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IMDbPro

Portrait of a Hitman

  • 19791979
  • RR
  • 1h 26m
IMDb RATING
4.3/10
214
YOUR RATING
Jack Palance in Portrait of a Hitman (1979)
DramaAction
A professional hitman is hired to kill a brain surgeon. However, it turns out that not only are he and the surgeon old friends, but they are both in love with the same woman.A professional hitman is hired to kill a brain surgeon. However, it turns out that not only are he and the surgeon old friends, but they are both in love with the same woman.A professional hitman is hired to kill a brain surgeon. However, it turns out that not only are he and the surgeon old friends, but they are both in love with the same woman.
IMDb RATING
4.3/10
214
YOUR RATING
    • Allan A. Buckhantz
    • Yabo Yablonsky
  • Stars
    • Jack Palance
    • Rod Steiger
    • Bo Svenson
    • Allan A. Buckhantz
    • Yabo Yablonsky
  • Stars
    • Jack Palance
    • Rod Steiger
    • Bo Svenson
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 10User reviews
    • 2Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos

    Jack Palance in Portrait of a Hitman (1979)
    Jack Palance and Ann Turkel in Portrait of a Hitman (1979)
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    Top cast

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    Jack Palance
    Jack Palance
    • Jim Buck
    Rod Steiger
    Rod Steiger
    • Max Andreotti
    Bo Svenson
    Bo Svenson
    • Dr. Bob Michaels
    Ann Turkel
    Ann Turkel
    • Cathey
    Richard Roundtree
    Richard Roundtree
    • Coco Morrell
    Philip Ahn
    Philip Ahn
    • Wong
    Herb Jeffries
    Herb Jeffries
    • Charlie Blue
    Conrad Bachmann
    Conrad Bachmann
    • George
    John Dresden
    John Dresden
    • Volsted
    Ed Ness
    • Captain Ned
    Garrison True
    • Joe
    Carla Haley
    • Della
    Gloria Lynn Dyer
    • Nurse Grogg
    Monica Peterson
    Monica Peterson
    • Mrs. Roberts
    Robert Starks
    • Louie
    Scotty Sachs
    • Punk in Alley
    • (as Scott Sachs)
    Michael Rougas
    • Art critic
    Alice Reinheart
    • Art Patron
    • (as Alice Reinhart)
      • Allan A. Buckhantz
      • Yabo Yablonsky
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

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    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Philip Ahn's final movie.
    • Soundtracks
      Everybody Knows the Game
      Lyrics by Will Jennings

      Music by Richard Page

      Performed by Pages

    User reviews10

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    5/10
    "I want you to get his arse"
    The first time I watched this I could have sworn it caused me pain, but the second time I watched it (years later) I didn't find it to be too bad...not great mind you...but not awful.

    Jack Palance (It can Be Done Amigo) is JimBuck, painter and hit-man and supreme mumbler who can't do a hit because it's on the head of his mate Bo Svenson (Snowbeast), a brilliant neurosurgeon who's about to operate on a guy who's going to rat on the mob. JimBuck can't go through with it, which enrages Rod Steiger (Duck you sucka), who is also Palance's friend. Can Jack put everything right and get out of the mob? Or will Richard Roundtree get 'his arse' as he says in his African accent.

    There's much navel gazing in this film and not much action. You'd be surprised to know that Rod Steiger does some shouting. I did kind of dig it up to a point but was supremely confused by the ending (what happened to Richard Roundtree?). Palance does get into a few gunfights but you'll have to be pretty tolerant of low budget films to enjoy this. Like me- I'll watch any crap these days. Palance does kill an awful lot of black guys, which is a bit alarming.

    To sum up - I had this film in my collection for years before I watched it. That should give you an indication of what to expect.
    helpful•0
    0
    • Bezenby
    • Oct 25, 2013

    Details

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    • Release date
      • January 1984 (United States)
      • United States
      • English
    • Also known as
    • Production companies
      • Program Hunters Inc.
      • Wildfire Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • 1 hour 26 minutes
      • Mono

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