48 Hours (1982)

My Review

“48 Hours” is crime drama-comedy where a San Francisco policeman obtains a 48 hour release from prison for a convict who he thinks can help him catch a pair of cop-killers. Director Walter Hill (“Southern Comfort” 1981) put together an entertaining film with good acting and good writing; he co-wrote the script with Roger Spottiswoode, Larry Gross, and Steven E. de Souza. It was filmed primarily on location in San Francisco, with some scenes in Los Angeles.

The cast is headed by two actors demonstrating great chemistry together: Nick Nolte as the gruff SFPD Inspector and Eddie Murphy as the fast-talking convict. This was Murphy’s first major role, which launched him into international fame and superstardom. The cast includes Annette O’Toole, Frank McRae, James Remar, David Patrick Kelly, Jonathan Banks, Sonny Landham, Brion James, and Denise Crosby (granddaughter of Bing Crosby). The watchable “48 Hours” was popular in theatrical release for Lawrence Gordon Productions and Paramount Pictures. It was the seventh highest grossing film of 1982. A sequel was released in 1990 called “Another 48 Hours” featuring Nolte and Murphy.