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IMDbPro

A Prayer for the Dying

  • 19871987
  • RR
  • 1h 47m
IMDb RATING
6.2/10
5.2K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
20,912
4,055
Mickey Rourke, Alan Bates, and Bob Hoskins in A Prayer for the Dying (1987)
Martin, an I.R.A. hitman, is seen by a Catholic priest while carrying out a hit. He grows a bond with the priest and his niece. But his past and his former employers put all their lives in danger.
Play trailer1:53
1 Video
49 Photos
ActionCrimeDrama
Martin, an I.R.A. hitman, is seen by a Catholic priest while carrying out a hit. He grows a bond with the priest and his niece. But his past and his former employers put all their lives in d... Read allMartin, an I.R.A. hitman, is seen by a Catholic priest while carrying out a hit. He grows a bond with the priest and his niece. But his past and his former employers put all their lives in danger.Martin, an I.R.A. hitman, is seen by a Catholic priest while carrying out a hit. He grows a bond with the priest and his niece. But his past and his former employers put all their lives in danger.
IMDb RATING
6.2/10
5.2K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
20,912
4,055
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Director
      • Mike Hodges
    • Writers
      • Jack Higgins(novel)
      • Edmund Ward(screenplay)
      • Martin Lynch(screenplay)
    • Stars
      • Mickey Rourke
      • Bob Hoskins
      • Alan Bates
    Top credits
    • Director
      • Mike Hodges
    • Writers
      • Jack Higgins(novel)
      • Edmund Ward(screenplay)
      • Martin Lynch(screenplay)
    • Stars
      • Mickey Rourke
      • Bob Hoskins
      • Alan Bates
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 29User reviews
    • 21Critic reviews
    • Awards
      • 1 win

    Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 1:53
    Trailer

    Photos49

    Alan Bates and Christopher Fulford in A Prayer for the Dying (1987)
    Bob Hoskins in A Prayer for the Dying (1987)
    Mickey Rourke and Sammi Davis in A Prayer for the Dying (1987)
    A Prayer for the Dying (1987)
    Mike Hodges in A Prayer for the Dying (1987)
    Mickey Rourke and Bob Hoskins in A Prayer for the Dying (1987)
    Mickey Rourke in A Prayer for the Dying (1987)
    Jack Higgins in A Prayer for the Dying (1987)
    Liam Neeson and Alison Doody in A Prayer for the Dying (1987)
    Mickey Rourke in A Prayer for the Dying (1987)
    Mickey Rourke, Alan Bates, and Bob Hoskins in A Prayer for the Dying (1987)
    A Prayer for the Dying (1987)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Mickey Rourke
    Mickey Rourke
    • Martin Fallon
    Bob Hoskins
    Bob Hoskins
    • Father Michael Da Costa
    Alan Bates
    Alan Bates
    • Jack Meehan
    Sammi Davis
    Sammi Davis
    • Anna
    Christopher Fulford
    Christopher Fulford
    • Billy Meehan
    Liam Neeson
    Liam Neeson
    • Liam Docherty
    Leonard Termo
    Leonard Termo
    • Bonati
    Camille Coduri
    Camille Coduri
    • Jenny Fox
    Maurice O'Connell
    • Superintendant Miller
    Alison Doody
    Alison Doody
    • Siobhan Donovan
    Karl Johnson
    Karl Johnson
    • Fitzgerald
    Ian Bartholomew
    • Kristou
    Peggy Aitchison
    • Mrs. Orton
    Cliff Burnett
    • Fred Varley
    Anthony Head
    Anthony Head
    • Rupert
    Mark Lambert
    • Ainsley
    David Lumsden
    • Lance
    Stanley Beard
    • Krasko
    • Director
      • Mike Hodges
    • Writers
      • Jack Higgins(novel)
      • Edmund Ward(screenplay)
      • Martin Lynch(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Director Mike Hodges and Mickey Rourke publicly disowned the theatrical cut of this movie.
    • Quotes

      Billy Meehan: I do what I fucking want, when I fucking want! I'm Jack Meehan's brother!

    • Crazy credits
      The end credits begin to roll up from behind the amusement park rides on the horizon.
    • Alternate versions
      There's an unknown director's cut for which Mike Hodges originally had John Scott to compose the music. However the producers decided that they didn't like it and hired Bill Conti to redo the music. Also, after watching Hodges' cut, Samuel Goldwyn recut the film for American audience who wanted an action movie. Both Hodges and Mickey Rourke publically disowned the theatrical cut.
    • Connections
      Referenced in Without Walls: Supercrips and Rejects (1996)
    • Soundtracks
      Ave Maria
      (uncredited)

      Music by Franz Schubert

    User reviews29

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    A Flawed film, with ambition.
    A Prayer For The Dying is one of those films which had the ambitions to be well made film like many classic, but it falls on it face.

    It read stories that the film was re-edited behind the directors back and both Mike Hodges and Mickey Rourke have disowned the theatrical release. This is problem with the film, producers don't make good editors. There are some scenes which doesn't gel, and also the Bill Conti music is too melodramatic. Originally Mike Hodges hired John Scott too compose the soundtrack, then Samuel Goldwyn Jr didn't like it and got in Conti.

    I read that Mickey Rourke's Irish accent was badly criticized by critics. I actuality thought that Rourke accent was convincing enough and also he is an Irish-American. Rourke is one most under estimated actors around.

    Alan Bates is good as the Meehan, Bob Hoskins is reasonable as Costa even though at times he looks like he going to explode as a cockney gangster.

    According to Mike Hodges there is his cut of the film and that MGM own the rights and that there were going to release film on DVD in its correct form.

    I would like to see that happen as I said earlier it's an ambitious film along with Get Carter, but whereas Get Carter is a classic, A.P.F.D. falls on it face, because of people who meddled with the film not knowing what they are doing.
    helpful•7
    5
    • ninfilms
    • Jul 12, 2004

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 11, 1987 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Auf den Schwingen des Todes
    • Filming locations
      • Canning Town, London, England, UK
    • Production company
      • The Samuel Goldwyn Company
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $6,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $1,432,687
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $881,793
      • Sep 13, 1987
    • Gross worldwide
      • $1,432,687
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 47 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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