The Leading Man (1996)

Successful playwright Felix Webb has a new play, 'The Hit Man', in rehearsal. Directed by his old friend Humphrey, it is already being hailed as a masterpiece; but Felix can't enjoy his ... See full summary »

Director:

John Duigan

Writer:

Virginia Duigan

Stars:

Jon Bon Jovi, Anna Galiena, Lambert Wilson

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jon Bon Jovi	...	Robin Grange
Anna Galiena	...	Elena Webb
Lambert Wilson	...	Felix Webb
Thandie Newton	...	Hilary Rule
Barry Humphries	...	Humphrey Beal
David Warner	...	Tod
Patricia Hodge	...	Delvene
Diana Quick	...	Susan
Harriet Walter	...	Liz Flett
Tam Dean Burn	...	Henry
Claire Cox	...	Serena
Kevin McKidd	...	Ant
Victoria Smurfit	...	Annabel
Laura Austin-Little	...	Miranda Webb
Danny Worters	...	Danny Webb (as Daniel Worters)

Storyline

Successful playwright Felix Webb has a new play, 'The Hit Man', in rehearsal. Directed by his old friend Humphrey, it is already being hailed as a masterpiece; but Felix can't enjoy his success. He has fallen passionately in love with Hilary, a beautiful, fiesty young actress, and is preparing to desert his perfect family, his wife Elena and three lively children. His intolerable situation is further complicated when Humphrey casts Hilary as one of the leads in 'The Hit Man'. Enter Robin Grange, a charismatic young Hollywood actor making his London theatre debut. Robin is attractive, charming and dangerous, and soon inveigles his way into everyone's life. He ingratiates himself with the cast and, quickly grasping Felix's dilemma, sets about weaving his web of mischief. He suggests that if he were to seduce Elena, she would be distracted from Felix's affair, regain her self respect, and perhaps even willingly part from the unfaithful husband to whom she clings. Initially Felix is ...

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Plot Keywords:

seduction | playwright | actress | theatre | unfaithful husband | 

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Taglines:

Be careful what you wish for

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Genres:

Drama | Romance | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for some language and sexuality

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

6 March 1998 (USA)

Also Known As:

A felforgató

Company Credits

Production Co:

BMG Independents, J&M Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min 95 min (TV)

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Goofs

The exterior of the theatre in which the play is performed is obviously The Playhouse, Charing Cross, London but the interior is the Theatre Royal, Stratford, London.

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Connections

Referenced in Siskel & Ebert: The Newton Boys/Meet the Deedles/A Price Above Rubies/No Looking Back (1998)

User Reviews

Charming and wonderfully funny

An excellent cast makes this movie well worth watching. There are a couple of places that drag a bit but the rest more than make up for it. Robin Grange (Jon Bon Jovi) is an actor on the run from Hollywood after a faux paux with the wife of the head of the studio. In England he takes the part of a hit man in a play, offers and is hired to seduce the wife of the plays author and reaps the rewards. The author, Felix Webb (Lambert Wilson) seems not to know what hits him when Robin is going after not only his wife but his mistress. Helena Webb (Anna Galiena) does not take very long to decide to opt for the handsome leading man over the older spouse. And the long suffering mistress, Hilary Rule (Thandie Newton), finally gets her man (Felix). There is mystery surrounding Robin which lures not only Helena and Hilary but any other female in the vacinity. A very interesting and enjoyable movie. Jon Bon Jovi is fun to watch as the seductive, mysterious Robin Grange. The rest of the cast is also excellent. A movie to watch more than once.