Hopscotch

"The most dangerous man in the world. He's about to expose the CIA, the FBI, the KGB ... and himself."

1980 1h 44m EN

👍

7.0

SOLID

★7.0TMDB · 190

ComedyAdventure

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

When CIA operative Miles Kendig deliberately lets KGB agent Yaskov get away, his boss threatens to retire him. Kendig beats him to it, however, destroying his own records and traveling to Austria where he begins work on a memoir that will expose all his former agency's covert practices. The CIA catches wind of the book and sends other agents after him, initiating a frenetic game of cat and mouse that spans the globe.

“The most dangerous man in the world. He's about to expose the CIA, the FBI, the KGB ... and himself.”

WhatsApp X Facebook Telegram

Where to watch · US

Criterion ChannelSubscription

Shout! Factory Amazon ChannelSubscription

Cast

Walter Matthau
Miles Kendig
Glenda Jackson
Isobel
Sam Waterston
Jack Cutter
Ned Beatty
Myerson
Herbert Lom
Yaskov
David Matthau
Ross
George Baker
Westlake
Ivor Roberts
Ludlum

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Ronald Neame
Writers: Brian Garfield, Bryan Forbes
Languages: German, English, French
Countries: United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

ERA

Did you know

46 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

Dialogue crosses 3 languages: German, English, French.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Ronald Neame, shot by Arthur Ibbetson. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Ian Fraser. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Carl Kress shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Walter Matthau and Glenda Jackson and Sam Waterston carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "The most dangerous man in the world. He's about to expose the CIA, the FBI, the KGB ... and himself.".

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0080889 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Ronald Neame directs. Arthur Ibbetson behind the camera. Ian Fraser scores. Carl Kress cuts. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in German, English, French.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

146 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
2Dialogue crosses 3 languages: German, English, French.
3Directed by Ronald Neame, shot by Arthur Ibbetson. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
4Original score by Ian Fraser. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
5Editor Carl Kress shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6Walter Matthau and Glenda Jackson and Sam Waterston carry the top of the cast.
7Marketing tagline: "The most dangerous man in the world. He's about to expose the CIA, the FBI, the KGB ... and himself.".
8IMDB entry: tt0080889 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
9Classified under 9 themes, including "central intelligence agency (cia)", "based on novel or book", "england", "germany".

The technical file

Cinematography: Arthur Ibbetson
Original score: Ian Fraser
Editing: Carl Kress
Production design: William J. Creber
Makeup / hair: Eric Allwright
Runtime: 104 min · 1h 44m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Original language: EN
Certification (US): R
IMDB: Hopscotch (1980)

Also by

Ronald Neame

Stills · wallpapers

Selected frames

Full-resolution frames — open one to save it as a wallpaper.

Wallpaper

Trailers & featurettes

Watch the pieces

Community reviews

What people are saying

John Chard2020-06-14
A simply delightful little film. After growing tired of the job, CIA agent Miles Kendig decides to get out of the business once and for all. Fearing that his peace, and maybe his life, could be threatened by the organisation, he tells them that unless he is left alone he will spill the beans on all the secrets that he knows about. They call his bluff, thinking he is full of bitter hot air, so he promptly starts sending out to them one chapter at a time. Realising that Kendig is serious, the CIA sets about putting a stop to him, by whatever means necessary!!. But with Kendig having been one of their own once, he is one shrewd customer, and stopping him is going to be one hell of a job. Based on the Brian Garfield novel, Hopscotch is a cheeky comedy paced with utter perfection from director Ronald Neame. Featuring a very accomplished cast, Walter Matthau, Glenda Jackson, Herbert Lom, Ned Beatty & Sam Waterston, Hopscotch relies on a sharp script and incredibly appealing dialogue to bring home the bacon, and it does, admirably so. It's the type of film that one knows is not about winning awards, the kind of film that is an actors film, where everyone is comfortable with the material and appears to be having a great time. The lead role of Kendig is tailor made for Matthau, ambling along at his own pace with a glint in his eye and a quip on his tongue, Matthau carries the film with charming ease. The others all contribute of course, but the comedy gold comes from Walter and that lived in face of his. So bits of drama here, bits of comedy there, Hopscotch is a very well made and hugely enjoyable picture, recommended. 7/10

Production companies