Hudson Hawk

Hudson Hawk
Theatrical release poster
Directed byMichael Lehmann
Screenplay by
Story by
Produced byJoel Silver
Starring
CinematographyDante Spinotti
Edited by
Music by
Production
company
Distributed byTri-Star Pictures
Release date
  • May 24, 1991 (1991-05-24)
Running time
100 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$65 million[1]
Box office$97 million

Hudson Hawk is a 1991 American action comedy film directed by Michael Lehmann.[2] Bruce Willis stars in the title role and also co-wrote the story. Danny Aiello, Andie MacDowell, James Coburn, David Caruso, Lorraine Toussaint, Frank Stallone, Sandra Bernhard, and Richard E. Grant are also featured.[3]

The live action film employs cartoon-style slapstick heavily, including sound effects, which enhances the film's signature surreal humor. The plot combines material based on conspiracy theories, secret societies, and historic mysteries, as well as outlandish "clockpunk" technology à la Coburn's Our Man Flint films of the 1960s.[4]

A recurring plot device in the film has Hudson and his partner Tommy "Five-Tone" (Aiello) singing songs concurrently but separately, to time and synchronize their exploits. Willis-Aiello duets of Bing Crosby's "Swinging on a Star" and Paul Anka's "Side by Side" are featured on the film's soundtrack.

The film was a huge critical and commercial failure in the United States, only grossing $17 million and earning three Razzies (including Worst Picture), but it was better received internationally and grossed $80 million for a worldwide total of $97 million.

  1. ^ Greenberg, James (May 26, 1991). "FILM; Why the 'Hudson Hawk' Budget Soared So High". The New York Times. Retrieved October 29, 2010.
  2. ^ "Hudson Hawk". The Washington Post. May 24, 1991. Archived from the original on November 11, 2012. Retrieved October 28, 2010.
  3. ^ "'Hawk' Better Fly". Chicago Tribune. June 2, 1991. Archived from the original on June 14, 2012. Retrieved October 29, 2010.
  4. ^ Plaskin, Glenn (May 19, 1991). "Real 'Hudson Hawk'". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on June 16, 2012. Retrieved October 29, 2010.