La mort en direct (1980)

Director:

Bertrand Tavernier

Writers:

David Compton (novel)
David Rayfiel (writer)

Release Date:

April 1982 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

She's the target of every eye...including eyes only science could create.

Plot:

Roddy has a camera implanted in his brain. He is then hired by a television producer to film a documentary of terminally ill Katherine...

Plot Keywords:

Television | Hidden Camera | Fictional Reality Show | Terminal Illness | Future

Awards:

1 win & 6 nominations

Cast

Romy Schneider	...	Katherine Mortenhoe
Harvey Keitel	...	Roddy
Harry Dean Stanton	...	Vincent Ferriman
Thérèse Liotard	...	Tracey
Max von Sydow	...	Gerald Mortenhoe (as Max Von Sydow)
Caroline Langrishe	...	Girl in the Bar
William Russell	...	Dr.Mason (as William Russel)
Vadim Glowna	...	Harry Graves
Eva Maria Meineke	...	Dr.Klausen
Bernhard Wicki	...	Katherine's Dad (as Bernard Wicki)
Freddie Boardley	...	Technician
Robbie Coltrane	...	Limosine driver
Julian Hough	...	Young doctor
Peter Kelly	...	Technician
Boyd Nelson	...	Policeman

Also Known As:

Death Watch (UK) (USA)
Death Watch - Der gekaufte Tod (West Germany)
Death in Full View
Deathwatch (USA)
Der gekaufte Tod (West Germany)

Runtime:

128 min

Country:

France | West Germany | UK

Language:

English | French | German

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:L | Argentina:13 | Finland:K-12 | UK:15 (video rating) (1988) | UK:AA (original rating) | USA:PG | West Germany:16

Filming Locations:

Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland, UK

Company:

Films A2

Trivia:

At one point of the film, the character played by Max von Sydow tells some historical facts about the Medieval French composer Robert De Bauleac while listening to one of his work on a record player. When the film was released, a good number of music lovers tried to get a copy of the very same record in specialized stores which could never provide any for a very good reason: Robert De Bauleac has never existed and the composition heard in the film is none other than Antoine Duhamel's work. However the concerned peace of music, "Robert De Bauleac's Lament", has been since available as part of the complete movie soundtrack.

Quotes:

Roddy: A toy to end all toys.

Movie Connections:

References The Incredible Shrinking Man (1957)

One of Tavernier's best films.

A great film, and quite scary, specially for Tavernier's view over the media (television here, but just replace that word, and nothing will be different), in a not so far future. Sad, because was Romy Schneider's last film. She, and Harvey Keitel, are in the leading roles, under Tavernier's direction the two in top form. In a way, this was ahead of other future "prophecy films", sure one of the best.