Deadly Illusion (1987): Cast & Plot
Deadly Illusion is a 1987 drama thriller directed by Larry Cohen and William Tannen, starring Billy Dee Williams as Hamberger, John Beck and Morgan Fairchild. It runs 1 hour 27 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 27m (87 min)
- Directors
- Larry Cohen and William Tannen
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Pound Ridge Films
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Deadly Illusion About?
The premise of Deadly Illusion without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
The story revolves around a private investigator who is hired to eliminate a man’s wife, but instead he warns her of the plot. As the investigation deepens, he discovers that the supposed killer and the alleged victim are both impostors, leaving everyone wondering why the bodies keep piling up in this twisted thriller.
Deadly Illusion Themes & Keywords
· 48 tags- double cross
- detective
- murder
- fixer
- gangster
- celebration
- patsy
- hostage
- businessman
- client
- private detective
- evil businessman
+36 more Show fewer
- warning
- naked female corpse
- seductive woman
- vamp
- shootout
- interrupting a meeting
- charmer
- hardboiled detective
- christmas tree
- coffee shop
- police brutality
- violent cop
- facial scar
- husband hires someone to kill his wife
- murder contract
- morgue
- shot in the leg
- going postal
- trench coat
- implied sex
- flirting
- murder conspiracy
- mask maker
- pretending to be someone else
- self narration
- framed for murder
- chase
- shot dead
- shot in the arm
- female crime boss
- female drug lord
- assistant
- cheating boyfriend
- girlfriend
- african american protagonist
- independent film
Deadly Illusion Cast & Characters
Billy Dee Williams leads the cast as Hamberger, with John Beck as Alex Burton and Morgan Fairchild as Jane Mallory / Sharon Burton. Directed by Larry Cohen and William Tannen; 24 actors are credited in all.
- Co-director Larry Cohen
- Co-director William Tannen
-
Billy Dee Williams as Hamberger -
John Beck as Alex Burton -
Morgan Fairchild as Jane Mallory / Sharon Burton - Dennis Hallahan as Burton Imposter
Also Starring in Deadly Illusion
· 20 more- Harriet Rogers Mrs. Bains
- Joe Cortese Detective Paul Lefferts
- Joe Spinell Crazy Man in Gun Bureau
- Vanity Rina
- Michael Emil Medical Examiner
- Bret McCormick Sam Ferry
- George Loros Levante
- Alice Spivak Woman Applicant
- Rosemary De Angelis Woman Applicant
- Joe Cirillo Cop in Gun Bureau
- Julie Gordon Receptionist #1
- Michael Wilding, Jr. Costillion
- Thom Curley Wexler
- Allison Woodward Nancy Costillion
- Marcy Kaplan Receptionist #2
- Debbie Dickinson Woman on Phone
Show all 24 cast members Show fewer cast members
- Jenny Cornuelle Gloria Reid
- Charlie Malcolm Assistant District Attorney
- Richard Triggs Toll Booth Attendant
- Donald Wayne Man at New Year's Eve Party (as Don Torres)
More from Larry Cohen and William Tannen
More films directed by Larry Cohen and William Tannen, best-rated first: It's Alive, God Told Me To, Ozzie and Night Of Terror.
Deadly Illusion Plot Summary
What happens in Deadly Illusion from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 11 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Hamberger, played by Billy Dee Williams, is a license-less, carless freelance private eye who skims delis for any chance of work and dreams of a break. A businessman presenting himself as Alex Burton, John Beck, offers him a striking proposition: $100,000 to kill his wife, Sharon Burton, who knows too much about his shady business. tempted by the payoff, Hamberger takes a $25,000 down payment but chooses a far different path. Instead of carrying out the hit, he warns the wife and helps her flee by plane, hoping to derail the plan and uncover the truth.
Full summary
The whole story of Deadly Illusion, scene by scene
How Well Do You Know Deadly Illusion?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What is the name of the private investigator played by Billy Dee Williams?
Cars in Deadly Illusion
15 cars on screen, including the 1978 Checker Taxicab and the 1983 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham Stretched Limousine.
-
1978 Checker Taxicab Important role -
1983 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham Stretched Limousine Minor role -
Dodge Diplomat Minor role -
E-Z-Go X-440 Minor role
Deadly Illusion Also Known As
7 alternative titles, including “I Love You to Death” and “Love You to Death”.
- Also known as
-
- I Love You to Death
- Love You to Death
- 杀手柔情
- Tödliche Täuschung
- Homicide à Wall Street
- Illusione mortale
- Mr. Hamburger
Seen Deadly Illusion?
Movies Like Deadly Illusion
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Deadly Desire, Deadly Intent and The Deadly Affair.
Deadly Illusion FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of Deadly Illusion, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Deadly Illusion?
Deadly Illusion runs 1 hour 27 minutes (87 minutes).
When was Deadly Illusion released?
Deadly Illusion was released on October 16, 1987.
Who directed Deadly Illusion?
Deadly Illusion was directed by Larry Cohen and William Tannen.
More films by Larry Cohen Who is in the cast of Deadly Illusion?
Deadly Illusion stars Billy Dee Williams as Hamberger, John Beck as Alex Burton and Morgan Fairchild as Jane Mallory / Sharon Burton, among 24 credited actors.
Does Deadly Illusion have a post-credit scene?
No. Deadly Illusion has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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