Local Hero (1983)

Director:

Bill Forsyth

Writer:

Bill Forsyth (written by)

Release Date:

17 February 1983 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Plot:

An American oil company sends a man to Scotland to buy up an entire village where they want to build a refinery. But things don't go as expected.

Plot Keywords:

Oil | Beach | Scotland | Village | Webbed Toes

Awards:

Won BAFTA Film Award. Another 2 wins & 6 nominations

Cast

Burt Lancaster	...	Felix Happer
Peter Riegert	...	Mac
Fulton Mackay	...	Ben
Denis Lawson	...	Urquhart
Norman Chancer	...	Moritz
Peter Capaldi	...	Oldsen
Rikki Fulton	...	Geddes
Alex Norton	...	Watt
Jenny Seagrove	...	Marina
Jennifer Black	...	Stella
Christopher Rozycki	...	Victor
Gyearbuor Asante	...	Rev Macpherson (as Christopher Asante)
John M. Jackson	...	Cal (as John Jackson)
Dan Ammerman	...	Donaldson
Tam Dean Burn	...	Roddy

Runtime:

111 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Canada:PG (Ontario) | Denmark:15 | Iceland:L | West Germany:12 (f) | Australia:PG | Finland:S | Singapore:PG | Sweden:Btl | UK:PG | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

Aberdeenshire, Scotland, UK

Company:

Celandine Films

Trivia:

The area where the village is supposed to be is actually near a live bombing range.

Goofs:

Continuity: Mac's facial hair is constantly changing between shots throughout the film.

Quotes:

Happer: That'll be all for now, MacIntyre.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Tayna chyornykh drozdov (1983)

Soundtrack:

Stargazer

A captivating sleeper.

I first saw this movie 1,000 miles from home. I was on business, staying in an outlying hotel, no car, no evening plans. So I walked 1/2 mile to a local 2-plex (!) theater. The choices were Max Dugan Returns and, starting 15 minutes later, Local Hero. The theater manager said the first one was a real good comedy, and he didn't know what Local Hero was about. I said I'd start with Dugan and switch if I didn't like it, and he said OK.

The Neil Simon, Jason Robards, Marsha Mason movie was ho-hum, totally predictable, formula claptrap, so I ducked into Local Hero.

WHAT A SURPRISE !!!

I was alone in the theater, laughing continuously, thrilled by this wonderful movie. What a joy!

When I left, still smiling, the manager asked me how I liked it. I told him it was a sure Oscar winner (wrong, alas) and the best film I'd seen in years. He was amazed. I hope he sat in on it. I hope you do too.

Here's the key - - EVERY TIME I encounter this movie on TV I stop what I'm doing and watch it. I once arrived at a hotel after midnight, tired and with a meeting at 8:00 am. I flipped on the TV while I unpacked and there it was, just a little past the beginning. I sat on the end of the bed for an hour, then pulled up a chair. I finished unpacking when it was over!

Just whose baby is that, anyway? You'll find out! {:-)