- published: 16 Oct 2010
- views: 76699
Hooper is a 1978 action-comedy film starring Burt Reynolds, based loosely on the experiences of director Hal Needham, a one-time stuntman in his own right. It serves as a tribute to stuntmen and stuntwomen in what was at one time an underrecognized profession.
Co-starring in the film are Sally Field, Jan-Michael Vincent, Brian Keith, Robert Klein, James Best and Adam West.
Veteran stuntman Sonny Hooper (Burt Reynolds), known in Hollywood as "the greatest stuntman alive," is currently working as Adam West's stunt double on the fictitious action film The Spy Who Laughed at Danger.
Hooper's on-set antics and wisecracks are a trial for egotistical director Roger Deal (Robert Klein), and even more so for Deal's bossy assistant Tony (Alfie Wise), who gets Hooper in trouble with the Humane Society over a stunt involving a dog. Added to which the years of self-abuse on and off the set are fast catching up with Hooper, with the numerous stunts—and an addiction to painkillers—beginning to take their toll on his body.
Aging stuntman Sonney Hooper is still on top as one of the best stuntmen in the business. But up and coming Ski is starting to do bigger and better stunts. Hooper has the experience to setup a stunt safely, and Ski lacks the common sense to know when a stunt is too dangerous. Maybe together, along with their fun loving buddies, they can do a stunt together that will surpass anything that anyone has done.
Keywords: actor, automobile, bar-fight, bare-chested-male, beer-drinking, behind-the-scenes, biplane, birmingham-alabama, birthday-party, boyfriend-girlfriend-relationship
Sonny Hooper: I'm gonna find the guy who invented Xylocaine and kiss his ass on Hollywood and Vine!
Jocko Doyle: You oughta drink more. Nothing hurts when you're numb.
Ski: My life is worth more than a piece of film.::Hooper: I'll tell you EXACTLY what your life is worth. Your life is worth fifty thousand dollars, that's the price you put on it when you got behind this wheel!
Singer: Everyone get drunk and be somebody!
Roger Deal: It has a nice grayness to it, like La Strada.
Amtrac, SWAT man: [Sonny has smashed the jukebox to get Amtrac's money back] Well, if you wanted to make somebody look like an asshole, boy, you did! That was you.::Sonny Hooper: [counting the SWAT guys] 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12... six against twelve!::Ski: [joins in] Seven.::Sonny Hooper: Seven against twelve. Well, that's a little uneven. Looks like you guys'll have to go back to Houston and get some more guys!