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Local Hero

  • 1983
  • PG
  • 1h 51m
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
29K
YOUR RATING
Burt Lancaster and Peter Riegert in Local Hero (1983)
An American oil company has plans for a new refinery and sends someone to Scotland to buy up an entire village, but things don't go as expected.
Play trailer2:25
1 Video
66 Photos
ComedyDrama

An American oil company has plans for a new refinery and sends someone to Scotland to buy up an entire village, but things don't go as expected.An American oil company has plans for a new refinery and sends someone to Scotland to buy up an entire village, but things don't go as expected.An American oil company has plans for a new refinery and sends someone to Scotland to buy up an entire village, but things don't go as expected.

  • Director
    • Bill Forsyth
  • Writer
    • Bill Forsyth
  • Stars
    • Burt Lancaster
    • Peter Riegert
    • Fulton Mackay
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.3/10
    29K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Bill Forsyth
    • Writer
      • Bill Forsyth
    • Stars
      • Burt Lancaster
      • Peter Riegert
      • Fulton Mackay
    • 281User reviews
    • 50Critic reviews
    • 83Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Won 1 BAFTA Award
      • 4 wins & 6 nominations total

    Videos1

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:25
    Official Trailer

    Photos66

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    Top cast45

    Edit
    Burt Lancaster
    Burt Lancaster
    • Felix Happer
    Peter Riegert
    Peter Riegert
    • Mac
    Fulton Mackay
    Fulton Mackay
    • Ben Knox
    Denis Lawson
    Denis Lawson
    • Gordon Urquhart
    Norman Chancer
    Norman Chancer
    • Moritz
    Peter Capaldi
    Peter Capaldi
    • Oldsen
    Rikki Fulton
    • Geddes
    Alex Norton
    Alex Norton
    • Watt
    Jenny Seagrove
    Jenny Seagrove
    • Marina
    Jennifer Black
    • Stella Urquhart
    Christopher Rozycki
    Christopher Rozycki
    • Victor
    Gyearbuor Asante
    Gyearbuor Asante
    • Rev Macpherson
    • (as Christopher Asante)
    John M. Jackson
    John M. Jackson
    • Cal
    • (as John Jackson)
    Dan Ammerman
    Dan Ammerman
    • Donaldson
    Tam Dean Burn
    • Roddy
    Luke Coulter
    • Baby
    Karen Douglas
    • Mrs Wyatt
    Kenny Ireland
    Kenny Ireland
    • Skipper
    • Director
      • Bill Forsyth
    • Writer
      • Bill Forsyth
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews281

    7.328.6K
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    Featured reviews

    leahofaolain

    the music in the restaurant scene

    an absolutely amazing film.... I am trying to find out if anyone knows the title of the music in the restaurant scene.... its the same every time he goes in there whether he's having breakfast,lunch or dinner.... does anyone know the title of it?

    I adore the film, and everywhere i search i can only find the mark knopfler sound track..... there must be a way to find out where the song came from.... but it is not part of the original score.... there has to be a fan somewhere who knows this information,i simply must know!!!!!!

    I love its whimsical, twee loveliness.It truly is a beautiful film to watch over and over again....it gets better every time.
    poldy112358

    nothing else like it

    There's the great movies with a capital "M" (Casablanca, Strangelove, Kane) and then there's the great movies which feel like they've been made for the deepest, quietest, quirkiest parts of you and you alone - the small gems. And this one, in my view, is the sparkliest of these gems - a little masterpiece of a rumination on just how beautiful things can be when disparate paths in life intercept each other just the tiniest bit out of phase, never perfectly according to plan, and on how the deepest transformations seem to proceed from the smallest disjoints of orientation and expectation. It is a beautiful dollhouse of a film, whose success lies in its excruciating attention to and understatement of detail. Beautiful Mark Knopler strains suffuse the film's quieter moments, while subtle performances and simply lovely dialogue provide the backbone.
    10Maryte

    Pure magic...

    I have no idea what provoked me to see this film in the theatre lo those many years ago, but I am grateful to the serendipity which has brought this piece of magic into my life. I am constantly amazed that a piece of fiction (and not even a written one) could have such an impact on my heart and soul.

    From the edgy humor of Happer's encounters with his analyst (I will always consider this to be Mr. Lancaster's most charming performance in a body of excellent work) to the poignant scene in which (an albeit drunken) Mac confesses his coveting Gordon's life, this film draws me in like no other. Whenever I am asked my favorite film, I answer Local Hero without hesitation - there is never a question of its position on my list.

    I must confess, I am surprised there are no other reviews of Local Hero by women. I've always found the lyrical nature of the film to have a distinctly female sensibility. But on the other hand, I don't know any other women beyond myself who have seen it (or recall having seen it). The best recommendation I can make for this film is, when I find the world closing in on me, I watch Local Hero. I smile. I laugh. I even cry a bit. But most importantly, I come away knowing that I might someday find that very possible magic in my life.
    7cubinator

    A modern Fairy Tale

    The First Time I saw this movie I was a little boy. It's one of my father's favortie movies and I watched it again. This is movie is one of the quirkiest films ever. The way it's funny is unique, The characters are so real that they can be you or next door neighbor. Mark Knopfler's music only adds to the greatness. 3 of the most memorable scenes are when Mac (Peter Riegert) and Danny (Peter Capaldi) run over an injured rabbit in the middle of driving. Another Great scene is when Gordon (Denis Lawson giving a great performance.) Cooks the rabbit, and the final scene is one of the greatest in film, when Victor (Christopher Rozycki) Sings "Lonesome for a Lone Star Man like Me." I can't get enough of that scene it's just perfect. If you want to see a modern fairy tale today see Local Hero.
    bucksix

    It never fails to get to me

    All of the previous reviews of this wonderful movie have said it all. I just want to add that every time I've

    seen it (and believe me that is a large number) I get choked up. In fact reading the reviews gives me the same feeling.

    I find it impossible to understand the view point of those who pan this movie because of lack of plot or satisfying ending. They would throw out most of Shakespeare

    because plot was always secondary to characterization in his

    works.

    I heartily reccomend Local Hero to anyone with a heart.

    It will be touched

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    Related interests

    Will Ferrell in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
    Comedy
    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      After the movie came out, many people went in search of the village with the red phone booth. It can be found in the village of Pennan on the Moray Coast, Scotland.
    • Goofs
      Marina and Danny are looking at what Marina says are grey seals but which are Californian fur seals, which aren't native to Scotland.
    • Quotes

      [approaching Ben's beach shanty]

      Victor: Where's the door here?

      Urquhart: There is no door. Just knock on the window.

      Mac: Jesus, how do you do business with someone who doesn't have a door?

      Victor: The ethics are just the same.

    • Alternate versions
      CBS edited 14 minutes from this film for its 1987 network television premiere.
    • Connections
      Featured in Century of Cinema: A Personal History of British Cinema by Stephen Frears (1995)
    • Soundtracks
      Local Hero
      by Mark Knopfler (of Dire Straits)

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    FAQ20

    • How long is Local Hero?Powered by Alexa
    • What type a Royal Air Force fighter-bombers were those in the movie?
    • What is the name of the theme song -written by Mark Knopfler (of Dire Straits)?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 29, 1983 (United Kingdom)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Languages
      • English
      • Russian
      • Japanese
    • Also known as
      • Місцевий герой
    • Filming locations
      • Pennan, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, UK(Ferness - includes red phone box)
    • Production companies
      • Enigma Productions
      • Goldcrest Films International
      • Celandine Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • £3,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $5,895,761
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $23,567
      • Feb 21, 1983
    • Gross worldwide
      • $6,008,891
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 51m(111 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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