A Do Do for the Dying is a 1987 thriller about former IRA members trying to escape from their past. The film was directed by Mike Hodges, and starring Mickey Rourke, Liam Neeson, Bob Hoskins, and Alan Bates. The film is based on Jack Higgins novel of the same name.
Video A Prayer for the Dying
Plot
The film begins with a small IRA team, including Martin Fallon (Mickey Rourke) and Liam Docherty (Liam Neeson), witnessing two British Land Rover Soldiers approaching the roadside bomb they set for them. At the last minute, the school bus took over the army vehicle and detonated the bomb as it passed, killing the children. After most of the team escaped from the scene being chased by the soldiers, Fallon traveled to London in an attempt to escape from the past. In London, he was approached by a contact who asked him to take one last job on behalf of local gangster Jack Meehan (Alan Bates) and his brother Billy Meehan (Christopher Fulford). They offer Fallon money, passports and parts to the US if he kills rival gangsters. Initially reluctant, he still took the job. However, when he did a collision at the grave, he was seen and confronted by a local Catholic priest, Father Michael Da Costa (Bob Hoskins). The confrontation was watched from a distance by Billy Meehan, who told his brother there was a witness to the murder.
Fallon visits the church and confesses to the priest in an effort to ensure his silence; he also meets and finds himself becoming attracted to Anna's blind nephew Anna (Sammi Davis), who lives in church with her uncle. Meehan, however, insisted that Fallon should kill the priest as well and tell Fallon he would not be paid until the loose ends were tied up. Fallon now finds himself targeted by both Meehans and the IRA, who saw him as a security risk after his departure, and sent Docherty and other members, Siobhan Donovan (Alison Doody), to London to persuade him to return to Ireland. Billy Meehan finally decides to take action in his own hands and goes to church looking for Fallon, but Anna kills him when he attacks him after finding him alone in the church house. Meanwhile Fallon manages to outwit a group of Meehan men who have been tasked with killing him after tricking him on a ship he believes will take him to the United States. Back in the church, Fallon finds Jack Meehan with a bomb that he wants to use to kill his priest and nephew but who will be blamed on Fallon and his IRA connection. After the fight, Anna and Michael escape, but the exploding bomb kills Meehan and leaves Fallon seriously injured. In his final moments, Fallon confesses his past to the priest, who gives him absolution. Fallon died in peace.
Maps A Prayer for the Dying
Cast
- Mickey Rourke as Martin Fallon
- Bob Hoskins as Father Da Costa
- Alan Bates as Jack Meehan
- Sammi Davis as Anna
- Christopher Fulford as Billy Meehan
- Liam Neeson as Liam Docherty
- Leonard Termo as Bonati
- Camille Coduri as Jenny Fox
- Maurice O'Connell as Miller
- Allison Doody as Siobhan Donovan
- Karl Johnson as Fitzgerald
- Ian Bartholomew as Kristou
Production
Initially Franc Roddam will direct a Prayer for Dying but goes during pre-production because of creative differences.
Mickey Rourke paid Ã, Â £ 1 million to star in the film. This is part of the game or payment deal.
Initially Inseminoid music composer John Scott had compiled the movie but was fired for creative differences from the producer and they hired Bill Conti to complete the score.
Tony Earnshaw recalled in his book "Made in Yorkshire" that another film version of the novel was planned in the 1970s for the film in Leeds (the city where the original book was set) starring Lee Marvin and directed and written by Edward Dmytryk. Photos of two people who saw Leeds's location for the film are featured in Earnshaw's book.
As part of his research for his character, Mickey Rourke meets with several IRA members.
Reception
Prayer for Dying has a mixed reaction. Some like the performance of Rourke. Others were wrong in his Irish accent. Other critics consider Bob Hoskins a misnomer in his portrayal of imam.
Both Mike Hodges and Mickey Rourke have rejected the movie because it is not the movie they want.
In Movie 87, Hodges tries to take his name when he feels Sam Goldwyn's studio has drastically changed the film. According to film producer Peter Snell only 3 minutes have been cut.
Directed cut
There's a rumor that there will be a movie director's piece because Mike Hodges has a critical hit movie Croupier . The release will be done by MGM. Both region 1 and 2 have original theatrical releases.
External links
Film 87 Mike Hodges expresses his dislike on Studio pieces. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1QVvecybFO4
- Prayer for Dying on IMDb
- Prayer for Dying in Rotten Tomatoes
- Prayer for Dying in Box Office Mojo
- Movie Reviews (Washington Post)
- Movie review (Chicago Sun-Times)
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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