IMDb on iPhone and iPod touch Learn more Learn more Download from the App Store
IMDb > The Hunter (1980)
The Hunter
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotes
Overview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv schedule
Awards & Reviews
user reviewsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage board
Plot & Quotes
plot summarysynopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotes
Fun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQ
Other Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDesk
Promotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo gallery
External Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clips

The Hunter (1980) More at IMDbPro »

Photos (see all 12 | slideshow)

Overview

User Rating:
6.1/10   1,456 votes
Your Rating:
Saving vote...
Deleting vote...
/10   (delete | history)
Sorry, there was a problem
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 5% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers:
Christopher Keane (book) and
Ralph Thorson (novel) ...
(more)
Contact:
View company contact information for The Hunter on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
1 August 1980 (USA) more
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. more
Plot:
The story of professional bounty hunter Ralph "Papa" Thorson. full summary | add synopsis
NewsDesk:
Review: 'The Hunter' by Darwyn Cooke from Idw
 (From Comicmix. 21 July 2009, 12:50 PM, PDT)

User Reviews:
Not the best ending for McQueen's career. more (31 total)

Cast

  (in credits order) (verified as complete)

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)
Create a character page for: ?

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)
 
Crew verified as complete


Production CompaniesDistributorsOther Companies
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Runtime:
97 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Color (Metrocolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The real Ralph Thorson, portrayed by Steve McQueen in The Hunter, was killed by a car bomb in 1994. more
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. more
Quotes:
Ralph 'Papa' Thorson: I don't know what you've been using, Mason, but it's not good for you! more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in La balance (1982) more
Soundtrack:
Una voce poco fà more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
4 out of 5 people found the following review useful.
Not the best ending for McQueen's career., 8 November 2003
3/10
Author: mod_boy from Seattle, Washington

Steve McQueen plays Papa Thorson a man who lives in the past with the motto "New things are no Good." Papa's a bounty hunter who relies on a law from the late1800's that allows anyone to capture those who jump bail (by almost any means necessary).

Most of the movie shows Papa tracking down and capturing criminals. There are some wacky chase scenes -- one involving a Trans Am and a Harvester in a corn field - but most the action is mundane especially compared to McQueen's other films.

The movie would have benefited greatly with better effects (explosions, etc), some one liners and stronger characterization.

The ending is somewhat sentimental and cheesy. The film is based on a true story - which probably could have used some embellishment. McQueen gives a pretty good performance and it's fun to see Levar Burton in one of his earlier roles.

Recommended for hard-core McQueen fans only.

Was the above review useful to you?
more (31 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Hunter (1980)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
'If you want to be a screenwriter watch The Hunter' bapeman-1
The marker of what could have been a new direction for McQueen apban
my home town bjoecrider
Lemont, IL farmers_son
Car In Bernardo Scenes Lightning2407
Had to laugh Tim-O-T
more

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
The Black Widow The Fugitive King of the Rocket Men The Assassination of Richard Nixon Street of No Return
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
News articles IMDb Action section IMDb USA section
Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.