Hooper (1978)

Hollywood aging stuntman Sonny Hooper wants to prove that he's still got what it takes to be a great professional in this risky and under-recognized line of work.

Director:

Hal Needham

Writers:

Thomas Rickman (screenplay), Bill Kerby (screenplay)

Stars:

Burt Reynolds, Jan-Michael Vincent, Sally Field

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Burt Reynolds	...	Sonny Hooper
Jan-Michael Vincent	...	Ski
Sally Field	...	Gwen
Brian Keith	...	Jocko
John Marley	...	Max Berns
Robert Klein	...	Roger Deal
James Best	...	Cully
Adam West	...	Adam
Alfie Wise	...	Tony
Terry Bradshaw	...	Sherman
Norman Grabowski	...	Hammerhead (as Norm Grabowski)
George Furth	...	Bidwell
Jim Burk	...	Jimbo
Don 'Red' Barry	...	Sheriff
Princess O'Mahoney	...	Wanda

Storyline

Aging stuntman Sonney Hooper is still on top as one of the best stuntmen in the business. But up and coming Ski is starting to do bigger and better stunts. Hooper has the experience to setup a stunt safely, and Ski lacks the common sense to know when a stunt is too dangerous. Maybe together, along with their fun loving buddies, they can do a stunt together that will surpass anything that anyone has done.

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Plot Keywords:

stuntman | stunt | director | cowboy hat | police | 

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Taglines:

The greatest stuntman alive!

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Genres:

Action | Comedy

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

28 July 1978 (USA)

Also Known As:

Hollywood Stuntman

Filming Locations:

Santa Susana Field Laboratory, Santa Susana, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$6,000,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$78,000,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

99 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In the movie, Burt Reynolds and James Best are long time friends. They also close friends in real life. In fact, Best, who also teaches acting, was an early acting instructor to Reynolds.

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Goofs

When Sonny and Ski escape the cop (with the jet car) you hear the cop yell, "Great God Almighty!" but if you look into the rear view mirror his mouth isn't moving.

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Quotes

Ski: My life is worth more than a piece of film.
Hooper: I'll tell you EXACTLY what your life is worth. Your life is worth fifty thousand dollars, that's the price you put on it when you got behind this wheel!

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Crazy Credits

Outtakes from stunts performed in the movie are shown over the closing credits.

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Alternate Versions

TV versions have included numerous outtakes which include a much longer party scene following the fight at the Palomino Club in which: Ski discusses his marital woes with Gwen in Hooper's kitchen (a dropped subplot); an awake, and very rowdy, crowd views "stunt reels" culled from "Deliverance"; and Jocko and Sonny have a lengthier sunrise discussion about babies. Later on, Sonny and Ski also get into a hairy fistfight outside of Sonny's trialer.

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Connections

Referenced in Psych: Mr. Yin Presents (2010)

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Soundtracks

Hooper
Sung and Written by Bent Myggen

User Reviews

A refreshing Reynolds sleepwalk

You're not going to find a moving story about a man coming to terms with his own mortality here, but from just a look at the cover of the DVD, you probably weren't expecting it. What we have here is a very pleasant diversion that never takes itself too seriously. Just before things start to get a little too sentimental, someone always jumps off a tall building or flips the car he's driving. Overall, the film has a nice pace. The gags (as in slapstick) are occasionally hilarious, and the gags (as in stunts) are outstanding--I believe this film holds the record for longest rocket car jump. And Burt is his usual self, so utterly unself conscious, he can deliver lines like, "If you don't try to do any stunts, I won't try to do any acting." Make of that what you will. ;-)