During a high-profile Mafia testimony case in California's Riverside County, a hired killer checks into a hotel room near the courthouse, while his depressed next-door neighbor wants to commit suicide over marital problems.
Director:
Writers:
Awards:
- 2 nominations.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Jack Lemmon | ... |
Victor Clooney
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| Walter Matthau | ... |
Trabucco
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| Paula Prentiss | ... |
Celia Clooney
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| Klaus Kinski | ... |
Dr. Hugo Zuckerbrot
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| Dana Elcar | ... |
Capt. Hubris
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| Miles Chapin | ... |
Eddie the Bellhop
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| Michael Ensign | ... |
Assistant Manager
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| Joan Shawlee | ... |
Receptionist
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Fil Formicola | ... |
Rudy 'Disco' Gambola
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C.J. Hunt | ... |
Kowalski
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Bette Raya | ... |
Mexican Maid
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| Ronnie Sperling | ... |
Hippy Husband
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Suzie Galler | ... |
Pregnant Wife
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John Schubeck | ... |
Newscaster
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| Ed Begley Jr. | ... |
Lieutenant #1
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| Frank Farmer | ... |
Lieutenant #2
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Tom Kindle | ... |
Highway Patrolman #1
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Biff Manard | ... |
Highway Patrolman #2
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| Charlotte Stewart | ... |
Nurse
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| Neile Adams | ... |
Saleswoman
(as Neile McQueen)
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| Myrna Dell | ... |
Cashier
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Gene Price | ... |
News Announcer
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| Ben Lessy | ... |
Barney Pritzig
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Patti Jerome | ... |
Matron
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Gary Allen | ... |
Man in Robe
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| Frances Bay | ... |
Female Patient
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Dean Bruce | ... |
Policeman
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Rod Gist | ... |
Policeman
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| Steve Hershon | ... |
Policeman
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John Cutler | ... |
Orderly
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| Billy Beck | ... |
Gentleman
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David Carlile | ... |
Reporter #1
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Archie Lang | ... |
Reporter #2
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Regina Leeds | ... |
Reporter #3
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Frank Dent | ... |
Reporter #4
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Timothy Sullivan | ... |
SWAT Team Member
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| Troy Melton | ... |
Leopold Schuster
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| June Smaney | ... |
Housewife
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| Lorna Thayer | ... |
Lady
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Jennifer Fajardo | ... |
Polynesian Girl
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Patrick Bishop | ... |
Native
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Wendell Titcomb | ... |
Native
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
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Cynthia Kinman | ... |
Pedestrian (uncredited)
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| David LeBell | ... |
Gas Station Attendant (uncredited)
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| Craig Richards | ... |
Attorney (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Billy Wilder | ||
Written by
| Francis Veber | ... | (play: Le Contrat) |
| Francis Veber | ... | (story) |
| Billy Wilder | ... | (written by) and |
| I.A.L. Diamond | ... | (written by) |
Produced by
| Alain Bernheim | ... | executive producer |
| Charles Matthau | ... | associate producer |
| Jay Weston | ... | producer |
Music by
| Lalo Schifrin | ||
Cinematography by
| Harry Stradling Jr. | ... | director of photography |
Editing by
| Argyle Nelson Jr. | ... | (as Argyle Nelson) |
Editorial Department
| Barry L. Gold | ... | assistant editor (as Barry Gold) |
Casting By
| Pamela Basker | ||
| Fern Champion | ||
Production Design by
| Daniel A. Lomino | ||
Set Decoration by
| Cloudia Rebar | ... | (as Cloudia) |
Makeup Department
| Stephen Abrums | ... | makeup artist |
| Dorothea Long | ... | hair stylist |
| Ron Snyder | ... | makeup artist |
Production Management
| Lynn Guthrie | ... | unit production manager |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Gary Daigler | ... | first assistant director |
| Deborah A. Dell'Amico | ... | second assistant director (as Deborah Dell'Amico) |
| Maurice Marks | ... | second assistant director |
| Lynn Guthrie | ... | second unit director (uncredited) |
Art Department
| Michael C. Ayers | ... | property master (as Michael 'M.C.' Ayers) |
| William J. Durrell Jr. | ... | set designer (as William Durrell Jr.) |
| John R. Jensen | ... | construction coordinator (uncredited) |
| Scott W. Leslie | ... | set dresser (uncredited) |
| Drew Struzan | ... | poster artist (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| Louis L. Edemann | ... | sound editor |
| Ray O'Reilly | ... | re-recording mixer |
| M. Curtis Price | ... | re-recording mixer |
| Paul A. Sharpe | ... | re-recording mixer (as Paul Sharpe) |
| Don Sharpless | ... | sound |
| Ken Dufva | ... | foley artist (uncredited) |
| Duncan McEwan | ... | sound loader (uncredited) |
Special Effects by
| Milt Rice | ... | special effects |
Visual Effects by
| Bill Hansard | ... | process coordinator |
| Richard Lund | ... | translite photographer (uncredited) |
Stunts
| Don Fox Greene | ... | stunts (as Don 'Fox' Greene) |
| John Peterson | ... | stunts |
| Paul Stader | ... | stunts |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Clifford Hutchison | ... | gaffer (as Cliff Hutchison) |
| Tom D. May | ... | key grip (as a different name) |
| Richard Craig Meinardus | ... | first assistant camera (as Dick Meinardus) |
| Orlando Suero | ... | still photographer (as Orlando) |
| Richard Tim Vanik | ... | camera operator |
| Don E. FauntLeRoy | ... | first assistant camera (uncredited) |
| Michael A. FauntLeRoy | ... | second assistant camera (uncredited) |
Casting Department
| Charles Peck | ... | casting: Hawaii |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| John A. Anderson | ... | costumer: men |
| Agnes G. Henry | ... | costumer: women |
Location Management
| Karlene Gallegly | ... | location manager |
| Randy Spangler | ... | location manager: Hawaii |
| Elizabeth Yanoska | ... | location auditor (as Betty Yanoska) |
Music Department
| Harry V. Lojewski | ... | music supervisor |
| Robert Mayer | ... | music editor |
| Ethmer Roten | ... | musician: flute (uncredited) |
Script and Continuity Department
| Marshall J. Wolins | ... | script supervisor (as Marshall Wolins) |
Transportation Department
| Glenn Carter | ... | transportation coordinator (uncredited) |
| Gregory Dultz | ... | driver (uncredited) |
| Gilbert C. Pacheco | ... | driver (uncredited) |
Additional Crew
| Ron Adams | ... | technical advisor |
| Corey Burton | ... | adr loop group |
| Joan Hersch | ... | secretary to Mr. Wilder |
| Chris Ikeda | ... | production coordinator: Hawaii |
| Carol Shapiro Janson | ... | unit publicist |
| Marilyn Shenker | ... | assistant to producer |
| Teresa Stokovic | ... | production secretary |
| Steve Cohen | ... | production assistant (uncredited) |
| Elizabeth Yanoska | ... | production accountant (uncredited) |
Production Companies
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (presents)
- Heron Productions
Distributors
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1981) (United States) (theatrical)
- United Artists (1981) (United States) (theatrical) (released thru)
- Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1982) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- United International Pictures (UIP) (1982) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1982) (West Germany) (theatrical)
- Rank Filmes de Portugal (1982) (Portugal) (theatrical)
- Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1982) (Norway) (theatrical)
- American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1985) (United States) (tv)
- Neue Visionen Filmverleih (Germany) (theatrical) (re-release)
- Creative Films (2008) (Spain) (DVD)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) (this picture made under the jurisdiction of)
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (titles and opticals)
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios (sound re-recording)
- Metrocolor (acknowledgement)
- Muntz Electronics (television equipment)
- Pacific Studios II (chromatrans background)
- Panavision (filmed in)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
A hitman is bumping off the witnesses in a Mafia trial. Only one witness remains, and the hitman checks in at a hotel with the aim of shooting the witness from his window. Checking in next door is a depressed man, suicidal because his wife is having an affair with her doctor. His issues accidentally stymie the hitman at every turn. Written by grantss |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | It's the beginning of a ferociously funny friendship...in this year's craziest comedy. See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
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Additional Details
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Box Office
| Budget | $10,000,000 (estimated) |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | After his miserable experience on Fedora (1978), writer-director Billy Wilder had retired from films. However, he agreed to make this film once Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau had signed on. See more » |
| Goofs | When they arrive with the pregnant woman at the Zuckerbrot clinic the crew and equipment are more than once reflected on Trabucco's car. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in Jack Lemmon/Walter Matthau (1981). See more » |
| Soundtracks | Cecilia See more » |
| Quotes |
Trabucco:
When are you leaving? Clooney: I can't leave, I'm wanted. Trabucco: Not by me. See more » |