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ERA
Did you know
40 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
MoodPlayr · trivia#01
Murphy's Law
"He's a cop, She's a thief, together they're running for their lives"
1986 1h 40m EN
😐
6.1
MID
★6.1TMDB · 182
ActionThrillerCrime
Synopsis
Spoiler shield
A tough police detective escapes from custody after being framed and arrested for the murder of his ex-wife, and must now find the real killer and prove his innocence.
“He's a cop, She's a thief, together they're running for their lives”
Where to watch · US
Cast
Charles Bronson
Jack Murphy
Kathleen Wilhoite
Arabella McGee
Carrie Snodgress
Joan Freeman
Robert F. Lyons
Art Penney
Richard Romanus
Frank Vincenzo
Angel Tompkins
Jan
Bill Henderson
Ben Wilcove
James Luisi
Ed Reineke
Credits
Behind the camera
- Director
- J. Lee Thompson
- Writers
- Gail Morgan Hickman
- Languages
- English
- 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 🍿
2 / 7
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Directed by J. Lee Thompson, shot by Álex Phillips Jr.. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
MoodPlayr · trivia#02
3 / 7
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Original score by Marc Donahue. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
MoodPlayr · trivia#03
4 / 7
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Editor Peter Lee-Thompson shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
MoodPlayr · trivia#04
5 / 7
CAST
Did you know
Charles Bronson and Kathleen Wilhoite and Carrie Snodgress carry the top of the cast.
MoodPlayr · trivia#05
6 / 7
FACT
Did you know
Marketing tagline: "He's a cop, She's a thief, together they're running for their lives".
MoodPlayr · trivia#06
7 / 7
WILD
Did you know
IMDB entry: tt0091575 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
MoodPlayr · trivia#07
Cinephile deep dive
The take
J. Lee Thompson directs. Álex Phillips Jr. behind the camera. Marc Donahue scores. Peter Lee-Thompson cuts. Profitable at the box office. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.
Trivia
Things worth knowing
- 140 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
- 2Directed by J. Lee Thompson, shot by Álex Phillips Jr.. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
- 3Original score by Marc Donahue. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
- 4Editor Peter Lee-Thompson shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
- 5Charles Bronson and Kathleen Wilhoite and Carrie Snodgress carry the top of the cast.
- 6Marketing tagline: "He's a cop, She's a thief, together they're running for their lives".
- 7IMDB entry: tt0091575 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
The technical file
- Cinematography
- Álex Phillips Jr.
- Original score
- Marc Donahue
- Editing
- Peter Lee-Thompson
- Production design
- William Cruse
- Costume design
- Shelley Komarov
- Makeup / hair
- Dee Mansano
- Sound
- Robert Glass
- Stunt coordinator
- Ernie F. Orsatti
- Runtime
- 100 min · 1h 40m
- Status
- Released
- Budget
- $6,000,000
- Box office
- $9,947,631
- Return
- 166% of budget
- Original language
- EN
- Certification (US)
- R
Also by
J. Lee Thompson
Trailers & featurettes
Watch the pieces
Community reviews
What people are saying
- John Chard★ 7/10
Well you just don't mess with him. Veteran detective Jack Murphy is a highly wanted man, after being framed for the murder of his ex-wife, he escapes and sets off in pursuit of the real killer. But Jack not only has the killer to occupy his mind, he also has the mob hoping to bring him down as well. Murphy's Law is a very enjoyable and tidy thriller, it finds Charles Bronson in a role that requires a cool veneer, that he delivers is something of a given to this particular viewer, but the unflustered nature of the character actually lifts this film above many of Bronson's other 80s efforts. The plot is simple, and some of the dialogue comes heavy with a slice of cheese, but the set pieces stand up, and here we have a female villain worthy of the title. Carrie Snodgress is the lady in question, and although underused because of Murphy's other plot strands, she puts gusto and menace into the role of the vengeful Joan Freeman. A running plot strand involving Murphy and Kathleen Wilhoite's youthful and foul mouthed Arabella McGee, only hinders the film instead of enhancing it, though the simmering sexual tension between the two does make for an intriguing arc - and it definitely helps the film's finale deliver the goods with added impact. Perhaps I'm being over biased towards Bronson? But I honestly believe that this film is seriously undervalued on internet sites, so enjoy the cool leading man and take in a great female villain - even if she is sadly under written. 7/10
Production companies
Who made it
The Cannon Group
US
- GO
Golan-Globus Productions
US
Key crew
- ProducerPancho Kohner
- EditorPeter Lee-Thompson
- EditorCharles Simmons
- Co-ProducerJill Ireland
- Executive ProducerYoram Globus
- Executive ProducerMenahem Golan
- Associate ProducerGail Morgan Hickman
- Production DesignWilliam Cruse
- Set DecorationWhitney Brooke Wheeler
- Costume DesignShelley Komarov
- Makeup ArtistDee Mansano
- Assistant HairdresserMelonie Cleric
- Makeup SupervisorLilly Benyair-Gart
- Hair SupervisorLilly Benyair-Gart
- Executive In Charge Of ProductionJeffrey Silver
- Post Production SupervisorMichael R. Sloan
- Unit Production ManagerGeorge Van Noy
- First Assistant DirectorSteve Lazarus
- Second Assistant DirectorRobert C. Ortwin Jr.
- Property MasterEdwin M. Brewer
- Assistant Art DirectorJoshua Culp
- Set DresserJim Elyea
- Set DresserRodger M. Pitts
- Set DresserWalter Shipley
Themes & keywords
What it's about, really
- uzi
- running away
Release history · US
When it landed
- Theatrical1986-04-18R
Also known as
International titles
- O Vingador - CharlesBR
- Asesino al acechoMX
- Asesino al acechoES
