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What's After the Movie?
Mystery drama

Pulp (1972): Cast & Plot

Pulp (1972) movie poster

Pulp is a 1972 mystery drama directed by Mike Hodges, starring Michael Caine as Mickey King, Al Lettieri and Nadia Cassini. It runs 1 hour 35 minutes.

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Pulp (1972) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 35m (95 min)
Director
Mike Hodges
Genres
Mystery , Crime , Drama
Original language
English
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Pulp About?

The premise of Pulp without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

A disreputable author of cheap pulp novels is hired by an eccentric, reclusive former film star living in a crumbling house on Malta to ghost‑write the star’s memoirs. Their oddball partnership forces the writer to confront his own lowbrow instincts while navigating the island’s quirky atmosphere.

Pulp Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • male underwear
  • man wears white briefs
  • man wears tighty whities
  • male wears underwear
  • british expatriate
  • author
  • eccentric man
  • typing pool
  • fender bender
  • narrated by lead character
  • neo noirish
  • gunsel
+38 more
  • gunman
  • held at gunpoint
  • gender bender
  • survival desperation
  • deception
  • junky pick up truck
  • hostility
  • misery
  • parody comedy
  • bare chested male
  • briefs
  • white briefs
  • tighty whities
  • house
  • writer
  • reference to sagittarius the astrological sign
  • reference to a zodiac sign
  • stenographer
  • publisher
  • exile
  • clairvoyant
  • princess
  • dictation
  • dry humor
  • spoof
  • evil man
  • bathtub
  • reference to rocky marciano
  • steamboat
  • ex husband ex wife relationship
  • cross dresser
  • typist
  • sniper
  • scandal
  • ruins
  • prayer
  • prank
  • police lineup
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Cast & crew

Pulp Cast & Characters

Michael Caine leads the cast as Mickey King, with Al Lettieri as Miller and Nadia Cassini as Liz Adams. Directed by Mike Hodges; 26 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in Pulp

· 22 more
Show all 26 cast members
From the director

More from Mike Hodges

More films directed by Mike Hodges, best-rated first: Get Carter, Croupier, Flash Gordon and I'll Sleep When I'm Dead.

Full filmography
Plot

Pulp Plot Summary

What happens in Pulp from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 13 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Mickey King is a British writer living on the island of Malta, known for turning out violent, sexually charged pulp novels under a string of lewd pen names like “S. Odomy.” He is approached with an unusual offer: to ghostwrite the autobiography of a mystery celebrity. The publisher asks him to join a package tour, with the understanding that a representative for the celebrity will contact him during the trip. The setup promises intrigue, and King reluctantly accepts, his curiosity piqued by the chance to cash in on a life he’s never seen from the inside.

Full summary

The whole story of Pulp, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Videos

Pulp Trailers & Videos

The trailer of Pulp.

Pulp 1972 Trailer.mp4
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Pulp?

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

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

What is the name of the British writer who lives on Malta?

Cars

Cars in Pulp

16 cars on screen, including the 1953 Chrysler Windsor and the 1948 Fordson 10cwt Pick-up.

All 16 cars
  • 1953 Chrysler Windsor in Pulp 1953 Chrysler Windsor Important role
  • 1948 Fordson 10cwt Pick-up in Pulp 1948 Fordson 10cwt Pick-up Important role
  • 1953 Chevrolet unknown in Pulp 1953 Chevrolet unknown Minor role
  • 1938 Chrysler Royal in Pulp 1938 Chrysler Royal Minor role
Details

Pulp Also Known As

14 alternative titles, including “Целлюлоза” and “Retraite mortelle”.

Also known as
  • Целлюлоза
  • Retraite mortelle
  • Historias peligrosas
  • Colpiscono senza pietà
  • Malta sehen und sterben
  • Долнопробен роман
  • Дешёвое чтиво
  • Batota no Jogo
  • Βήματα στο Άγνωστο
  • Diário de um Gângster
  • 低俗
  • Máltát látni és meghalni
+2 more
  • 펄프
  • Històries perilloses

Seen Pulp?

FAQ

Pulp FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date

Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of Pulp, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Pulp?

Pulp runs 1 hour 35 minutes (95 minutes).

When was Pulp released?

Pulp was released on November 1, 1972.

Who directed Pulp?

Pulp was directed by Mike Hodges.

More films by Mike Hodges

Who is in the cast of Pulp?

Pulp stars Michael Caine as Mickey King, Al Lettieri as Miller and Nadia Cassini as Liz Adams, among 26 credited actors.

Does Pulp have a post-credit scene?

No. Pulp has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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