Local Hero (1983): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot
Local Hero is a 1983 comedy drama directed by Bill Forsyth, starring Peter Capaldi, Burt Lancaster and Alex Norton. It runs 1 hour 51 minutes and earned $6 million worldwide. It won 1 award from 7 nominations, including Best Direction at the BAFTA 1984. Critics gave it 100% on Rotten Tomatoes and 84 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.3/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 51m (111 min)
- Director
- Bill Forsyth
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- 20th Century Fox
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Local Hero About?
The premise of Local Hero without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Houston oil executive Mac MacIntyre is sent to the picturesque Scottish village of Ferness to secure land for a new oil refinery. However, the charming locals and their traditional way of life unexpectedly challenge his business objectives and the plans of his eccentric boss. Mac finds himself increasingly drawn to the village's unique character, questioning the true cost of progress and the impact of his company’s ambitions.
Local Hero Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- scotland
- social commentary
- magical realism
- eccentric man
- american abroad
- amateur astronomer
- oceanographic research
- business negotiation
- therapist
- greed
- husband wife relationship
- rabbit
+38 more Show fewer
- environmentalism
- fish out of water
- melancholy
- telephone booth
- beach
- village
- helicopter
- houston texas
- stargazing
- two word title
- philosophical conversation
- woman wears a swimsuit
- hotel owner
- billionaire
- beach shack
- oil company
- oil refinery
- russian man
- small town life
- astronomical observatory
- implied sex
- sex in an office
- boat captain
- linguist
- lust
- pub
- motorcyclist
- marine researcher
- meteor shower
- fog
- accountant
- telephone call
- priest
- church
- friendship
- sea
- culture clash
- seashell
Local Hero Cast
Peter Capaldi leads the cast, with Burt Lancaster and Alex Norton. Directed by Bill Forsyth; 10 actors are credited in all.
- Director Bill Forsyth
Also Starring in Local Hero
· 6 moreMore from Bill Forsyth
More films directed by Bill Forsyth, best-rated first: Being Human, Breaking In, Housekeeping and Comfort and Joy.
Local Hero Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Local Hero 100% on Rotten Tomatoes and 84 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.3/10.
-
IMDb 7.3 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 100% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 87%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 84 Metascore
User score 6.7
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 67% User score
See on TMDB
Local Hero Plot Summary
What happens in Local Hero from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
MacIntyre, Peter Capaldi, is an ambitious Knox Oil and Gas executive in Houston, Texas. Felix Happer, Burt Lancaster, the company’s eccentric owner, chooses Mac for a delicate mission: to acquire Ferness, a windswept village in the Scottish Highlands, so a massive refinery can be built where the sea meets the hills. Mac, who is actually of Hungarian extraction, is told to observe the sky and report anything unusual, a subtle nudge toward a higher purpose than merely closing a deal. He would rather handle things from afar, via telex and phone, but the assignment pulls him into a land where people live with the weather, the tides, and old grievances as part of daily life.
Full summary
The whole story of Local Hero, scene by scene
Local Hero Box Office
Local Hero grossed $6 million worldwide. $5.9 million came from the US and Canada and $102,879 (2%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$6M
- US & Canada
- $5.9M
- International
- $102.9K
Local Hero Awards & Nominations
Local Hero won 1 award from 7 nominations, including Best Direction at the BAFTA 1984.
1 win7 nominations1 ceremony
-
BAFTA 1984 1 win · 7 nominations- Won Best Direction – Bill Forsyth
- Nominated Best Actor in a Supporting Role – Burt Lancaster
- Nominated Best Cinematography
- Nominated Best Editing
- Nominated Best Film
Local Hero Trailers & Videos
4 videos: 2 trailers, 1 featurette and 1 behind-the-scenes video.
- Trailer Local Hero (1983) ORIGINAL TRAILER [HD 1080p]
- Featurette Jenny Seagrove and Denis Lawson on Local Hero | BFI
- Behind the Scenes The Making of Local Hero
How Well Do You Know Local Hero?
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
Who is the eccentric owner of Knox Oil and Gas who sends Mac on the mission?
Cars in Local Hero
11 cars on screen, including the 1980 Ford Cortina MkV and the 1974 Yamaha DT 125 F.
-
1980 Ford Cortina MkV Important role -
1974 Yamaha DT 125 F Important role -
1980 Lincoln Continental Stretched Limousine Minor role -
1976 Porsche 911 Turbo 930 Minor role
Local Hero Also Known As
18 alternative titles, including “Lokalny bohater” and “Un tipo genial”.
- Also known as
-
- Lokalny bohater
- Un tipo genial
- Ο ήρωάς μας
- גיבור מקומי
- Biznesmen i gwiazdy
- Місцевий герой
- Porunk hőse
- 시골 영웅
- 地方英雄
- Momento Inesquecível
- Local Hero - Byns hjälte
- Местный герой
+6 more Show fewer
- Eroul local
- Yerel Kahraman
- Un personatge genial
- Local Hero - kylän sankari
- Herói de Aldeia
- วีรบุรุษท้องถิ่น
Seen Local Hero?
Movies Like Local Hero
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including The Hero, Hometown Hero and Local Color.
Local Hero FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, awards and post-credit scenes of Local Hero, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Local Hero?
Local Hero runs 1 hour 51 minutes (111 minutes).
When was Local Hero released?
Local Hero was released on February 17, 1983.
Who directed Local Hero?
Local Hero was directed by Bill Forsyth.
More films by Bill Forsyth Who is in the cast of Local Hero?
Local Hero stars Peter Capaldi, Burt Lancaster and Alex Norton, among 10 credited actors.
How much did Local Hero make at the box office?
Local Hero grossed $6 million worldwide ($5.9 million domestic, $102,879 international).
How is Local Hero rated?
Local Hero has 7.3/10 on IMDb, 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, 84 on Metacritic and 67% on TMDB.
What awards did Local Hero win?
Local Hero won 1 award from 7 nominations, including Best Direction at the BAFTA 1984.
Does Local Hero have a post-credit scene?
No. Local Hero has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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