Target (1985)

When American Donna Lloyd is kidnapped during a trip to Europe, her son Chris and her husband Walter start searching for her.

Director:

Arthur Penn

Writers:

Howard Berk, Don Petersen

Stars:

Gene Hackman, Matt Dillon, Brad Williams

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Gene Hackman	...	Walter Lloyd
Brad Williams	...	Forklift Operator
Matt Dillon	...	Chris Lloyd
Gayle Hunnicutt	...	Donna Lloyd
Randy Moore	...	Tour Director
Ilona Grübel	...	Carla (as Ilona Grubel)
Tomas Hnevsa	...	Henke
Jean-Pol Dubois	...	Glasses
Robert Ground	...	Marine Sergeant
Véronique Guillaud	...	Secretary. American Consulate
Charlotte Bailey	...	Receptionist
James Selby	...	Ross
Ray Fry	...	Mason
Josef Sommer	...	Taber
Jacques Mignot	...	Madison Hotel Clerk

Storyline

Chris Lloyd does NOT get along with his father Walter. Walter is too careful, cautious, and boring to Chris, and never tries anything new, and Chris had to live by the same standards when he was growing up. But when his mother is kidnapped while in Europe, to Chris's confusion, Walter suddenly turns into a man of action. Just who is his father anyway.

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Plot Keywords:

assassination attempt | man murders a woman | man wears eyeglasses | cia central intelligence agency | europe | 

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Taglines:

...A powerful new thriller [UK Theatrical]

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

One of the final films of production house CBS Theatrical Films. The company went defunct the year that this movie was released.

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Goofs

Driving fiat uno up the stairs at the Hamburg harbor, Chris loses the front bumper, but the bumper is then back in place.

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Quotes

Chris Lloyd: Did you kill people?

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Connections

Featured in At the Movies: The Worst Films of 1985 (1986)

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Soundtracks

Lost In Love
Written by Graham Russell

User Reviews

One of my all-time faves

I can't add too much that hasn't already been said. A 1985 film, the plot should be familiar to anyone with or without basic cable by now. Where this film shines is in the relationships between the characters and the quality of the acting. Mind you, the plot and action aren't shabby, either, despite some comments here to the contrary.

Perhaps this is merely middle-age fantasy - how many middle aged dads (or moms) haven't had the fantasy of showing their sullen kids how cool they once were and could be again if necessary? I was fortunate not to have any sullen kids (or grandkids), but I've been in this guy's place and I recognized the looks on both faces. (OK, I was never a spy or anything so overtly cool, but I did have my moments.) The point is that there come inevitable times in the relationships between kids and parents when the kids suddenly realize that the old folks may have actually been cool before the kids even knew what cool was all about, and that's the heart of this film.

Contrary to some comments, the plot is quite coherent with only a few holes which I won't elaborate. Some of the carping about plot points I've read here must have come from people lacking in either imagination or comprehension. The action is credible both in its pacing and execution. Not Arthur Penn's best film, but this is as much of an actor's film as a director's film.

The acting is uniformly good, but Hackman holds the center of the film. If he weren't completely believable, the whole effort would fall apart. Matt Dillon gives a very good performance as Hackman's son/foil, but isn't in the same league. The usually reliable Josef Sommer gives a surprisingly weak performance - OK, but not up to his usual work. The late Herbert Berghof (husband of Uta Hagen and co-founder with her of the eponymously named HB acting studio) gives a master class in his portrayal of a truly sympathetic, tortured soul - not much screen time, but a real gem. Another standout is Viktoriya Fyodorova, who offers some of the films most poignant scenes as Hackman's love-who-might-have-been, who devotes herself to helping him and his son find his kidnapped wife.

Highly recommended, but it won't really resonate with the kids...

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English French German

Release Date:

8 November 1985 (USA)

Also Known As:

Target

Filming Locations:

Berlin, Germany

Box Office

Budget:

$13,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$2,670,522, 10 November 1985

Gross USA:

$9,023,199

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$9,023,199

Company Credits

Production Co:

CBS Entertainment Production, CBS Productions, CBS Theatrical Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

117 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.75 : 1