La mort en direct (1980)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

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:

This is Robbie Coltrane's first motion picture.

Quotes:

Katherine Mortenhoe: Everything's of interest, but nothing matters.

Movie Connections:

References The Incredible Shrinking Man (1957)

cult movie shot in Glasgow- Scotland in 1979

This film was shot in my home town, Glasgow, in 1979. Since then it has rarely been seen and indeed I only saw it myself for the first time this year. Our local arthouse cinema, the Glasgow Film Theatre, screened a one off presentation of what was alleged to be the last print in existence. Though the print itself was old and worn the film blew me away with its futuristic storyline, fantastic cast and phenomenal locations. It captures Glasgow as it was in the late 70's just before a period of great changes in the landscape of the city. Tavernier skillfully uses an environment that is full of eery imagery - graveyards, cranes and an industrial landscape that is grinding to a halt. The film also depicts a society fascinated with death. Harvey Keitel is excellent as the human camera that allows society the ultimate act of voyeurism - watching someone die on TV. Awesome. Someone, somewhere please commission