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 2 nominations.

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 | brief female frontal nudity | cowboy hat | 

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Taglines:

It just ain't summer without Burt!

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Genres:

Action | Comedy

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Certificate:

PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

The Danish title for this film is "Hård hud over hele kroppen," which translates into "Rough Skin over the Entire Body."

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Goofs

When Hooper and Ski are discussing Ski's falling stunt after the Charity Stunt Show, Hooper starts mentioning the heights he's fallen from, Ski mentions that Hooper fell "Seventy-five feet in Bullitt." The movie Bullitt has no high fall stunts. (The only thing close is when Steve McQueen chases the bad guy out of an airplane parked at the airport and they both leap out of a back door. But that's only about 15ft.)

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Quotes

Singer: Everyone get drunk and be somebody!

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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 The Jay Leno Show: Episode #1.23 (2009)

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Soundtracks

La Virgin De La Macarena
(uncredited)
Music by Bernardino Bautista Monterde
Lyrics by Antonio Ortiz Calero
Lyrics adapted by Dorothy Dodd

User Reviews

A Reynolds Gem

Even if you consider the year (1977) in which Hooper was made, it's a grand representation of the "Making-of-a-Movie-Within-a-Movie" genre. The only one to come close was years later with 'Get Shorty'. 'Hooper' was grand because it was Burt doing most of his own stunts, he and Sally were still an off-camera couple, and most of all, Burt was in his element, and likely so for the last time. While working with actors and crew he knew well and was already familiar with, Burt's true persona really shone through! The first 'Smokey and the Bandit' came close, but the true Burt didn't permeate the SATB set as in 'Hooper'. After 'Hooper', the gist of this Burt was really never seen again.

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

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$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