movie Connections:

Spin off Hudson Hawk (1991) (VG)

Soundtrack:

BODY HEAT

What The...

I'm torn on HUDSON HAWK. After watching it, part of me went, "What the hell was that?" But another part suggested that maybe I wasn't hip enough to "get" what it was trying to do. Part of me thought it was a completely ridiculous waste of time. Part of me thought it was just good, clean fun.

Though certainly not for everybody, there are enough redeeming qualities in HUDSON HAWK to avert its dismissal as a multimillion-dollar turkey. Bruce Willis is Eddie "Hudson Hawk" Hawkins, a cat burglar intent on retiring but who is forced to steal Da Vinci works of art for a (gasp!) world domination plot. Along for the ride are Tommy Five-Tone (Danny Aiello), mysterious nun Anna Baragli (Andie MacDowell) and conniving bad guy George Kaplan (recognize that name?) played by the late James Coburn.

The plot sounds like it could have made for a good DIE HARD-style caper, but director Michael Lehmann had other ideas. As he reveals in the DVD version's audio commentary, HUDSON HAWK was meant first and foremost as a comedy. Trouble is, it was promoted more as a Bruce Willis action blockbuster. Audiences were left scratching their heads as their favorite tough guy engaged in Stooge-like slapstick, sipped cappuccino and, most astoundingly, crooning Crosby classics.

Not that mistaken expectations are the only thing wrong here. Indeed HUDSON HAWK is simply too silly for its own good. The gags frequently fall flat, nearly embarrassing the talented performers involved. The plot is overly convoluted, and Richard E. Grant and Sandra Bernhard as the villainous Mayflowers are a bit hard to take. At its lowest points, you'll be astounded something like this could receive a theatrical release.

To get the most out of HUDSON HAWK, go in with an open mind. It's unlike anything you've seen before -- in both good and bad ways.