Hopscotch (1980)

Director:

Ronald Neame

Writers:

Brian Garfield (novel)
Brian Garfield (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

10 October 1980 (Finland)

Genre:

Adventure | 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 | Airplane Accident | Firework | Reference To Laurel And Hardy

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 2 nominations

Cast

Walter Matthau	...	Miles Kendig / James Butler / Mr. Hannaway / Leonard Ross
Glenda Jackson	...	Isobel
Sam Waterston	...	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 | German | French

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:L | Sweden:11 | Australia:PG | UK:12 (video rating) (2007) | UK:12 (tv rating) | UK:AA (original rating) | Netherlands:6 (re-rating) | Finland:S | UK:15 (video rating) (1987/1991/2008) | USA:R | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Atlanta, Georgia, USA

Company:

Edie & Ely Landau Inc.

Trivia:

The name of the character "Follett" is taken from author Ken Follett, a popular writer of spy novels and political thrillers.

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:

Carla: You seem like a nice man. You remind me of my father.
Kendig: That's always been my problem.

Movie Connections:

References Casablanca (1942)

Soundtrack:

Largo Al Factotum

One of Matthau's most overlooked and best movies

This movie is Walter Matthau at his best. The easy way he shoves it to his boss, Ned Beatty, at the CIA when he's put behind a desk is a joy. The twists and turns of just how he goes about this keep the movie moving and interesting. You want him to get away with it while humiliating the agency at every turn. He gets excellent from then wife Glenda Jackson and a young Sam Waterston. Too bad it's not available on DVD as the VHS tape isn't wide screen and isn't a great transfer.