The Hit (1984)

Ten years later, after ratting on his old mobster friends in exchange for personal immunity, two hit men drive a hardened criminal to Paris for his execution. However, while on the way, whatever can go wrong, does go wrong.

Director:

Stephen Frears

Writer:

Peter Prince

Stars:

Freddie Stuart, Ralph Brown, A.J. Clarke

Nominated for 1 BAFTA Film Award. Another 2 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Freddie Stuart	...	First Man
Ralph Brown	...	Second Man
A.J. Clarke	...	Third Man
Terence Stamp	...	Willie Parker
Lennie Peters	...	Mr. Corrigan
Bernie Searle	...	Hopwood (as Bernie Searl)
Brian Royal	...	Fellows
Albie Woodington	...	Riordan
Willoughby Gray	...	Judge
Jim Broadbent	...	Barrister
Manuel de Benito	...	Juan (as Manuel De Benito)
Juan Calot	...	Priest
Enrique San Francisco	...	Kidnapper (as Quique San Francisco)
Will More	...	Kidnapper (as Joaquin Alonso)
José Luis Fernández 'Pirri'	...	Kidnapper (as Jose Luis Fernandez)

Storyline

Ex-gangster Willie Parker (Terence Stamp) has betrayed his former "colleagues" and now lives in Spain where he thinks he can hide from their vengeance. But one day, ten years later, two hitmen (Braddock (Sir John Hurt) and Myron (Tim Roth)) show up and kidnap Willie. They are ordered to escort him back to Paris where he should stand trial. But it is a long way to Paris.

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Plot Keywords:

spain | road movie | neo noir | british renaissance | philosophical | 

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Taglines:

Willie Parker grassed... ten years later they came for their revenge.

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

8 March 1985 (USA)

Also Known As:

La ejecución

Filming Locations:

Torre de Madrid, Spain

Box Office

Gross USA:

$876,775

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$876,775

Company Credits

Production Co:

Zenith Entertainment, Recorded Picture Company (RPC), Central Productions Ltd.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The make and model of the luxury car, in which the hoods and hostages went cross country through Spain, was, according to the IMCDB, a cream-white 1964 Mercedes-Benz 220 S (W111).

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Goofs

At the beginning of the film, a black Ford Zephyr Mark III pulls up outside Willie Parker's flat. It has a number plate ending in K, denoting that it was first registered in 1971 or 1972. However this model of car was only made between 1962 and 1966. The DVLA rules on personalised number plates forbid a plate that makes a car look "younger" that its actual year of manufacture.

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Quotes

[in court, the barrister is asking Willie who took part in a robbery]
Willie: Riordan, Fellows and Mr Corrigan.
Barrister: Not Hopwood?
Willie: No, sir. I think Lennie had flu that day.
[chuckles]
Willie: Or cold feet!

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Connections

Featured in At the Movies: Heartbreakers/The Hit/Alamo Bay/A Private Function (1985)

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Soundtracks

We'll Meet Again
(uncredited)
By Ross Parker and Hugh Charles
Performed by Terence Stamp and other cast menbers

User Reviews

Brilliant, top-notch movie

I can't believe I'm discovering this little gem only now, about 20 years late! Shame on me. How comes...?

Now this is the kind of stuff I like. Intelligent, brilliantly written and directed, with mindblowing actors' performances by Tim Roth, John Hurt and Terence Stamp (gee I never realized before that Stamp was SUCH a talented actor!! Shame on me again!), a real personality, an outstanding camera work, and multiple references to the cinema history... all this with just the right amount of dignity, not too much, just the right amount. And an original and tasteful use of hispanic music, that is 100% adequate.

"The hit" is suspenseful, unpredictable, funny, challenging.

Makes me wonder how many times Tarentino viewed it... he obviously viewed it several times, for sure.

Great flick. I can't believe that there are only 395 votes for this movie on Imdb, meaning that only a very selected group of people actually had the luck to come across this little diamond. Such a shame. I bet many Coen fans would really love "The hit" if they only had the opportunity to view it...