Hudson Hawk (1991)

A cat burglar is forced to steal Da Vinci works of art for a world domination plot.

Director:

Michael Lehmann

Writers:

Bruce Willis (story), Robert Kraft (story)

Stars:

Bruce Willis, Danny Aiello, Andie MacDowell

3 wins & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Bruce Willis	...	Hudson Hawk
Danny Aiello	...	Tommy Five-Tone
Andie MacDowell	...	Anna Baragli
James Coburn	...	George Kaplan
Richard E. Grant	...	Darwin Mayflower
Sandra Bernhard	...	Minerva Mayflower
Donald Burton	...	Alfred
Don Harvey	...	Snickers
David Caruso	...	Kit Kat
Andrew Bryniarski	...	Butterfinger
Lorraine Toussaint	...	Almond Joy
Burtt Harris	...	Gates
Frank Stallone	...	Cesar Mario
Carmine Zozzora	...	Antony Mario (as Carmine Zozorra)
Stefano Molinari	...	Leonardo da Vinci (as Stephano Molinari)

Storyline

Eddie Hawkins, called Hudson Hawk has just been released from ten years of prison and is planning to spend the rest of his life honestly. But then the crazy Mayflower couple blackmail him to steal some of the works of Leonardo da Vinci. If he refuses, they threaten to kill his friend Tommy.

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Plot Keywords:

time bomb | neo screwball comedy | worst picture razzie winner | character name as title | getting out of jail | 

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Taglines:

Catch the excitement. Catch the laughter. Catch the Hawk.

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Comedy

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language

Did You Know?

Trivia

Jost Vacano was the original Cinematographer on the project, but due to delays and overruns in principal photography he left the project and was replaced by Dante Spinotti.

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Goofs

When Anna is shot by the curare dart, she falls next to Hudson with her right arm on the floor by the side of her leg. In the next shot, her arm has moved up onto the top of her leg. If she was paralyzed, and no one moved her arm...it should still be by her side.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Narrator: Long ago, the Duke of Milan commissioned a little known artist to erect a Mammoth statue of a horse. The time was 1481... The artist was Leonardo da Vinci... The guy on the donkey's just a guy on a donkey.

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Alternate Versions

Entire subplot of Eddie's dead pet monkey Little Eddie. Eddie puts a photo of the monkey on Kaplan's head and throws him off the castle; the photo is still visible in the final cut just as he goes over the cliff on the limo.

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Connections

References Dumbo (1941)

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Soundtracks

Swinging on a Star
Written by Johnny Burke & Jimmy Van Heusen (as James Van Heusen)
Performed by Bing Crosby
Courtesy of MCA Records

User Reviews

Microwave Sushi

This movie was on my list of movies generated by actors as personal projects. That's because you really get to know these guys when you see what they really want to do. Bruce worked on this for a very long time.

If you check out Willis' acting stuff, it is a particular style, very much like Mel Gibson's. The idea is to focus on the character in a serious way, but always let the audience know that there is a carefree guy doing it. The formula is subtle and depends on the genuine take on life that the actor has.

If you allow for the incompetent editing and execrable score, this is a very clever movie. In particular, it is a very clever placement of a movie about other movies. It walks through the various motions of a real movie, with lots of references to remind you. But it is really a bunch of jokes that make the broadest fun of movies. The position and distance that this film has to real movies is precisely the same as Bruce's acting stance to the job he does in portraying the character.

Check it out. It's got some problems, but it tells you a lot about Bruce in whatever of his other films you like, and will likely enhance that film.

Details

Official Sites:

Sony Movie Channel [United States]

Country:

USA

Language:

English Italian

Release Date:

24 May 1991 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Adventures of Hudson Hawk

Filming Locations:

Hungary

Box Office

Budget:

$65,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$7,082,820, 27 May 1991

Gross USA:

$17,218,080

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$17,218,080

Company Credits

Production Co:

TriStar Pictures, Silver Pictures, Ace Bone

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Sound Mix:

CDS (digital 35 mm prints) Dolby SR (analog 35 mm prints)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1