THE HARD WAY
Ireland, 1980, 88 minutes, Colour.
Patrick Mc Goohan, Lee Van Cleef, Donal Mc Cann, Edna O'Brien.
Directed by Michael Dryhurst.
The Hard Way is a grim Irish telemovie with John Boorman as its Executive producer. It portrays the last days of a hit man and the pressures put on him by syndicate chiefs when he wants to opt out. Patrick Mc Goohan is effective and credible as the hit man. Lee Van Cleef gives a good performance as the American boss. There is an interesting performance, most of it monologue to the camera, by Irish author Edna O'Brien. There is an excellent use of Irish location scenery, Irish music and the pervasive melancholy of violence in that country. The film is atmospheric and a character study rather than an action drama.
1. The impact of the film as telemovie? Drama? Action film? Character study? The impact on an Irish audience? International audience? Pace, mood? Sympathies?
2. The Irish atmosphere of the film: its plot and characters? The violence? The mood and the atmosphere of moroseness? The Irish cities, countryside? Accents and music?
3. The world of the violent men, the hit men? Their employment, activity all over the world? In Britain? American backing? International violence and terrorism? The Irish participation in world violence? The initial assassination? The train ride? The hiding of weapons? The arrangement of covers etc.? Organisation? The hit men and their professional sense, lifestyle? There being no exit? Going out the hard way?
4. The structure of the film: the focus on Connor, his murder, his wanting to be out? Mc Neal and his final job? Pressure and the interaction between the two men? Train? The international situation and the insight into international manipulation? Big business? The double cross? The chase? The final siege? McNeal's making contact with Connor? The mutual tricks and their deaths? The interweaving of the interview with Kathleen, her place in the plot. the action sequences, the end?
5. Audience judgment on Connor? His profession? His decisions? Treatment of wife and family? His attitudes towards Mc Neal? Kathleen's comments on him as a man, as hit man, his final decisions?
6. The portrait of Connor and Patrick Mc Goohan's sombre style? A morose Irishman, the importance of his being Irish. his father, guns, the marriage, his love for his daughters e.g. the postcard sequence, a silent man, patient and waiting, killing in cold blood, relationships with friends, his watching for Kathleen and saving her from the gunman? His motives for his work, relationships, broken marriage, children, opting out? His refusal to assassinate the African priest? His training for the job, the getting of the weapons? His changing attitudes? The change of plan, killing his pursuers? His shrewdness in action? The railyards? The challenge of surviving? The encounter with Mc Neal and his use of resources? Dying but winning? The hero of the film? The ugly Irishman? The ugliness of international pressure?
7. Mc Neal and American backing, his sureness in using Connor, their meetings, his attempts to persuade Connor? Getting the weapons? Arranging the assassination? Mc Neal and his visit to Paris and the set-up? The international deals? His return and his foiling the attempt to kill him? The arrangements for the set-up to meet Connor? His use of tricks - and defeated by them?
8. McNeal's henchmen, the businessmen, the contacts, the paramilitary? The gunmen and their skills? The shifting of money? International plots and government involvement?
9. The portrait of Kathleen - the impact of her talking to the audience, her reminiscences. her sadness as if Connor was dead? The marriage and its failure? Her judgments on his work and killing? Connor's providing for her, getting her out of danger? The discovery that she was in the cemetery?
10. A portrait of a contemporary violent man? A contemporary violent country? International violence? The themes of morality and violence?
