|
Nighthawks (1981) 6.4
Conservative street cop DaSilva reluctantly agrees to terminate an international terrorist who has demanded media attention. But DaSilva's "at-home" tactics are very much put to the challenge. |
| Watch Trailer 0Share... |
The 25 Most Immersive Worlds in Cinema
Highly immersive cinematic worlds can carry a movie, and we've rounded up the best of the best.
User Lists
Related lists from IMDb users
Related Items
Search for "Nighthawks" on Amazon.com
Share this Rating
Title: Nighthawks (1981)
Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Use the HTML below.
Learn more
People who liked this also liked...
F.I.S.T.
(1978)
Drama
Director:
Norman Jewison
Stars:
Sylvester Stallone,
Rod Steiger,
Peter Boyle
Paradise Alley
(1978)
Drama
Director:
Sylvester Stallone
Stars:
Sylvester Stallone,
Lee Canalito,
Armand Assante
Lock Up
(1989)
Action
|
Crime
|
Drama
Director:
John Flynn
Stars:
Sylvester Stallone,
Donald Sutherland,
John Amos
Victory
(1981)
Action
|
Drama
|
Sport
Director:
John Huston
Stars:
Michael Caine,
Sylvester Stallone,
Pelé
Cobra
(1986)
Action
|
Crime
|
Thriller
Director:
George P. Cosmatos
Stars:
Sylvester Stallone,
Brigitte Nielsen,
Reni Santoni
Rhinestone
(1984)
Comedy
|
Music
Director:
Bob Clark
Stars:
Sylvester Stallone,
Dolly Parton,
Richard Farnsworth
Over the Top
(1987)
Action
|
Drama
|
Sport
Director:
Menahem Golan
Stars:
Sylvester Stallone,
Robert Loggia,
Susan Blakely
Tango & Cash
(1989)
Action
|
Comedy
|
Crime
Directors:
Andrey Konchalovskiy,
Albert Magnoli
Stars:
Sylvester Stallone,
Kurt Russell,
Teri Hatcher
Get Carter
(2000)
Action
|
Crime
|
Drama
Director:
Stephen Kay
Stars:
Sylvester Stallone,
Rachael Leigh Cook,
Miranda Richardson
Eye See You
(2002)
Crime
|
Horror
|
Mystery
Director:
Jim Gillespie
Stars:
Sylvester Stallone,
Charles S. Dutton,
Polly Walker
Avenging Angelo
(2002)
Action
|
Comedy
|
Crime
Director:
Martyn Burke
Stars:
Sylvester Stallone,
Madeleine Stowe,
Anthony Quinn
Edit
Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Sylvester Stallone | ... | ||
| Billy Dee Williams | ... |
Sgt. Matthew Fox
|
|
| Lindsay Wagner | ... |
Irene
|
|
| Persis Khambatta | ... | ||
| Nigel Davenport | ... |
Peter Hartman
|
|
| Rutger Hauer | ... |
Heymar 'Wulfgar' Reinhardt
|
|
 |
Hilary Thompson | ... |
Pam
(as Hilarie Thompson)
|
|
|
Joe Spinell | ... |
Lt. Munafo
|
|
|
Walter Mathews | ... |
Commissioner
|
|
|
E. Brian Dean | ... |
Sergeant
|
|
|
Caesar Cordova | ... |
Puerto Rican Proprietor
|
|
|
Charles Duval | ... |
Dr. Ghiselin
|
|
|
Tony Munafo | ... |
Big Mike
|
|
|
Howard Stein | ... |
Disco Manager
|
|
|
Tawn Christian | ... |
Disco Hostess
|
Edit
Plot Summary
|
Plot Synopsis
Storyline
Deke DaSilva and Matthew Fox are two New York City cops who get transferred to an elite anti-terrorism squad. About this same time, an infamous international terrorist shows up in New York City looking to cause some chaos. It's up to DaSilva and Fox to stop him, but will they be in time...? Written by Afterburner <aburner@erols.com>
Taglines:
One man can bring the world to its knees and only one man can stop him. See more »Parents Guide:
View content advisory »
Edit
See more »
See full technical specs »
Details
Country:
USARelease Date:
4 April 1981 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
Attack See more »Filming Locations:
Arding & Hobbs department store, 315 Lavender Hill, Clapham Junction, Clapham, London, England, UK See more »Box Office
Budget:
$5,000,000 (estimated)Company Credits
Show detailed
company contact information
on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
MonoColor:
Color (Technicolor)Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1
Edit
Emerson also said some things about his music being edited for the final theatrical version of the movie; "Universal got some old dyke as music editor that had worked on Jaws. She was a minimalist in maximalist clothing and immediately set about stripping everything down apart from my underwear in order for my entire score to reach the big screen as half the man I might have been. Sly, upset about Raging Bull was already working on another Rocky sequel, and couldn't be bothered." See more »
Peter Hartman: Detective Fox, is it? The answer to your question of whether Wulfgar has gone into hiding or retired is neither one. He's only just begun.
See more »
Performed by The Rossington Collins Band (as Rossington Collins)
Courtesy of MCA Records
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
Some of Keith Emerson's score for the movie was also cut down due to the many reediting problems that movie had. Most of the tracks from the soundtrack are longer than their movie versions, and there are some which were intended for some longer scenes, ones of many which were deleted. Best example of it is the track "Face to Face" which is the music that Emerson composed for the infamous original ending where Wulfgar is torn to pieces in slow motion with his flesh and blood flying around the room while Deke shoots at him. Emerson did said some interesting things in the soundtrack notes about composing the music for deleted scenes between Deke and Irene (in notes he refers to character DaSilva as De Soto); "That bit when De Soto tries to get back with his ex-wife (Lindsay Wagner) we need some love interest there" said Harry. I made notes (Humm, love interest). Sly, whom I felt comfortable addressing as such, felt uncomfortable watching the rushes. His comments upon viewing the love scenes between Lindsay and himself led him to say, "That's the last time I go in Billy Dee's trailer". Most of it was cut along with the love interest music."Emerson also said some things about his music being edited for the final theatrical version of the movie; "Universal got some old dyke as music editor that had worked on Jaws. She was a minimalist in maximalist clothing and immediately set about stripping everything down apart from my underwear in order for my entire score to reach the big screen as half the man I might have been. Sly, upset about Raging Bull was already working on another Rocky sequel, and couldn't be bothered." See more »
Goofs
When Fox is loading his rifle just before the confrontation at the bus, you can clearly see the crimped ends of the blank rounds he's loading. See more »Quotes
Matthew Fox: What are the chances that this "Wulfgar" has gone into hiding or retired?Peter Hartman: Detective Fox, is it? The answer to your question of whether Wulfgar has gone into hiding or retired is neither one. He's only just begun.
See more »
Soundtracks
OpportunityPerformed by The Rossington Collins Band (as Rossington Collins)
Courtesy of MCA Records
See more »
Long before terrorism was on the minds of most Americans, NIGHTHAWKS tackled the thorny topic. Sylvester Stallone and Billy Dee Williams are decoy cops -- that is, they venture into rough neighborhoods to bait muggers and other forms of scum -- assigned to track down the cold and calculating Rutger Hauer. It seems the devious mastermind has landed in the media capital of the world, New York City, to try and regain his place among the terrorist elite.
Although it's a fairly decent action/suspense effort, NIGHTHAWKS is difficult to recommend unconditionally. The performances are certainly solid; in fact, it's hard to remember Stallone, here sporting a thin beard, being so effective outside of boxing trunks. The action is crisp and exhilarating, with one pursuit through subterranean New York deserving of a place in the Chase Hall of Fame. The story is original and much of the plot intriguing. And Hauer, in his American film debut, is a suitably hateful villain, with his motives all to familiar to contemporary audiences.
Yet NIGHTHAWKS is not quite as good as the sum of its parts. Even though the film starts out with a bang -- literally -- there's somehow too much build-up and not enough execution. The movie has not aged particularly well, and despite its 1981 release date has the feel of a '70s period piece. And as good as Hauer is, his character is a little too incredible to believe as he pulls off massive acts of terror with little or no sponsorship; what should take a team of experts is accomplished by one man wanted by countless law enforcement agencies.
In the end, NIGHTHAWKS is a movie you're bound to like -- either a little bit or a lot. Considering the high ratio of garbage that has and will continue to spew out of Hollywood, I guess that's not such a bad thing.