Hopscotch (1980)

User Rating:

7.1/10   

Director:

Ronald Neame

Writers:

Bryan Forbes (screenplay)
Brian Garfield (novel)

Release Date:

10 October 1980 (Finland)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

The most dangerous man in the world. He's about to expose the CIA, the FBI, the KGB...and himself.

Plot:

A CIA agent tired of his incompetent colleagues retires and dares them to stop him from publishing an embarrassing book of memoirs.

Plot Keywords:

CIA | Memoir | False Identity | Cold War | False Passport

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 2 nominations

Cast

Walter Matthau	...	Miles Kendig / James Butler / Mr. Hannaway / Leonard Ross
Glenda Jackson	...	Isobel von Schonenberg
Sam Waterston	...	Joe Cutter
Ned Beatty	...	Myerson
Herbert Lom	...	Yaskov
David Matthau	...	Ross
George Baker	...	Westlake
Ivor Roberts	...	Ludlum
Lucy Saroyan	...	Carla
Severn Darden	...	Maddox
George Pravda	...	Saint Breheret
Jacquelyn Hyde	...	Realtor
Mike Gwilym	...	Alfie
Terry Beaver	...	Tobin
Ray Charleson	...	Clausen

Runtime:

106 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | French | German

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:L | Sweden:11 | Australia:PG | Finland:S | UK:15 | USA:R | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Atlanta, Georgia, USA

Company:

AVCO Embassy Pictures

Trivia:

The names of the characters "Ludlum" and "Westlake" are taken from authors Robert Ludlum and Donald E. Westlake.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the scene where Kendig is chased by FBI cars in Georgia, and spills the oil on the road, we see it as he left it, then again a moment later as the FBI cars career off the road. The splash-pattern of the oil on the road is different in the two cases.

Quotes:

Myerson: The son of a bitch is dead, finally.
Cutter: The son of a bitch better stay dead.

Movie Connections:

References Casablanca (1942)

Soundtrack:

Largo Al Factotum

Perfect Fun

Walter and Glenda together again after House Calls, what more could you ask for? Witty intelligent comedy, a romance between two not so beautiful people and despite the sweetness and the light touch you still worry about how its all going to turn out. Why don't they make movies like this any more?

For the record this is the story of a CIA man who quits when he's given a desk job and then gives everyone in the spy business kittens by writing is autobiography. Its wicked fun.

Perhaps the only flaw, and the reason the film is rated R is that Ned Beatty curses up a blue streak needlessly, the again since no one else does it simply shows how out of place he is.

See this movie. Do not pass go, do not collect two hundred dollars, just go get this movie and enjoy.