Please explain Local Hero to me

[Frostillicus]

I recommended this movie in another thread about good films that few people know. I really loved for all the reasons stated above, but also because the Burt Lancaster character turns out to be a genuinely decent fellow. Not what I expected from the billionaire oil company executive at all.

[Unauthorized_Cinnamon]

@Loach

It’s not us, it’s you.

I can live with that.

If I come upon it on cable one day, I will give it another go. Likewise if I ever get the chance to see Comfort and Joy or Gregory’s Girl.

[Edward_The_Head]

@What Exit?

Sadly NetFlix does not have C&J.

I’m glad you said that, because they do have some movie called Comfort and Joy, but it’s from 04, and made by Lifetime. I almost added it. Did Knopfler do the music for it as well?

[Bridget_Burke]

I saw Local Hero just after it was released & it’s remained a favorite.

Living in Houston helps. Knowing the real-life buildings downtown that were used as “Knox Oil.” Pennzoil Place for office space–including Happer’s Office (where the Horrible Psychiatrist hung himself from the slanted roof to give Happer his “message.”) Chase Tower supplied the Lobby & the Exterior. (Happer telling the police “Shoot. Shoot to Kill.” as he fled from the Horrible Psychiatrist–& Houston.)

Mac McIntyre had a flyer for Captain John’s Seafood in his kitchen. The art deco building had been refurbished into a sleek oyster bar, just before the movie was shot–but burned down years ago.

And, when McIntyre opens the door onto a Houston night, I can practically feel the heat, humidity, noise & exhaust fumes slapping him in the face. When he’d been in such a very different place a few hours before.

The supporting characters are full of “character.” Burt Lancaster was still a Star.

Did the lovely marine biologist have a bit of seal blood?

And the music was wonderful.

[Loach]

@Edward The Head

I’m glad you said that, because they do have some movie called Comfort and Joy, but it’s from 04, and made by Lifetime. I almost added it. Did Knopfler do the music for it as well?

Mostly snips from Dire Straits Private Investigations IIRC.

[What_Exit]

@Bridget Burke

Did the lovely marine biologist have a bit of seal blood?

And the music was wonderful.

I always assumed she might be at least part Selkie.

[Northern_Piper]

@blondebear

Another “Comfort and Joy” fan here. “Local Hero” pretty much made me a Peter Riegert fan for life.

Have you seen Crossing Delancey ? He’s very good in it - has a similar feel to Local Hero.

[Northern_Piper]

@Bridget Burke

And the music was wonderful.

It’s one of the few soundtracks I play regularly.

[What_Exit]

@Northern Piper

Have you seen Crossing Delancey ? He’s very good in it - has a similar feel to Local Hero.

I like that movie, but I never felt they were all that similar. I guess in this case, it is Amy Irving’s character that does the growing and changing that Peter Riegert did in Local Hero.

[Caprese]

@Gordon Urquhart

However, I learned a long time ago to not recommend it to everyone I meet, because it’s definitely not for everyone. That was a hard lesson for me to learn, because not liking Local Hero makes about as much sense to me as not liking chocolate – but there are people out there who don’t, and I can understand that now.
I think you’ve got it right there – I wouldn’t stereotype Local Hero as an 80’s movie, but it certainly wouldn’t make as much of an impact now if it were produced in 2008. The world’s a different place – much smaller – and, as you correctly point out, the fact that the residents know the tremendous value of their property wouldn’t be such a revelation today.
.

Yes.
The world is indeed a smaller place. I’ve traveled to some of LH’s filming locales.

I still recommend the movie to everyone, because

#1) To me Local Hero is still the gold standard of quirky, yearning movies that celebrate both the individual and his place within the community.
“I’d make a good Gordon, Gordon.”

#2) The soundtrack

#3) It is breathtakingly beautiful

[Broomstick]

For me, a lot of the charm was the… I don’t know how to say it… the characters seemed one way but were another.

• The Scottish linguist who seemed to know every language but Scots Gaelic

• McIntyre wasn’t Scottish he was, IIRC, Hungarian. His immigrant ancestors changed their name to McIntyre thinking it sounded American.

• Happer wasn’t the overbearing cutthroat corporate raider oil man, he was an eccentric obsessed with star-gazing.

• the “counselor” or whatever was psychologically abusive instead of helpful

• the villagers weren’t country bumpkins, they were actually more savvy than the big-city corporate guy.

• the villagers didn’t want to preserve their idyllic way of life, most of them wanted cash in and get the hell out of town

• instead of a white man going to Africa to save souls you had an African coming to Scotland as a missionary

There was also the bit where McIntyre asks Mrs. Urqhardt to turn off the music because he doesn’t like it, and she says they played it because that’s what they thought tourists wanted. A lot of the movie is about expectations being wrong, but it’s subtle.

I can see where a lot of people wouldn’t “get” it, it doesn’t have hugely dramatic action or special effects, and it doesn’t beat you over the head very much with anything. I really like it, though, and I often see something I missed before every time I watch it.

[Talon_Karrde]

I saw Local Hero a year or two ago based on recommendations here and really like it. I want to see Comfort and Joy. Is it on region 1 DVD?

[Equipoise]

That was a wonderful post Broomstick!

Talon Karrde, unfortunately, no. I got my DVD from England.

[Savannah]

@Zebra

I thought I was the only Doper to have ever seen Comfort and Joy.

I’ve seen it and liked it very much. I’m surprised at how many others here have, too. Dopers with good taste…