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Peter Riegert, Burt Lancaster, Fulton Mackay, Denis Lawson, Norman Chancer ... see more see more... , Peter Capaldi , Jenny Seagrove , Alex Norton , Rikki Fulton , Jennifer Black , Christopher Rozycki , Christopher Asante , Dave Anderson , Caroline Guthrie , Kenny Ireland , John M. Jackson , Harlan Jordan , James Kennedy , Buddy Quaid , John Gordon Sinclair , Jimmy Yuill , Ray Jeffries , Sandra Voe , Willie Joss , Charles Kearney , David Mowat , Ian Stewart , Tam Dean Burn

Bill Forsyth's whimsical tale of sweet-natured corporate rapacity features standout performances by Burt Lancaster and Peter Riegert. Lancaster plays Texas billionaire Felix Happer, who would rather g... read more read more...aze at the stars than worry about his multi-national oil company. Happer dispatches Mac MacIntyre (Peter Riegert) and Danny Oldsen (Peter Capaldi) to the small Scottish fishing village of Ferness to negotiate buying the entire town so Happer can drill for oil in the North Sea. Much to Mac's surprise, the entire town is happy to sell itself for big money, and the local innkeeper, Gordon Urquhart (Denis Lawson) -- who is also the town's accountant and mayor -- works with Mac on the negotiations. But a wrinkle appears in the deal when Ben Knox (Fulton Mackay), an old man who lives in a shack on the beach which has been owned by his family for centuries, refuses to sell. His reasons? "Who'd look after the beach then? It would go to pieces in a short manner of time." The deal stalls so seriously that Happer travels to Ferness to oversee negotiations as Mac and Danny are seduced by the charm of the Scottish town. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi

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87% liked it

7,030 ratings

Critics

100% liked it

31 critics

PG, 1 hr. 52 min.

Directed by: Bill Forsyth

Release Date: February 18, 1983

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DVD Release Date: September 21, 1999

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Flixster Reviews (674)

  • RossCollinsUK
    March 9, 2011
    RossCollinsUK
    A taste of the quaint life of rural Scotland back in the early 80s when the oil giants were still considered a necessary evil. This really is a British classic with memorable characters and a signature theme tune in Mark Knopfler's synth score.
  • matertenebraum
    February 10, 2011
    matertenebraum
    I really cannot praise Local Hero enough; it is simply one of the best films ever made and certainly, without any shadow of doubt, my number one favourite movie of all time. Fans of Ealing Comedy will relate to this film instantly. The humour is extremely subtle, going for the qu... read moreirkiness of human behaviour rather than prefabricated belly-laughs. For example, the two farmers arguing which is the better vehicle for transporting winter lambs, Massarati or Rolls Royce. And the African preacher who has to explain that he's "not Scottish either" but still has the surname McPhearson. At first glance, the story of Local Hero is hardly one which would engage fevered interest. A big Texan oil company wants to buy a huge chunk of Scottish coastline and a representative is flown over to close the deal. Chosen because it's thought he is of Scottish origin, McIntyre (Peter Riegert) complains to a colleague that he could do the deal over the wires in an afternoon and that his parents chose the surname when they got off the boat from Hungary because they thought it sounded American. But what grabs the attention and is the fundamental beauty to the film is "Mac's" journey from a materialistic Texan yuppie to one who falls in love with the simple things of life and by the film's end, when Mac returns home, has been changed forever by his trip.

    Mac plays his part very well from a character who depends on his expensive suits, his Porsche, quad hi-fi and personal health insurance to one who collects shells on a Scottish beach and drinks 40 year-old malt whisky in the bosom of the small community that he suddenly finds himself a part of. Burt Lancaster plays the wonderfully eccentric oil company CEO who is more concerned with dicovering a comet of his own than making millions of dollars. Then of course there is Denis Lawson as the estate agent / taxi driver / hotelier, Peter Capaldi as the bungling company trainee and Jenny Seagrove who prefers being underwater to life on land, along with all the various yokels and locals that give this film its very unique charm. And the plot twist? A fabulously subtle one-liner that gives the whole thing away. But of course, one cannot talk about this movie without mentioning the soundtrack. Many years ago I felt compelled to watch this movie because (being a big Dire Straits fan at the time) i had the soundtrack and was instantly hooked. Mark Knopfler does sterling work in adding musical flavour to the film. Lazy acoustic guitars match perfectly the breath-taking scenary that the director, Bill Forsyth, has captured of the Scottish Highlands. Overall, I would have no hesitation in recommending this film to people. Every recommendation I've made has been met with the same response: a gem of a movie that simply cannot be ignored. Local Hero will be my own personal number one for ever!
  • superclerk25
    March 25, 2010
    superclerk25
    Not a bad flick. We watch a fast moving Texas oil man slow down and appreciate the world around him when visiting Scotland on business and it tries to remind us that we need to slow down as well and take a good look at the things we think are the most important things in our liv... read morees.
    The acting is solid and the music helps set the mood and speed of the flick perfectly.
  • flixsterman
    June 16, 2009
    flixsterman
    Sometimes, even Texas oil billionaires have to stop and smell the seaweed.

    A clever little morality tale about Scotland and meteor showers and women with webbed toes. This one is really starting to grow on me.
  • tsigur
    February 24, 2009
    tsigur
    I really enjoyed this movie a lot. I thought it was sweet and endearing without being cheesy. There are also a lot of subtle touches about power and wealth that I really thought resonated. Peter Riegert and the villagers are all very natural and every performance adds something t... read moreo the overall story. To top it all of you have the amazing Burt Lancaster. I could listen to him talk all day. Chris Menges makes the film look beautiful, using the natural lighting and the landscapes that allow you to get lost in this gorgeous corner of the world. Good writing and direction by Bill Forsyth.
  • skactopus
    January 3, 2008
    skactopus
    A comedic drama done the right way. Current comedies need to take a lesson and learn how to make people laugh without overdoing and forcing the jokes on us.

    The story works well for this type of film and at the same time is actually pretty thin, if you think about it. Yet, so

    ... read moremehow the film drags it out to almost 2 hours without making it entirely boring. How is this possible? The timing and style of the humor is performed at the right times and in the right amounts, which will keep you entertained. It is also constant throughout the film and it actually seems natural at times. You can tell that these comedic points aren't forced on the audience either. The biggest complaint I have with the story is the ending, which I believe could have been better. On a side note, the film does use some nice cinematography. Combine this with the nice setting and you get some wonderful shots.

    The acting is done nicely. Both Peter Riegert and Denis Lawson carry this film to the very end. What is nice about these two is that one is American and the other is Scottish. They really do work well together. Burt Lancaster has a nice role, but is definitely underused, especially with the way he is advertised for this film. Jenny Seagrove is just beautiful to look at, but what was up with her feet?

    This may not be the most entertaining of movies, but it is a nicely written comedic drama.
  • garyX
    March 28, 2007
    garyX
    Amiable british comedy in the spirit of Ealing in which big city american developer Burt Lancaster gets the inevitable life lessons from the usual collection of village eccentrics. Pleasantly predictable.
  • fb874055034
    November 14, 2010
    fb874055034
    Not bad, but not great either. Pretty disappointed with this one.
  • Doctor0Quinzel
    July 15, 2009
    Doctor0Quinzel
    It was just ok, I just didn't care about any of the characters.This film was just to bland for me, like eating unflavored gelatin.
  • DrStrangeblog
    December 20, 2008
    DrStrangeblog
    Quirky, goofy, charming movie in which nothing can be predicted. The creators of 'Northern Exposure' must've used this film as a blueprint for their excellent series, right down to the Rob Morrow lookalike as their fish-out-of-water.

View All Local Hero Reviews

Critic Reviews

Dave Kehr
September 3, 2010
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader

The thematics are rather cloying, but the mood -- profoundly relaxed, bemused -- eventually conquers. Full Review

Todd McCarthy
August 13, 2008
Todd McCarthy, Variety

[It's] loaded with wry, offbeat humor and is the sort of satisfying, personal picture that is becoming an increasingly rare commodity these days Full Review

Roger Ebert
October 23, 2004
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Here is a small film to treasure, a loving, funny, understated portrait of a small Scottish town and its encounter with a giant oil company. Full Review

Janet Maslin
May 20, 2003
Janet Maslin, New York Times

It demonstrates Mr. Forsyth's uncanny ability for making an audience sense that something magical is going on, even if that something isn't easily explained. Full Review

Nell Minow
December 25, 2010
Nell Minow, Common Sense Media

A poignant, funny tale of a simpler life. Full Review

September 3, 2010
Film4

Without question, the most charming British film of the 1980s. Full Review

Dan Jardine
August 6, 2010
Dan Jardine, Cinemania

Bill Forsyth directs the film with wry understatement and has gentle affection for all of his characters. Full Review

June 24, 2006
Time Out

Forsyth cannot quite tease out of his characters the kind of strange sublety that Powell and Pressburger delivered, but it is enough that he and producer David Puttnam succeed in making you realise ju... Full Review

Christopher Null
October 15, 2005
Christopher Null, Filmcritic.com

It's the feel-good flick of the decade. Full Review

Dennis Schwartz
January 7, 2004
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews

A heartwarming and whimsical comedy of manners. Full Review

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