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The General

  • 1998
  • R
  • 2h 4m
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
9K
YOUR RATING
Jon Voight and Brendan Gleeson in The General (1998)
Home Video Trailer from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Play trailer0:31
1 Video
99+ Photos
BiographyCrimeDrama

The real-life story of Dublin folk hero and criminal Martin Cahill, who pulled off two daring robberies in Ireland with his team, but attracted unwanted attention from the police, the I.R.A.... Read allThe real-life story of Dublin folk hero and criminal Martin Cahill, who pulled off two daring robberies in Ireland with his team, but attracted unwanted attention from the police, the I.R.A., the U.V.F., and members of his own team.The real-life story of Dublin folk hero and criminal Martin Cahill, who pulled off two daring robberies in Ireland with his team, but attracted unwanted attention from the police, the I.R.A., the U.V.F., and members of his own team.

  • Director
    • John Boorman
  • Writers
    • John Boorman
    • Paul Williams
  • Stars
    • Brendan Gleeson
    • Adrian Dunbar
    • Sean McGinley
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    7.2/10
    9K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • John Boorman
    • Writers
      • John Boorman
      • Paul Williams
    • Stars
      • Brendan Gleeson
      • Adrian Dunbar
      • Sean McGinley
    • 51User reviews
    • 54Critic reviews
    • 81Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 10 wins & 14 nominations

    Videos1

    The General
    Trailer 0:31
    Watch The General

    Photos170

    John Boorman at an event for The General (1998)
    Brendan Gleeson in The General (1998)
    Jon Voight and Brendan Gleeson in The General (1998)
    The General (1998)
    Jon Voight and Brendan Gleeson in The General (1998)
    Jon Voight and Brendan Gleeson in The General (1998)
    Aoife Moriarty in The General (1998)
    Brendan Gleeson in The General (1998)
    Sean McGinley in The General (1998)
    Maria Doyle Kennedy in The General (1998)
    The General (1998)
    Jon Voight and Brendan Gleeson in The General (1998)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Brendan Gleeson
    Brendan Gleeson
    • Martin Cahill
    Adrian Dunbar
    Adrian Dunbar
    • Noel Curley
    Sean McGinley
    Sean McGinley
    • Gary
    Maria Doyle Kennedy
    Maria Doyle Kennedy
    • Frances
    Angeline Ball
    Angeline Ball
    • Tina
    Jon Voight
    Jon Voight
    • Inspector Ned Kenny
    Eanna MacLiam
    Eanna MacLiam
    • Jimmy
    Tom Murphy
    • Willie Byrne
    Paul Hickey
    Paul Hickey
    • Anthony
    Tommy O'Neill
    • Paddy
    John O'Toole
    • Shea
    Ciarán Fitzgerald
    Ciarán Fitzgerald
    • Tommy
    Ned Dennehy
    Ned Dennehy
    • Gay
    Vinny Murphy
    • Harry
    • (as Vinnie Murphy)
    Roxanna Nic Liam
    • Orla
    • (as Roxanna Williams)
    Pat Laffan
    Pat Laffan
    • Police Sgt. Patrick Higgins
    Eamonn Owens
    Eamonn Owens
    • Young Martin Cahill
    Colleen O'Neill
    • Patricia
    • Director
      • John Boorman
    • Writers
      • John Boorman
      • Paul Williams(from the book by)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The house of writer and director Sir John Boorman was robbed by the real-life Martin Cahill. Among other things, he stole a gold record that Boorman had on the wall (an award for the "Dueling Banjos" theme from Deliverance (1972)), which inspired Boorman to include that scene in the movie.
    • Goofs
      Set in 1984, the background of the anti-drug march features a car with a license plate beginning with "96," indicating 1996.
    • Quotes

      Garda: Hey Cahill! Which sister did you screw last night? Both?

      Martin Cahill: Yours.

    • Alternate versions
      Home video version is colorized.
    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Star Trek: Insurrection/Jack Frost/Shakespeare in Love/Psycho/The General (1998)

    User reviews51

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    7/10
    No frills, just good story telling.
    Boorman if nothing else is a good story teller. As a director, his greatest triumph came early in his career with Deliverance. Yet as a writer, he has brought us quality films such as Excalibur, and Hope & Glory. His adaptation of the Paul Williams novel is straight forward and without frills. Martin Cahill had many aspects to his life that could have easily become the fodder for an over zealous director. Rather than seeking to build a "background" story out of his love triangle, Boorman handles it with style and two scenes. The movie is meant to tell you about the rise and fall of Martin Cahill with a watchful eye to the social and political forces in Ireland. Boorman does just that. The scenes are well thought out and the acting solid. While this movie never hit the critical radar in America, it was praised both in Britain and at Cannes. When your in the mood for a story of a gangster who became a populist hero, take a look at this film. But if you want swift action scenes and graphic violence, it may be time for another viewing of Bonnie and Clyde.
    helpful•12
    4
    • charlietuna
    • Mar 19, 2001

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 18, 1998 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United Kingdom
      • Ireland
    • Official site
      • Sony Pictures Classics
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Kod adı general
    • Filming locations
      • Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland
    • Production companies
      • Bord Scannán na hÉireann / The Irish Film Board
      • J & M
      • Merlin Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $1,214,198
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $26,771
      • Dec 20, 1998
    • Gross worldwide
      • $1,214,198
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 4 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

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