Local Hero (1983)
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Source: JustWatch
An oil billionaire becomes more obsessed with the comet he might glimpse through his telescope than the deal he sent a man across the ocean to close.
LOCAL HERO (1983) follows Mac MacIntyre, played by Peter Riegert, an American executive dispatched by his Houston employer to buy up a small Scottish coastal village for a new refinery. The company's eccentric chairman, Felix Happer, played by Burt Lancaster, cares more about astronomy than profit margins, and gives Mac strange instructions about the night sky before he even leaves the office.
Once in the village of Ferness, Mac finds the locals surprisingly eager to sell, led by Gordon Urquhart, played by Denis Lawson, who runs the hotel, the pub, and the accounts for half the town. The only holdout is Ben Knox, played by Fulton Mackay, an old beachcomber who owns the stretch of sand the refinery needs most.
Bill Forsyth wrote and directed, letting the negotiations slow into something closer to a meditation on landscape, community, and what money cannot touch. Peter Capaldi, early in his career, plays the junior executive sent along with Mac. Jenny Seagrove plays Marina, a marine researcher who may or may not be something stranger.
Physical media
About the film
A BEAUTIFUL COASTLINE... A RICH OIL MAN WANTS TO DEVELOP IT. A POOR BEACH BUM WANTS TO LIVE ON IT. AN ENTIRE TOWN WANTS TO PROFIT BY IT. AND A REAL-LIVE MERMAID WANTS TO SAVE IT... ONLY ONE OF THEM WILL GET THEIR WAY.
- Directed by
- Bill Forsyth
- Runtime
- 111 minutes
- Released
- February 17, 1983
- Certification
- PG
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Starring
- Burt Lancaster, Peter Riegert, Denis Lawson, Fulton Mackay, Peter Capaldi
More credits
- Genres
- Comedy, Drama
- Language
- Russian, Japanese, English
- Origin
- GB
- Studios
- Enigma Productions, Goldcrest Films International, Celandine Films
- Written by
- Bill Forsyth
- Produced by
- David Puttnam
- Cinematography
- Chris Menges
- Music
- Mark Knopfler
- Also starring
- Jennifer Black, Jenny Seagrove, Norman Chancer, Rikki Fulton, Alex Norton
- Budget
- $4,200,000
- Box office
- $5,900,000
This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB.
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Films scored for your taste
One of the quietly greatest films of all time.
Alan Taylor that’s a great description! My favorite film as well!
Mark Knopflers soundtrack is lovely
Ellen DeBruyn I was just reading online that Mark Knopfler mention that playing the ending theme at the end of the shows was one thing that he missed because the audience went totally nuts. I saw one of their shows on TV and he was not exaggerating! I was shocked when I saw their reaction.
Perfect.
Great film
This movie is my cinematic happy place!
An all time favorite. Greatly influenced my life and priorities in my 20s.
Maria Spelleri absolutely did for me too.
Definitely one of the Top Ten Comedy Films ever made.
Fantastic film. Watched it again recently.
One of my favorite films!!
Just a great film
Love this film.
“‘We have an injured rabbit, also’.”
Richard Connold The rabbit had a name. It had two names. Mac was on top of this.
In my Top Ten all time favorites.
Watch out Ricky is out tonight!
I love how Ricky is so many shots, way off in the background or in the margins, putt-putting around on his bike. So funny.
“I’m a Telex man.” Lol, lots of laid back humor in this film.
Love this movie. Mark Knopfler’s score is a magical accompaniment.
Bill Meyer absolutely, just love this movie!
both wedge antilles and dr. who were there to keep things straight …
Mere words cannot describe how much I love this one.
I love love this movie!!
Happer is a mother f cker
A really wonderful film.
god, i iove every second of this movie. so scenic, so sly, so twisty, so soulful…
Such a great film.
A movie I didn’t want to end.
My number one favourite film of all time. It’s not perfect but it’s awesome.
Such a great film.
A Stellar Mark Knopfler sound track, highlighted by “Going Home”.
David J. Andersen If you like the soundtrack, go on YouTube and listen to the 10 minute long version of Going Home that Make Knopfler did for charity, It is an absolute who’s who of every guitar player you can imagine.
Such a great movie.
I’m a big movie fan and Local Hero is my all time favourite film! I just love everything about it.
“Ricky’ on the road tonight.”
Absolutely one of my all time favorite movies!
“We’re gonna sell the beach. We’re gonna sell the hotel!”
One of my favorite movies 😍
Best ending by a phone ring ever .
One of my favorites!
Mermaids and Enchantment
excellent movie and soundtrack!…👏
Beautiful film.
What’s amazing is how well loved this film is. I was Peter Reigert at an autograph show and told him how so many people like it.
So gentle.
I join all the others naming this as an all-time favorite.
One of my top ten all time!
That was one great movie. Like The Crying Game, a study of irony, but far more comical
David Delchamps, this is one of the movies I was recommending to you. One of my favorites from the 80s. One of Burt Lancaster’s last, probably.
Mark Knopfler’s soundtrack is gorgeous
I saw it twice in the theatre
Wonderful film.
OMG! I was thinking about this movie not five minutes ago and this pops up in my scrolling! Strange but true.
Good little flick. Always funny when the motorcycle was always passing by.
Thomas Cornelius Ricky is on the road tonight.
An all-time favorite.
Funny………..I live in Houston and this morning driving along I45 and passing the Pennzoil building (the black buildings with the angled wedge shape that is the HQ of the oil co.)…….I immediately thought of this flick and the scene where he drives by Pennzoil Place at that exact spot where I was ……..🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Glad I got here in time to stop this caper of yours MacIntosh.
Watch out for rabbits!
“You want to buy my church?” “Well, not as a going concern.”
“I’ll be a good Gordon, Gordon.”
A classic on many levels.
Never seen it, always wanted to, just bought the Criterion Blura, and will be watching it next week when my son comes to visit.
One of my all-time favorite movies.❤️
this is one of my fave films of all time.
I LOVE this movie. It is full of whimsy, humor & has a serious message. Burt Lancaster was still a hunk, too.😍
Bill Forsyth should have made far more movies.
“Whose baby….?” –
CE Edward Makimara The look on Mac’s face still cracks me up.
Watt: “Of course, we don’t need that ice age. We can divert the gulf-stream and unfreeze the Arctic Circle. He proved it right here, but they won’t listen. They want to freeze.”
Geddes: “Thank you Norman, but there was no need to bring that up.”
Brilliant movie. Script, actors, scenery, and music by Mark Knophler made it a quiet classic. My favourite quote from the film was when an older fisherman and a person were discussing the name on a boat. Townsman: “Are you sure there are two ‘l’s in ‘dollar’, Gideon?”
Gideon: “Yes! An’ are there two ‘g’s in ‘bugger off’?”
Andrew Barron “Nice baby. Who’s the father?”
Awkward glances between the local males!
Andrew Barron We’ve seen it so many times we can quote the whole movie. Funny lines, beautiful scenery, unconventional love stories, and brilliant dialogue. Mark Knophler’s music is timeless.
Great, great movie. My all time #1
Love LOCAL HERO.
It’s on my all time Top 10 list.
A great movie and the best soundtrack ever.
Loved the film but the idea of building an astronomical observatory in Scotland is crazy. Weather there not at all favorable to astronomy.
Phil Yehle you can observe all kinds of weather and its effects….
Phil Yehle It’s a movie. Burt Lancaster wears a heavy coat in Houston and the policemen are in short sleeves. As a character in the Big Chill watching TV says, “Some times you have to let art flow over you.”
Trudy!!!
The best movie in the world
Absolutely love this movie. From the first time seeing it, it has been one of my favorite films of all time.
On my Too Five list. I loved this movie.
Such a gentle, beautiful film. Nothin is at it seems, or should be…..and nothing but subtle, understated humor. Not many made like this anymore, or ever.
Fantastic film.
In my top 5 favorite movies.
John Stewart Mine too.
John Stewart GEM!
Our tribute to our favorite film ever! The boat is the Silver Dollar!
oh boy are we going to be rich!
A lovely movie. After seeing it at the theater with my then girlfriend, we came out and she said “that was a stupid movie”. I knew right then the relationship was over ha ha.
Christopher G. Rudy I’ve had that experience! Better to let them go….note there are two t’s in better…like 2 g’s in bugger off!
My wife and I saw it in the theater when it was first released. She is the only person I know who loves that movie as much as I do, and “Coming Home” is one of her favorite songs.
One of my top favorite films! I became inspired by the aurora borealis and seeing them is still on my Bucket List. Thanks, Mac!
Great movie!
One of my all time favorites. Scotland is a very ‘funny’ place😏 Also great Mark knopfler music!
This film is Magical — it quietly takes you into an innocent world where a miracle happens.
Lovely movie, can’t rate it high enough. BILL Forsyth, a wonderful director. Gregorys girl is also highly recommended
Still a favorite. Great soundtrack.
One of the all time great character driven films! So brilliant! His COMFORT & JOY holiday film is also brilliant.
“Good sky you’ve got here, McIntyre.”
“If he makes you a deal with sand, take it, sir.”
Great movie!
Local Hero is in my top 5 favorite movies of all time
Love when the punk girl pursues Peter Capaldi and her boyfriend asks her, “What’s so special about him?” She says, “He’s different.”
excellent movie.
One of my absolute favorite movies of all time!💜
One of my very favorite movies, blending the gentle wit of Bill Forsyth’s screenplay, Chris Menges’ extraordinary cinematography, Mark Knopfler’s haunting score, delightful twists, and an enchanting ending.
A really terrific film with wonderful cast portrayals. One of my favorites
A magical, wonderful movie👍♥
A little gem this film! Loved this very much-have watched it many times…….
Very much a gem of a film.
Another favorite of mine
One of my favorites witha great soundtrack!
Love that movie!
Met Peter Riegert at showing many years later. He was charming and told stories of the filming.
It just went red all over!!!!!!
This is an unconventional love story. My favorite of all time. The music is fantastic.
One of my absolute all-time favorites which still yields up new secrets after multiple viewings.
In my top five favorite movies!
A terrific film.
I have literally lost track of the number of times I have watched this film. In my top 10 for certain.
Found a copy on DVD long ago and watch it regularly
A wonderful film with one of the greatest last shots ever.
In my top five!
Amazing movie. All of Bill Forsythe’s films were tremendous.
The best movie of the 1980s. Period.
love this movie!
“I’m more of a Telex man…”
“Moritz you idiot! I’ll have you certified!”
Our all time favorite. Don’t think our kids get it.
One of my favorites. Just a classic.
“As long as they bombing the beach, they can’t be bombing anywhere else. It’s kind of comforting.”
Top 5, desert island
My favorite movie.
I recommended this to someone years ago. She said it was “kinda slow.” Maybe she expected car chases?
Absolutely love this movie…
Still one of my top five movies after all these years. I gave watched it many times. Mark Knoefler’s soundtrack us amazing and sets the perfect mood.
Loved this movie!
,,,, and the beautiful village of Pennan, where some of the footage was shot. I have a photo of the famous phone box, from when we visited there in 2019.
When this film came out in 1983, I saw it in Boston and my fiancé saw it in Dallas, and we both responded identically, both of us loving it. That helped us feel even more certain we’d picked the right person to marry. It’s been our favorite film ever since. 💕
Such a treat. A beautiful, funny film. One of my absolute favorites.
MY FAVORITE 🎥 FILM!!!!!!!
Great, Great, Great piece of art, more people should see this movie everything about it is fabulous and Burt Lancaster is still as good as ever, A perfect 10!!!
Absolutely love this movie!!
Love, love, LOVE this movie. One of my top 5 feel-good films! And Burt Lancaster is phenomenal!
Terrific film!!!!
In my top ten.
Great film
Brilliant. Great score.
One of my favorite movies of all time.
A classic slice of life picture, so well done
One of the best movies ever!!
This is such a knockout film. Have seen it, oh, 20 times.
Fabulous movie! One of my all-time favorites.