Local Hero (1983)
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- PG
- 1h 51min
- Comedy, Drama
- 28 Apr 1983 (Australia)
- Movie
An American oil company has plans for a new refinery and sends someone to Scotland to buy up an entire village, but things don't go as expected.
Director:
Writer:
Awards:
- Won 1 BAFTA Film Award. Another 3 wins & 6 nominations.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Burt Lancaster | ... |
Felix Happer
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| Peter Riegert | ... |
Mac
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| Fulton Mackay | ... |
Ben Knox
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| Denis Lawson | ... |
Gordon Urquhart
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| Norman Chancer | ... |
Moritz
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| Peter Capaldi | ... |
Oldsen
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Rikki Fulton | ... |
Geddes
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| Alex Norton | ... |
Watt
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| Jenny Seagrove | ... |
Marina
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Jennifer Black | ... |
Stella Urquhart
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| Christopher Rozycki | ... |
Victor
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| Gyearbuor Asante | ... |
Rev Macpherson
(as Christopher Asante)
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| John M. Jackson | ... |
Cal
(as John Jackson)
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| Dan Ammerman | ... |
Donaldson
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Tam Dean Burn | ... |
Roddy
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Luke Coulter | ... |
Baby
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Karen Douglas | ... |
Mrs Wyatt
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| Kenny Ireland | ... |
Skipper
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Harlan Jordan | ... |
Fountain
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Charles Kearney | ... |
Peter
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Betty Macey | ... |
Switchboard Operator
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David Mowat | ... |
Gideon
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John Poland | ... |
Anderson
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Brian Rowan | ... |
Ace Tone
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Ann Scott-Jones | ... |
Linda Fraser
(as Anne Scott Jones)
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Ian Stewart | ... |
Mr Bulloch
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Tanya Ticktin | ... |
Russian Girl
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| Jonathan Watson | ... |
Jonathan
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Mark Winchester | ... |
Ace Tone
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Dave Anderson | ... |
Fraser
(as David Anderson)
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Alan Clark | ... |
Ace Tone
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Alan Darby | ... |
Ace Tone
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| Caroline Guthrie | ... |
Pauline
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Ray Jeffries | ... |
Andrew
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Willie Joss | ... |
Sandy
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James Kennedy | ... |
Edward
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Michelle McCarel | ... |
Switchboard Operator
(as Michele McCarel)
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Roddy Murray | ... |
Ace Tone
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Buddy Quaid | ... |
Crabbe
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Edith Ruddick | ... |
Old Lady
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| John Gordon Sinclair | ... |
Ricky
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Anne Thompson | ... |
Switchboard Operator
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Sandra Voe | ... |
Mrs Fraser
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Dale Winchester | ... |
Ace Tone
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| Jimmy Yuill | ... |
Iain
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Directed by
| Bill Forsyth | ||
Written by
| Bill Forsyth | ... | (written by) |
Produced by
| David Puttnam | ... | producer (produced by) |
| Iain Smith | ... | associate producer |
Music by
| Mark Knopfler | ||
Cinematography by
| Chris Menges | ... | (lighting cameraman) |
Editing by
| Michael Bradsell | ||
Editorial Department
| Jim Howe | ... | first assistant editor |
| Anne Sopel | ... | second assistant editor |
Production Design by
| Roger Murray-Leach | ||
Art Direction by
| Adrienne Atkinson | ||
| Richard D. James | ... | (as Richard James) |
| Frank Walsh | ||
| Ian Watson | ||
Makeup Department
| Karen Dawson | ... | makeup assistant |
| Tommie Manderson | ... | makeup supervisor |
| Barbara Sutton | ... | hairdresser |
Production Management
| Patricia Churchill | ... | production manager: U.S. (as Pat Churchill) |
| Robin Douet | ... | production manager: U.K. |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Jonathan Benson | ... | first assistant director |
| Matthew Binns | ... | assistant director |
| Melvin Lind | ... | assistant director |
| Joel Tuber | ... | assistant director: (U.S) |
| Richard Hawley | ... | second assistant director: second unit (uncredited) |
Art Department
| Steve Allaway | ... | chargehand carpenter |
| Tony Allaway | ... | carpenter (as Anthony Allaway) |
| Les Beaver | ... | chargehand rigger |
| Dennis Bovington | ... | carpenter |
| Dave Coldham | ... | plasterer (as David Coldham) |
| Donna Dacier | ... | props |
| Susan Elkins | ... | props |
| Roy Evans | ... | construction manager |
| Trish Gallaher Glenn | ... | props (as Trisha B Gallaher) |
| Barry Gates | ... | stagehand |
| John Gorham | ... | graphics |
| Martin Hammerton | ... | stand-by carpenter |
| Roy Hansford | ... | carpenter |
| Alec Hearn | ... | drape |
| George Hobbs | ... | stand-by rigger |
| John Hogan | ... | props |
| John Hurley | ... | painter |
| George Malin | ... | dressing props |
| Jeff McManus | ... | property master |
| Norman North | ... | stand-by painter |
| Jill Quertier | ... | production buyer |
| Eamonn Redmond | ... | stand-by stagehand |
| Cornelius 'Ted' Restall | ... | chargehand painter (as Ted Restall) |
| Ray Staples | ... | plasterer |
| Bill Stark | ... | props |
| Ted Stickley | ... | dressing props |
| Arthur Wicks | ... | property master |
| Barry Williams | ... | draughtsman |
Sound Department
| Allan Brereton | ... | sound assistant |
| Ian Fuller | ... | dubbing editor |
| David Grimsdale | ... | assistant dubbing editor |
| Louis Kramer | ... | sound mixer |
| Ray Merrin | ... | assistant dubbing mixer |
| Bill Rowe | ... | dubbing mixer |
| Mike Tucker | ... | boom operator |
| Lionel Strutt | ... | adr mixer (uncredited) |
Special Effects by
| Roy Carnell | ... | special effects |
| Stuart Galloway | ... | special effects |
| Dennis Harrison | ... | special effects rigger |
| Peter Hutchinson | ... | special effects |
| Patrick McColgan | ... | special effects |
| Tommy Parker | ... | special effects rigger |
| Peter Skehan | ... | special effects |
| Wally Veevers | ... | special effects |
Visual Effects by
| Steve Simmonds | ... | modeller |
Camera and Electrical Department
| James Ainslie | ... | clapper loader |
| Kenneth Atherfold | ... | camera grip (as Ken Atherfold) |
| Graham Attwood | ... | unit stillsman |
| John Beach | ... | electrician |
| Michael Coulter | ... | camera operator (as Mike Coulter) |
| Micky Davey | ... | electrician |
| Ron Lyons | ... | electrician |
| Brian Martin | ... | chargehand electrician |
| Jan Pester | ... | focus puller |
| Ronnie Rampton | ... | gaffer electrician |
| Kerry Rike | ... | camera loader |
| Bob Strauss | ... | unit stillsman |
| Micky Wilson | ... | electrician |
Casting Department
| Susie Figgis | ... | casting |
| Penny Perry | ... | casting: U.S. |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Shawn Dale | ... | costumes |
| Pip Newbery | ... | costumes |
| Penny Rose | ... | costumes |
Location Management
| Dennis Bishop | ... | location manager: (U.S) |
| David Brown | ... | location manager |
| Peter Cotton | ... | location manager (uncredited) |
Script and Continuity Department
| Pat Rambaut | ... | continuity |
| Anne Rapp | ... | continuity: U.S. |
Transportation Department
| Robbie Sandison | ... | driver: grip truck (uncredited) |
Additional Crew
| Iain Brown | ... | National Film School attachment |
| Craig Busch | ... | production assistant |
| Diane Chittell | ... | producer's secretary: (U.S) |
| Sandy Collister | ... | production assistant |
| Teresa Colman | ... | director's secretary |
| Louise Coulter | ... | assistant accountant |
| Anne Curtis | ... | production assistant |
| Susan d'Arcy | ... | unit publicist (as Susan D'Arcy) |
| Charles Finch | ... | runner |
| John Hemmings | ... | liaison: Kay Laboratories London |
| Gus Maclean | ... | runner |
| Holly McDonald | ... | production assistant |
| Cormac O'Shea | ... | worldwide distribution director (as John Porter) |
| Maggie Phelan | ... | assistant accountant |
| Ron Phipps | ... | production accountant |
| Mary Richards | ... | production secretary |
| Lynda Smith | ... | producer's secretary |
| Rona Lamont | ... | production assistant (uncredited) |
| Julian Senior | ... | director of publicity (uncredited) |
Production Companies
- Enigma Productions (for Goldcrest)
- Goldcrest Films International
- Celandine Films
Distributors
- Twentieth Century Fox (1983) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Warner Bros. (1983) (United States) (theatrical)
- Herald Film Company (1986) (Japan) (theatrical)
- Hoyts Distribution (1983) (Australia) (theatrical)
- Istituto Luce-Italnoleggio Cinematografico (1984) (Italy) (theatrical)
- MK2 Diffusion (1984) (France) (theatrical)
- Suomi-Filmi (1984) (Finland) (theatrical)
- Svensk Filmindustri (SF) (1983) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- Svenska Filminstitutet (SFI) (1983) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- Tobis (1983) (West Germany) (theatrical)
- Arcadia Digital (2005) (Greece) (DVD) (tv)
- Arthaus (2006) (Germany) (DVD)
- Atlantic Film (2001) (Sweden) (DVD)
- BBC One (1987) (United Kingdom) (tv) (initial UK airing)
- CBS (1987) (United States) (tv)
- Content Rocket (2024) (Non-US) (video)
- Future Film (2001) (Finland) (DVD)
- MTC Video (1984) (Greece) (VHS)
- Mainostelevisio (MTV3) (1991) (Finland) (tv)
- Nordisk Film (2009) (Finland) (DVD)
- Seven Network (1990) (Australia) (tv)
- Svenska Filminstitutet (SFI) (1984) (Sweden) (video) (16 mm)
- The Criterion Channel (2019) (United States) (tv) (digital)
- The Criterion Collection (2019) (United States) (Blu-ray)
- The Criterion Collection (2019) (United States) (DVD)
- Thorn EMI Video Australia (1985) (Australia) (video)
- Thorn EMI Video (1980) (Finland) (video)
- Transeuropa Video Entertainment (TVE) (1985) (Argentina) (VHS)
- Umbrella Entertainment (2009) (Australia) (DVD)
- Umbrella Entertainment (2009) (Australia) (video) (VOD)
- Universal Home Entertainment (United Kingdom) (DVD)
- Video Medien Pool (VMP) (1999) (Germany) (VHS)
- Warner Home Video (United Kingdom) (video)
- Yleisradio (YLE) (2004) (Finland) (tv)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Autobonn Motors of Houston (this film was made with the help and co-operation of)
- Banff Springs Hotel (this film was made with the help and co-operation of)
- British Caledonian Airways (this film was made with the help and co-operation of)
- Burberry (this film was made with the help and co-operation of)
- Cuisines Chabert Duval U.K. Limited (this film was made with the help and co-operation of)
- E.M.I. Elstree Studios (re-recorded at)
- Elon Tiles U.K. (this film was made with the help and co-operation of)
- Enigma (Local Hero) Limited (filmed entirely on location by: Scotland and Texas)
- Evans Monical Inc. Houston (this film was made with the help and co-operation of)
- Foleys, Houston (this film was made with the help and co-operation of)
- Fullerscopes, London (this film was made with the help and co-operation of)
- G.S.E. (titles and opticals)
- Gerald D Hines Interests, Houston (this film was made with the help and co-operation of)
- J&J Film Foods Ltd. (location catering)
- Joe Dunton & Company (camera equipment provided by)
- Lee Lighting (grip and lighting equipment)
- Lochailort Inn (this film was made with the help and co-operation of)
- Long John International Limited (this film was made with the help and co-operation of)
- Mark Cross Inc. Houston (this film was made with the help and co-operation of)
- Mayflower Recording (adr recording)
- Patek Philippe Geneve (this film was made with the help and co-operation of)
- Penguin Books (novel published world wide by)
- Phonogram Records U.K. Limited (album available on)
- R.E.A. Bott Limited, London (this film was made with the help and co-operation of)
- Rotan-Mosle Financial Corporation, Houston (this film was made with the help and co-operation of)
- Royal Air Force (RAF) (this film was made with the help and co-operation of)
- Scottish Television Enterprises (funding)
- Take 6 (this film was made with the help and co-operation of)
- Texas Commerce Tower, Houston (this film was made with the help and co-operation of)
- The People of Pennan, Arisaig and Morar, Scotland (this film was made with the help and co-operation of)
- The Science Museum, London (this film was made with the help and co-operation of)
- Turnbull & Asser (this film was made with the help and co-operation of)
- Visual Icon (exclusive clip and still licensing)
- Warner Bros. Records (album available on) (US version)
- Woodhouse (this film was made with the help and co-operation of)
- Zapata (this film was made with the help and co-operation of)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
Oil billionaire Happer sends Mac to a remote Scottish village to secure the property rights for an oil refinery they want to build. Mac teams up with Danny and starts the negotiations, the locals are keen to get their hands on the 'Silver Dollar' and can't believe their luck. However, a local hermit and beach scavenger, Ben Knox, lives in a shack on the crucial beach which he also owns. Happer is more interested in the Northern Lights and Danny in a surreal girl with webbed feet, Marina. Mac is used to a Houston office with fax machines but is forced to negotiate on Bens terms.
Written by Matthew Stanfield |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | A beautiful coastline... A rich oil man wants to develop it. A poor beach bum wants to live on it. An entire town wants to profit by it. And a real-live mermaid wants to save it... Only one of them will get their way. See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
| Certification |
Additional Details
| Also Known As |
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| Sound Mix | |
| Filming Locations |
Box Office
| Budget | GBP3,000,000 (estimated) |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | After the movie came out, many people went in search of the village with the red phone booth. It can be found in the village of Pennan on the Moray Coast, Scotland. See more » |
| Goofs | Marina and Danny are looking at what Marina says are grey seals but which are Californian fur seals, which aren't native to Scotland. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in A Personal History of British Cinema by Stephen Frears (1995). See more » |
| Soundtracks | Local Hero See more » |
| Quotes |
Mac:
[desperate to make the deal]
Look, how much do you want? Ben: [fills his hands with sand] Would you pay me a pound for every grain of sand in my hand? [drops some sand] Ben: Ah, well, that saves you some. Well, would you do it? Mac: No. Of course not. Ben: Ah, well that's a pity. You missed out on a good bargain, for I can only hold about ten thousand grains of sand in my hands. Did you think it would be more? See more » |