Man on Fire (1987 film)

Man on Fire
Directed by	Elie Chouraqui
Produced by	Arnon Milchan
Written by	Elie Chouraqui Sergio Donati
Narrated by	Scott Glenn
Starring	Scott Glenn Joe Pesci Jade Malle
Music by	John Scott
Cinematography	Gerry Fisher
Editing by	Noëlle Boisson
Distributed by	Acteurs Auteurs Associés (AAA)
Release date(s)	4 September 1987
Running time	92 minutes
Country	France/Italy
Language	English
Box office	$519,596 (USA)

Man on Fire (Italian: Un uomo sotto tiro) is a 1987 French-Italian film based on the 1980 novel of the same name by A. J. Quinnell. Another film based on the same novel was filmed in 2004.

Plot

In Italy, wealthy families often hire bodyguards to protect family members from the threat of kidnapping. A wealthy family that needs a bodyguard hires a burned-out ex-CIA agent to protect their daughter, Samantha "Sam" Balletto. The ex-CIA agent, John Creasy, has been broken down from all of the death and horror of combat he witnessed in the Vietnam War and in Beirut, Lebanon. Although Creasy is not interested in being a bodyguard, especially to a twelve year old youngster, he accepts the assignment because he has no better job offers.

Creasy barely tolerates the precocious child and her pestering questions about him and his life. But slowly, she chips away at his seemingly impenetrable exterior, his defenses drop, and he opens up to her. They become friends and he replaces her parents in their absences, giving her advice, guidance and help with track. Creasy's life is shattered when Sam is kidnapped. Despite being seriously wounded during the kidnapping, Creasy vows her safe return, and vows vengeance on the kidnappers.

Cast

• Scott Glenn as John Creasy
• Joe Pesci as David
• Danny Aiello as Conti
• Jade Malle as Samantha "Sam" Balletto
• Jonathan Pryce as Michael
• Brooke Adams as Jane Balletto
• Paul Shenar as Ettore Balletto

Production

The film was originally to have Tony Scott direct, but price became an issue and Elie Chouraqui replaced Scott,^{[citation needed]} who would later go on to direct the 2004 version with Denzel Washington as Creasy.

Filming took place in Italy, notably Lombardy and Lazio.^{[citation needed]} The screenplay underwent several revisions.^[1] It was released 9 October 1987.^{[citation needed]}

At one point, when A. J. Quinnell read the film script, he inquired about a line that was different from the book's text. The writers of the script responded, "You mean, there's a book...?"^[1]

Reception

According to the Times of Malta obituary of A. J. Quinnell, he and the cinema-going public were not satisfied with the film.^[1]

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} "Social and Personal Obituaries." Times of Malta. Thursday 14 July 2005. Retrieved on 28 March 2011.

External links

	France portal
	Italy portal
	Film portal

• Man on Fire at the Internet Movie Database
• Man on Fire at the TCM Movie Database
• Man on Fire at AllRovi
• Man on Fire at Box Office Mojo