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How many times have you watched Local Hero?

posted 16 years ago by rthomp-8
78 replies | jump to latest

I guess most people on this message board love Local Hero. For me it is one of my two favourite films. I first watched it soon after it came out at a cinema in St Helens. I must have watched it 10 times since, more than any other film. Somehow, I find I can watch it many times and I don't get bored of it, whereas I would with other films.

I'm interested in how many times others have watched it over the years. Where did you first watch it? And do you feel the same about not getting bored with it?

[–] Xcalat3 15 years ago

2 times

When there's no more room in hell, The dead will walk the earth...

[–] rindercella 15 years ago

at least 10, great film it is..

[–] 15 years ago

[deleted]

[–] BillK-5 15 years ago

First seen on HBO back in 1984 or so, I've since lost count of the number of times I've viewed it.

But since I went through a period when I watched it more or less weekly, my count must be around
75 by now, and if anything I love it more today than ever.

Now I'm just hoping that someday WB will release it on Blu-Ray…

[–] mcarlson1217 15 years ago

I've probably seen it 10 - 15 times, but I'd see it more if it were on the telly more often! I probably should buy the DVD, but I keep waiting for a Blu-Ray...

"Local Hero" is one of my three favorite movies of all time. The other's rather rare on the tube as well: "A Thousand Clowns" with Jason Robards. WONDERFUL - and still VERY funny and TOTALLY RELEVANT, despite its being made in 1965 and tending toward social commentary (er, in the US, that is!)

Just saw Jessica Harper in Woody Allen's, "Stardust Memories," by the way (another great soundtrack with guitar music from none other than the "gypsy" virtuoso Django Reinhardt!) and was reminded of #3: "My Favorite Year."

[–] Sheriff_Of_Nottingham 15 years ago

I agree with you that there is something very magical about this film, though I have only seen it about two times. I first saw it when I was living in Omaha, NE in 1998 and was unemployed. Local Hero really helped to me to escape to a small seaport on the coast of Scotland.

[–] BretKerven 15 years ago

Dozens. It is a perfect, little movie.

[–] rthomp-8 15 years ago

I just caught the last half an hour on Film 4 this evening. Probably the 15th or 20th time I've seen it. I noticed something I haven't before.

Happer arrives at the beach by helicopter and is introduced to Urquhart for the first time. They shake hands and then Happer looks at his hand in disgust, presumably because it's sticky.

Urquhart had just peeled and eaten an Orange that Ben found washed up on the beach. Nice little touch. The film is full of them!

[–] vimhawk 15 years ago

Not on the subject of things I hadn't noticed before, but on "nice touches", two which come to mind:

1. There is a sign outside Urqhart's office door which as well as being nicely weathered like its been there a while also has the note "licensed to deal in game"... which just seems so appropriate for the area.

2. When Mac and Danny first come into the hotel kitchen, there is a tub of fresh seafood on the counter, as if a fisherman had personally delivered it there (the door being of course "never locked") very early in the morning just off the boat.

Both of these are just perfect extra "nice touches".

[–] pounce44 15 years ago

Excellent, Vimhawk.
I'll have to check out those touches the next time I watch LH.

[–] oldgal3 15 years ago

Probably between 15 and 20, easily my most watched movie. Whenever I see a copy in one of those low-priced dvd bins, I buy it and give it away.

[–] danielscissorhands 14 years ago

Once. And that was too many. It's rare that I feel this way about a film. And, no, I do not like Hollywood blockbusters.
One person on the Local Hero Boards was mentioning that they loved this movie and Being There.
Well I too loved Being There.
But I did not like this movie at all.
Thank God for subjectivity.

[–] Mickyfinn 14 years ago

So, you disliked the film enough to say so in three separate threads?

You just have to be resigned-
You're crashing by design

[–] danielscissorhands 14 years ago

Mikyfinn:

Yes, perhaps it as overkill to post three messages.
But, at the time I felt like I had just wasted my time watching a movie that was so (overhyped is subjective) hyped. So... yeah.
I wasn't trolling, or anything. Just wondering why people were going so crazy over a film that I thought could have been much better.

[–] paultbaker 14 years ago

I'm playing it right now in a little video store I manage in Seattle. ("Sir, I'll give you the colors first, sir. It's white and green and red ... sorry, that's the phone box.") Listening to all the talk on NPR this morning about the current oil spill in the Gulf made me think of the opening scene with Mac driving to work; I figured it was appropriate.

As far as how many times I've seen it; I honestly have no idea. Quite probably over a hundred in the last twenty-plus years.

When it was first released on VHS I was a young teen, and I remember getting to the point where my folks refused to rent it for me anymore. I've since, as many have already said, worn out a few VHSs and DVDs.

Oh, and to scoutstress who posted a few pages back; you're living my dream. :)

"Film is a mosaic of Time."
-A. Tarkovsky

[–] vimhawk 14 years ago

Just finished watching it again for the umpteenth time. Its certainly my comfort movie, always works when I'm down.

Another couple of things that just occurred to me, which is great to be noticing considering how familiar the film is to me:

1. Soon after Happer arrives, he gives his coat to Mac (now a local) in much the same way that Mac gave his coat to Danny (well had it taken anyway) when Mac first arrived.

2. Later Happer says he's got there just in time to stop [Mac's] "refinery caper". I wonder if the word "caper" was put in the script specially for Burt Lancaster in homage to his action roles in (for example) The Crimson Pirate when the term was used. Otherwise it is perhaps a slightly curious term to use. I'd love it to be there just for him, particularly as we know that the part was originally written for 'a Burt Lancaster like actor'.

Both of these may of course be reading way too much into the film!

On another point, my wife has agreed that if I get a permanent job I'm allowed to go and stay in Pennan for a couple of days. This is quite an incentive... I was there for only a few hours many years ago and long to go back.

[–] Mickyfinn 14 years ago

To your point #2:

The "just in time to stop your refinery caper" to me points to the eccentricity and the kind of detached leadership Happer has for Knox Oil. Remember his falling asleep during the staff meeting at the beginning, when the whole Furness aquistition is discussed?

I think it kind of shows that Happer really doesn't understand how the whole Furness buy was going. He doesn't really know who Mac is or that the purchase is not really Mac's project and Mac is just the buyer.

And he also kind of 'pumps himself up'. He comes in, sees the beauty of Furness, and with some help from Danny "....you could call it the Happper Insititute, sir!", can take the high ground - "I came here just in time to stop your refinery caper". Caper, as if it was some foolish idea from the start.

You just have to be resigned-
You're crashing by design

[–] TriumphReq 14 years ago

I can rarely watch movies more than twice since I remember the story. However, the older you get the more details and oysters you can find and understand. Local Hero isn't just about the story though, it's about the way it makes you feel.