48 Hrs. (1982)

Director:

Walter Hill

Writers:

Roger Spottiswoode (written by) and
Walter Hill (written by) ...

Release Date:

8 December 1982 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Comedy | Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

When a tough cop has a cool convict as a partner and 48 hrs to catch a killer, a lot of funny things can happen in . . . 48 HRS. [Australia Theatrical]

Plot:

A hard-nosed cop reluctantly teams up with a wise-cracking criminal temporarily paroled to him, in order to track down a killer.

Plot Keywords:

Tough Guy | Alcoholic | Revenge | Racial Overtones | Stolen Car

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 2 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Nick Nolte	...	Jack Cates
Eddie Murphy	...	Reggie Hammond
Annette O'Toole	...	Elaine
Frank McRae	...	Haden
James Remar	...	Albert Ganz
David Patrick Kelly	...	Luther
Sonny Landham	...	Billy Bear
Brion James	...	Ben Kehoe
Kerry Sherman	...	Rosalie, Hostage Girl
Jonathan Banks	...	Algren
James Keane	...	Vanzant
Tara King	...	Frizzy, Hotel Desk Clerk
Greta Blackburn	...	Lisa, Blonde Hooker
Margot Rose	...	Casey
Denise Crosby	...	Sally

Also Known As:

48 Hours (USA) (alternative spelling)
Forty Eight Hours (USA) (alternative spelling)

Runtime:

96 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Canada:R (Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Ontario) | Iceland:16 | Australia:R | Singapore:PG (cut) | Netherlands:12 | USA:R (Certificate #26865) | UK:15 (2009) (uncut) | South Korea:15 (cable rating) | UK:18 (video rating) (1986) | Argentina:18 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Finland:K-16 | New Zealand:R16 | Norway:18 | South Korea:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 (video rating) (1987) (cut version) | UK:18 (original rating) | West Germany:18

Filming Locations:

California, USA

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

David Patrick Kelly also played a character named "Luther" in The Warriors (1979), also directed by Walter Hill.

Goofs:

Continuity: Reggie is handcuffed when Jack throws him into his car after getting him out of prison. In the next shot, Reggie's left arm is stretched out along the back of the seat and his right arm is hanging out the window. In the following shot, he is handcuffed again.

Quotes:

Luther: [at the garage where Reggie's car has been stored] I'm here to pick up my car.
Garage Attendant: Name?
Luther: Hammond... Reggie Hammond.
Garage Attendant: [looks at the ticket stub] This ticket's three years old!
Luther: Yeah... I've been BUSY!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in There Goes the Neighborhood (1992)

Soundtrack:

ROXANNE

Pretty entertaining thanks to great performances from the two leads...

It's the chemistry between Nolte and Murphy that makes this work, plus the fact that both men really attempt to 'get into the skin' of their character, something mostly ignored in other examples of this genre. Director Hill knows he's got a great team in front of the camera, and all that remains is for him to incorporate some spectacular action sequences around them. This he does competently. That one-two punch is what gives the movie its fireworks.

The banter and situations concerning the characters are also gleefully un-PC. It'd be interesting to see what a studio and director would make of the same premise in these 'enlightened' times. Murphy's comic stage persona is less restrained here than it would be in later films, and the results are often shamefully funny.

Don't expect Shakespeare, there's far too much cursing and other unsavoury shenanigans going on for that; do expect a pacy and entertaining early example of the 'buddy thriller'.