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Death Watch

Original title: La mort en direct
  • 19801980
  • RR
  • 1h 57m
IMDb RATING
6.6/10
3.1K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
La mort en direct (1980)
In a future where dying of illness is exceedingly rare, a terminally ill woman becomes a celebrity and a man with camera implants goes to secretly record her for a morbid TV show.
Play trailer1:54
2 Videos
29 Photos
  • Drama
  • Sci-Fi
  • Thriller
In a future where dying of illness is exceedingly rare, a terminally ill woman becomes a celebrity and a man with camera implants goes to secretly record her for a morbid TV show.In a future where dying of illness is exceedingly rare, a terminally ill woman becomes a celebrity and a man with camera implants goes to secretly record her for a morbid TV show.In a future where dying of illness is exceedingly rare, a terminally ill woman becomes a celebrity and a man with camera implants goes to secretly record her for a morbid TV show.
IMDb RATING
6.6/10
3.1K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Bertrand Tavernier
  • Writers
    • David Compton(novel "The Continuous Katherine Mortenhoe, or The Unsleeping Eye")
    • David Rayfiel
    • Bertrand Tavernier
  • Stars
    • Romy Schneider
    • Harvey Keitel
    • Harry Dean Stanton
Top credits
  • Director
    • Bertrand Tavernier
  • Writers
    • David Compton(novel "The Continuous Katherine Mortenhoe, or The Unsleeping Eye")
    • David Rayfiel
    • Bertrand Tavernier
  • Stars
    • Romy Schneider
    • Harvey Keitel
    • Harry Dean Stanton
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 27User reviews
    • 41Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 8 nominations

    Videos2

    Trailer
    Trailer 1:54
    Trailer
    Death Watch
    Clip 2:19
    Death Watch

    Photos29

    La mort en direct (1980)
    La mort en direct (1980)
    La mort en direct (1980)
    La mort en direct (1980)
    Romy Schneider, Vadim Glowna, and Vari Sylvester in La mort en direct (1980)
    Romy Schneider and Bernhard Wicki in La mort en direct (1980)
    Romy Schneider in La mort en direct (1980)
    Max von Sydow and Romy Schneider in La mort en direct (1980)
    Harvey Keitel in La mort en direct (1980)
    Harvey Keitel and Romy Schneider in La mort en direct (1980)
    Harvey Keitel in La mort en direct (1980)
    Harvey Keitel and Romy Schneider in La mort en direct (1980)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Romy Schneider
    Romy Schneider
    • Katherine Mortenhoeas Katherine Mortenhoe
    Harvey Keitel
    Harvey Keitel
    • Roddyas Roddy
    Harry Dean Stanton
    Harry Dean Stanton
    • Vincent Ferrimanas Vincent Ferriman
    Thérèse Liotard
    Thérèse Liotard
    • Traceyas Tracey
    Max von Sydow
    Max von Sydow
    • Gerald Mortenhoeas Gerald Mortenhoe
    • (as Max Von Sydow)
    Caroline Langrishe
    Caroline Langrishe
    • Girl in the Baras Girl in the Bar
    William Russell
    William Russell
    • Dr.Masonas Dr.Mason
    • (as William Russel)
    Vadim Glowna
    Vadim Glowna
    • Harry Gravesas Harry Graves
    Eva Maria Meineke
    Eva Maria Meineke
    • Dr. Klausenas Dr. Klausen
    Bernhard Wicki
    Bernhard Wicki
    • Katherine's Dadas Katherine's Dad
    • (as Bernard Wicki)
    Freddie Boardley
    • Technicianas Technician
    Robbie Coltrane
    Robbie Coltrane
    • Limosine driveras Limosine driver
    Julian Hough
    • Young doctoras Young doctor
    Peter Kelly
    • Technicianas Technician
    Boyd Nelson
    • Policemanas Policeman
    Billy Riddoch
    • Truck driveras Truck driver
    • (as Bill Riddoch)
    Derek Royle
    • Matthiesonas Matthieson
    Ida Schuster
    • Old womanas Old woman
    • Director
      • Bertrand Tavernier
    • Writers
      • David Compton(novel "The Continuous Katherine Mortenhoe, or The Unsleeping Eye")
      • David Rayfiel
      • Bertrand Tavernier
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      At one point of the film, Gerald Mortenhoe (Max von Sydow) tells some historical facts about the Medieval French Composer Robert De Bauleac, while listening to one of his works on a record player. When the film was released, numerous music lovers tried to get a copy of the same record in specialized stores, which could never provide any for a very good reason: Robert De Bauleac has never existed, and the composition heard in the film is Antoine Duhamel's work. However, the concerned piece of music, "Robert De Bauleac's Lament", has been since available as part of the complete movie soundtrack.
    • Quotes

      Vincent Ferriman: Look how shy we've become about death. It's the new pornography.

    • Crazy credits
      Harvey Keitel wears a Seiko watch.
    • Connections
      Referenced in Speaking Parts (1989)
    • Soundtracks
      For The Love Of The Golden City
      Written by Antoine Duhamel, Produced by Gabriel Boustiani

      Performed by The London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Harry Rabinowitz

      Performed by Roger Mason

    User reviews27

    Review
    Top review
    An under-appreciated, influential gem of a movie...
    In what is said to be a tragically prophetic role, Romy Schneider gives a superb performance as a dying woman at the mercy of a voyeuristic society presided over by a greedy television executive (coldly played by the brilliant Harry Dean Stanton). Also of note is an elegant cameo by the legendary Max von Sydow.

    Why this movie has yet to get a rerelease is entirely beyond me. It doesn't help that it's nearly impossible to find in terms of both rental and sale. If you are able to track it down, then do not pass up the chance to see it.
    helpful•23
    2
    • Kinski_Paganini
    • Oct 28, 2003

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 1982 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • France
      • West Germany
    • Languages
      • French
      • English
      • German
    • Also known as
      • Der gekaufte Tod
    • Filming locations
      • Mull of Kintyre, Kintyre, Argyll and Bute, Scotland, UK
    • Production companies
      • Films A2
      • Gaumont International
      • Little Bear
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 57 minutes
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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