Hopscotch (Criterion)
Director(s): Ronald Neame
Theatrical Release: 1980
Cast: Walter Matthau, Glenda Jackson, Ned Beatty, Sam Waterston, Herbert Lom, David Matthau
Genre(s): Comedy, spy, Action, Thriller, Criterion Collection, Dean's List
Countries: USA
Location in store: Hollywood > Comedy
IN
(1 / 1)
Running Time:
105m.
Walter Matthau plays a CIA agent who's been confined by office politics to a desk job. The disgruntled Matthau quits the service and heads to Europe, where he links up with former lover (an fellow ex-agent) Glenda Jackson. All goes smoothly until Matthau acts on the advice of yet another retired agent, Russian Herbert Lom, who suggests that Matthau write a tell-all autobiography. Spitefully, Matthau sends out copies of his first chapter to the heads of the CIA agencies throughout the world--and from that point on, he and Jackson don't have a moment's peace. This delights Matthau: now that all of his former colleagues are chasing after him, he has a reason to get up in the morning. As written by Brian Garfield, Hopscotch was a conventionally serious espionage novel. As adapted for the big screen by Garfield and Bryan Forbes, Hopscotch is a lively exercise in cloak-and-dagger comedy, even when the pursuit of Matthau turns deadly towards the end. (allmovie.com)
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Criterion Collection DVD #163 Special Features:
! New high-definition digital transfer, enhanced for widescreen televisions
! Video introduction featuring interviews with director Ronald Neame and novelist and screenwriter Brian Garfield
! Original theatrical trailer and teaser
! The original television audio track, remixed for family viewing, presented as an alternate audio track
! English subtitles for the deaf and hearing impaired
! Optimal image quality: RSDL dual-layer edition
Walter Matthau plays a CIA agent who's been confined by office politics to a desk job. The disgruntled Matthau quits the service and heads to Europe, where he links up with former lover (an fellow ex-agent) Glenda Jackson. All goes smoothly until Matthau acts on the advice of yet another retired agent, Russian Herbert Lom, who suggests that Matthau write a tell-all autobiography. Spitefully, Matthau sends out copies of his first chapter to the heads of the CIA agencies throughout the world--and from that point on, he and Jackson don't have a moment's peace. This delights Matthau: now that all of his former colleagues are chasing after him, he has a reason to get up in the morning. As written by Brian Garfield, Hopscotch was a conventionally serious espionage novel. As adapted for the big screen by Garfield and Bryan Forbes, Hopscotch is a lively exercise in cloak-and-dagger comedy, even when the pursuit of Matthau turns deadly towards the end. (allmovie.com)
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Criterion Collection DVD #163 Special Features:
! New high-definition digital transfer, enhanced for widescreen televisions
! Video introduction featuring interviews with director Ronald Neame and novelist and screenwriter Brian Garfield
! Original theatrical trailer and teaser
! The original television audio track, remixed for family viewing, presented as an alternate audio track
! English subtitles for the deaf and hearing impaired
! Optimal image quality: RSDL dual-layer edition
