The Hit
Encyclopedia
The Hit is a 1984 feature film directed by Stephen Frears
and starring John Hurt
, Terence Stamp
and Tim Roth
. The Hit was Stamp's first starring role in over a decade and Roth won an Evening Standard
award as the apprentice hit man.
The film was released on DVD
by The Criterion Collection
in April 2009.
The title music is provided by Roger Waters
and Eric Clapton
. Spanish flamenco guitarist Paco de Lucia
performed the soundtrack music.
), an Australian gangster, squatting there with his young Spanish girlfriend Maggie (Laura del Sol
). Parker intentionally reveals his identity to Harry, ultimately forcing the hitmen to kill Harry and kidnap Maggie.
The group heads toward Paris, where the kingpin that Parker testified against is waiting for his arrival. All the while, Parker sows discord between the two hitmen, causing a number of violent incidents that keep the police hot on their trail. Myron has developed a fondness for Maggie and begins protecting her from Braddock, who has several violent confrontations with her behind Myron's back. During the night, Parker slips away from Myron to gaze at a waterfall. Braddock tracks him down and confronts him about his lack of concern over his impending mortality. Parker reminds Braddock that death is inevitable for all, even Braddock himself.
The next day, Braddock drives to an isolated hillside and announces that he's scrapped the plans to go to Paris. Suddenly afraid, Parker insists that he can't die until he goes to Paris. Braddock levels a pistol at him and shoots him in the back as he tries to flee. He then turns the pistol on Myron and kills him. Maggie surprises him, and they wrestle over the gun. During the struggle, Braddock fires the last shot into the air and knocks Maggie unconscious. Without bullets, he leaves Maggie alive and flees into the wilderness.
The police soon locate Maggie and the two bodies. As Braddock attempts to cross the Spanish-French border, Maggie identifies him to the police, who fatally shoot him as he runs. The police attempt to question the dying Braddock, but he only winks at Maggie before he dies.
, the film is certified "fresh" with an overall approval rating of 83%.
Stephen Frears
Stephen Arthur Frears is an English film director.-Early life:Frears was born in Leicester, England to Ruth M., a social worker, and Dr Russell E. Frears, a general practitioner and accountant. He did not find out that his mother was Jewish until he was in his late 20s...
and starring John Hurt
John Hurt
John Vincent Hurt, CBE is an English actor, known for his leading roles as John Merrick in The Elephant Man, Winston Smith in Nineteen Eighty-Four, Mr. Braddock in The Hit, Stephen Ward in Scandal, Quentin Crisp in The Naked Civil Servant and An Englishman in New York...
, Terence Stamp
Terence Stamp
Terence Henry Stamp is an English actor. Since starting his career in 1962 he has appeared in over 60 films. His title role as Billy Budd in his film debut earned Stamp an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor and a BAFTA nomination for Best Newcomer.His other major roles include...
and Tim Roth
Tim Roth
Simon Timothy "Tim" Roth is an English film actor and director best known for his roles in the American films,Legend of 1900, Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction, Four Rooms, Skellig, Planet of the Apes, The Incredible Hulk and Rob Roy, receiving an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for...
. The Hit was Stamp's first starring role in over a decade and Roth won an Evening Standard
Evening Standard
The Evening Standard, now styled the London Evening Standard, is a free local daily newspaper, published Monday–Friday in tabloid format in London. It is the dominant regional evening paper for London and the surrounding area, with coverage of national and international news and City of London...
award as the apprentice hit man.
The film was released on DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
by The Criterion Collection
The Criterion Collection
The Criterion Collection is a video-distribution company selling "important classic and contemporary films" to film aficionados. The Criterion series is noted for helping to standardize the letterbox format for home video, bonus features, and special editions...
in April 2009.
The title music is provided by Roger Waters
Roger Waters
George Roger Waters is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. He was a founding member of the progressive rock band Pink Floyd, serving as bassist and co-lead vocalist. Following the departure of bandmate Syd Barrett in 1968, Waters became the band's lyricist, principal songwriter...
and Eric Clapton
Eric Clapton
Eric Patrick Clapton, CBE, is an English guitarist and singer-songwriter. Clapton is the only three-time inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: once as a solo artist, and separately as a member of The Yardbirds and Cream. Clapton has been referred to as one of the most important and...
. Spanish flamenco guitarist Paco de Lucia
Paco de Lucía
Paco de Lucía, born Francisco Sánchez Gómez , is a Spanish virtuoso flamenco guitarist and composer. He is considered by many to be one of the finest guitarists in the world and the greatest guitarist of the flamenco genre...
performed the soundtrack music.
Plot
London gangster Willie Parker (Terence Stamp) gives evidence against his criminal compatriots in return for a very generous offer from police. Ten years later, Parker lives in comfortable retirement in Spain until four Spanish youths kidnap him and deliver him to two hitmen hired by the kingpin that Parker helped put away. Braddock (John Hurt) is a world weary veteran, while Myron (Tim Roth) is his hot-blooded apprentice. Parker quickly adopts a carefree demeanor, claiming that he's had ten years to accept death as a simple part of life. He follows the pair of hitmen to a safe house, where they are surprised to find Harry ( Bill HunterBill Hunter (actor)
William John "Bill" Hunter was an Australian actor of film, stage and television. He appeared in more than 60 films and won two Australian Film Institute Awards.-Early life:Hunter was a son of William and Francie Hunter...
), an Australian gangster, squatting there with his young Spanish girlfriend Maggie (Laura del Sol
Laura del Sol
Laura del Sol is a Spanish flamenco dancer and film actress, specially well known for her titular role in Carlos Saura's 1983 film Carmen...
). Parker intentionally reveals his identity to Harry, ultimately forcing the hitmen to kill Harry and kidnap Maggie.
The group heads toward Paris, where the kingpin that Parker testified against is waiting for his arrival. All the while, Parker sows discord between the two hitmen, causing a number of violent incidents that keep the police hot on their trail. Myron has developed a fondness for Maggie and begins protecting her from Braddock, who has several violent confrontations with her behind Myron's back. During the night, Parker slips away from Myron to gaze at a waterfall. Braddock tracks him down and confronts him about his lack of concern over his impending mortality. Parker reminds Braddock that death is inevitable for all, even Braddock himself.
The next day, Braddock drives to an isolated hillside and announces that he's scrapped the plans to go to Paris. Suddenly afraid, Parker insists that he can't die until he goes to Paris. Braddock levels a pistol at him and shoots him in the back as he tries to flee. He then turns the pistol on Myron and kills him. Maggie surprises him, and they wrestle over the gun. During the struggle, Braddock fires the last shot into the air and knocks Maggie unconscious. Without bullets, he leaves Maggie alive and flees into the wilderness.
The police soon locate Maggie and the two bodies. As Braddock attempts to cross the Spanish-French border, Maggie identifies him to the police, who fatally shoot him as he runs. The police attempt to question the dying Braddock, but he only winks at Maggie before he dies.
Cast
- John HurtJohn HurtJohn Vincent Hurt, CBE is an English actor, known for his leading roles as John Merrick in The Elephant Man, Winston Smith in Nineteen Eighty-Four, Mr. Braddock in The Hit, Stephen Ward in Scandal, Quentin Crisp in The Naked Civil Servant and An Englishman in New York...
- Braddock - Terence StampTerence StampTerence Henry Stamp is an English actor. Since starting his career in 1962 he has appeared in over 60 films. His title role as Billy Budd in his film debut earned Stamp an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor and a BAFTA nomination for Best Newcomer.His other major roles include...
- Willie Parker - Tim RothTim RothSimon Timothy "Tim" Roth is an English film actor and director best known for his roles in the American films,Legend of 1900, Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction, Four Rooms, Skellig, Planet of the Apes, The Incredible Hulk and Rob Roy, receiving an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for...
- Myron - Laura del SolLaura del SolLaura del Sol is a Spanish flamenco dancer and film actress, specially well known for her titular role in Carlos Saura's 1983 film Carmen...
- Maggie - Bill HunterBill Hunter (actor)William John "Bill" Hunter was an Australian actor of film, stage and television. He appeared in more than 60 films and won two Australian Film Institute Awards.-Early life:Hunter was a son of William and Francie Hunter...
- Harry - James LombardFuzz (musician)James Robert Lombard, OBE , professionally known by his stage name Fuzz, is an English singer-songwriter, musician, actor, record producer and composer noted for being the frontman of the band Inferno....
- Billy Morrison - Fernando ReyFernando ReyFernando Casado Arambillet , best known as Fernando Rey, was a Spanish film, theatre, and TV actor, who worked in both Europe and the United States...
- Senior Policeman
Reception
At review aggregator Rotten TomatoesRotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes is a website devoted to reviews, information, and news of films—widely known as a film review aggregator. Its name derives from the cliché of audiences throwing tomatoes and other vegetables at a poor stage performance...
, the film is certified "fresh" with an overall approval rating of 83%.