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

Reasonable story - but was Bon Jovi the best choice?

When I watched this I enjoyed the plot and the fact that any twists in the story were emotional twists (people's feelings and motives being revealed - sometimes to the person themselves). However I felt that John Bon Jovi was not quite right in the main role and his dialogue sometimes sounded like he was reading it. However the other main roles of playwright, his wife and his lover were well played and fitted their roles well.

Overall the film is enjoyable and sensuous. It's a story where all the action takes place in people's hearts - so if you're into that sort of drama then this should be for you.