The Hunter (1980)

User Rating:

6.1/10   

Director:

Buzz Kulik

Writers:

Christopher Keane (book) and
Ralph Thorson (novel) ...
(more)

Release Date:

1 August 1980 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Biography | Thriller

Tagline:

He's not as fast as he used to be... That's what makes him human. He's a bounty hunter... And that's what makes him dangerous.

Plot:

The story of professional bounty hunter Ralph "Papa" Thorson.

Plot Keywords:

Bounty Hunter | Skip Tracer | Fainting | Dynamite | Dysfunctional Marriage

Cast

Steve McQueen	...	Ralph 'Papa' Thorson
Eli Wallach	...	Ritchie Blumenthal
Kathryn Harrold	...	Dotty
LeVar Burton	...	Tommy Price
Ben Johnson	...	Sheriff Strong
Richard Venture	...	Spota
Tracey Walter	...	Rocco Mason
Thomas Rosales Jr.	...	Bernardo (as Tom Rosales)
Teddy Wilson	...	Winston Blue (as Theodore Wilson)
Ray Bickel	...	Luke Branch
Bobby Bass	...	Matthew Branch
Karl Schueneman	...	Billie Joe
Margaret Mary O'Hara	...	Child on Subway (as Margaret O'Hara)
James Spinks	...	Angry Car Owner
Frank Delfino	...	Poker Player
Zora Margolis	...	La Maze Leader
Poppy Lagos	...	Mrs. Bernardo
Dea St. La Mount	...	Woman Bartender
Lillian Adams	...	Blumenthal's Secretary
Thor Nielsen	...	Man in Blumenthal's Office
Stan Wojno	...	Intern (as Stan Wojno Jr.)
Jodi Moon	...	Billie Joe's Girlfriend
Kathy Cunningham	...	Mother on Subway
Kelly K. Learman	...	Student (as Kelly Learman)
Michael D. Roberts	...	Poker Player
Kevin Hagen	...	Poker Player
Luis Avalos	...	Poker Player
Wynn Irwin	...	Informer
Frank Arno	...	Poker Player
Rick DiAngelo	...	Poker Player
Ralph Thorson	...	Bartender
Mathilda Calnan	...	Hospital Volunteer (as Matilda Calnan)
F. William Parker	...	Watch Commander
Nathaniel Taylor	...	Trotter
Tony Burton	...	Garbageman #2
Morgan Roberts	...	Garbageman #1
Frederick Sistaine	...	Pimp
Taurean Blacque	...	Hustler
Alex Ross	...	Clief McCurdy
Patti Clifton	...	Sexy Woman
Jay Scorpio	...	Man on Balcony
Jeff Viola	...	Young Patrolman
Christopher Keane	...	Mike
Dolores Robinson	...	Principal
Anthony Mannino	...	Policeman at School
Joella Deffenbaugh	...	Cashier
Marilyn Jones	...	Barmaid
William B. Snider	...	Policeman
Chris Richmond	...	Bystander
Willie Lee Gaffney	...	Card Player on Street
Debbie Miller	...	Car Rental Girl
Robert A. Janz	...	Motorman
Dan Frick	...	Man in Car
Ramiro Medina	...	Low Rider
Bill Hart	...	Security Guard
Bill Willens	...	Suspect in Jail
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Nicolas Coster	...	Poker player (uncredited)
Corin Rogers	...	Passenger on 'L' (uncredited)
Al Ruscio	...	Mr. Bernardo (uncredited)

Directed by
Buzz Kulik

Writing credits
Christopher Keane		book and
Ralph Thorson		novel
Ted Leighton		(screenplay) and
Peter Hyams		(screenplay)
John Rester Zodrow		uncredited

Produced by
Mort Engelberg	....	producer

Original Music by
Michel Legrand

Cinematography by
Fred J. Koenekamp

Film Editing by
Robert L. Wolfe		(as Robert Wolfe)

Casting by
Jennifer Shull

Production Design by
Ron Hobbs

Set Decoration by
George Gaines
Rick Simpson

Costume Design by
Denita Del Signore		(costumes: women)
Thomas Welsh		(costumes: men)

Makeup Department
John M. Elliott Jr.	....	makeup artist (as John Elliott)
Bren Plaistowe	....	hair stylist

Production Management
William O'Sullivan	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Frank Bueno	....	additional second assistant director
Bob Dahlin	....	second assistant director (as Robert Dahlin)
Richard Learman	....	assistant director

Art Department
Cal DiValerio	....	construction coordinator (as Cal Di Valerio)
Mike Higelmire	....	lead man
Chet Laudermilk	....	assistant property master
Al Legget	....	property master
James E. Tocci	....	set designer (as Jim Tocci)
Joseph G. Pacelli Jr.	....	set designer (uncredited)

Sound Department
Rick Alexander	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Dick Alexander)
Jeff Bushelman	....	supervising sound editor
Ronald Long	....	boom operator (as Ron Long)
Andy MacDonald	....	sound re-recording mixer
Al Overton Jr.	....	sound mixer
Vern Poore	....	sound re-recording mixer
Eric Rochin	....	cable person

Special Effects by
Phil Cory	....	special effects

Stunts
Bobby Bass	....	stunts
Ray Bickel	....	stunts
Janet Brady	....	stunts
Jophery C. Brown	....	stunts (as Jophery Brown)
Gary Combs	....	stunt coordinator
Loren Janes	....	stunts
Pat E. Johnson	....	stunts (as Pat Johnson)
Thomas Rosales Jr.	....	stunts (as Tommy Rosales)

Camera and Electrical Department
Richard Barth	....	first assistant camera (as Dick Barth)
Roger Blauvelt	....	best boy (as Roger E. Blauvelt)
Dave Friedman	....	still photographer (as David Friedman)
Frank M. Holgate	....	aerial camera operator (as Frank Holgate)
Bo Miller	....	second grip
Edward Morey III	....	camera operator (as Ed Morey)
John Murray	....	key grip
Lawrence E. Peets	....	best boy
Chris Squires	....	second assistant camera (as Chris Squire)
Gene Stout	....	gaffer
Bill Young	....	dolly grip

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Denita Del Signore	....	costumer: women
Bob E. Horn	....	set costumer
Thomas Welsh	....	costumer: men (as Tommy Welsh)

Editorial Department
Clayton Collins	....	apprentice editor
Carol Ann Jackson	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Allison Caine	....	vocal effects advisor
Erma E. Levin	....	music editor (as Erma Levin)

Transportation Department
Terry Collis	....	transportation captain
Ken Peterson	....	transportation coordinator
Robert Wallace	....	driver (uncredited)

Other crew
Susie Elkins	....	production assistant
Doris Grau	....	script supervisor
Bob Heinlein	....	technical advisor: Chicago Transit Authority
Robert A. Janz	....	technical advisor: Chicago Transit Authority (as Bob Janz)
Arthur 'Clondike' Jones	....	craft service (as Art 'Klondike' Jones)
Janice Lisalda	....	production secretary
Patt McCurdy	....	assistant: Mr. Kulik
Chad McQueen	....	production assistant
Forrest Painter	....	first aid
Paul Pav	....	location manager
Ross Reynolds	....	helicopter pilot
Matt Robinson	....	production assistant
Eric Rochin	....	technician
Art Sarno	....	unit publicist
Stewart Satterfield	....	car carrier
Jette Sorensen	....	auditor
Lolly Stevenson	....	assistant: Mr. Engelberg
Ralph Thorson	....	technical advisor
Forrest Painter	....	assistant production accountant (uncredited)

Thanks
Margaret Booth	....	thanks
Jane Byrne	....	thanks: City of Chicago (as Mayor Jane Byrne)
Dominick Frigo	....	thanks (as Lt. Dominick Frigo)
Dr. Maury Lazarus	....	thanks
Officer Marvin Mandel	....	thanks
Sgt. Bill Marks	....	thanks
Lucie Salenger	....	thanks (as Lucy Salenger)
James R. Thompson	....	thanks (as Governor James R. Thompson)

Production Companies

• Rastar Pictures

Distributors

• Paramount Pictures (1980) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1983) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• CIC (1980) (West Germany) (theatrical)

Other Companies

• Burbank Editorial Service Inc.  sound editing
• Pacific Title  titles

Runtime:

97 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:12 | Singapore:PG | West Germany:16 (f) | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | France:-12 | Norway:16 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

Alexander Hamilton High School - 2955 S. Robertson Blvd., Palms District, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Rastar Pictures

Trivia:

LeVar Burton's role was not in the original script. Steve McQueen liked his work and figured there should be more roles for him, so the role of Tommy Price was written in.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the elevated train sequence, the villain "Bernardo" is shown outside the train car as "papa" is first shown on the roof of the train. In the next cut, he is still inside the train, about to exit.

Quotes:

Ralph 'Papa' Thorson: I don't know what you've been using, Mason, but it's not good for you!

Movie Connections:

Featured in Steve McQueen: The Essence of Cool (2005) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Una voce poco fà

Not great, but good

This is surely not McQueens best Movie ever. But it's fun to watch and the fact, that he insisted on playing a terrible car driver makes it even more enjoyable. The worst part of this movie is clearly its terrible musical score. It's just irritating. While most action scenes (like the famous Subway Chase) are not dubbed, the movie gets an almost soap opera like touch (barely watchable) when Steve is with his girlfried. I watched this movie the first time when I was 14 and now (20 years later) I found it on the DVD shelf in Walmart and bought it, because I liked it so much the first time I saw it.