Best Seller
Encyclopedia
Best Seller is a 1987 film
written by Larry Cohen
, directed by John Flynn
and starring Brian Dennehy
and James Woods
. The plot concerns a career hitman
, played by Woods, who wants to turn his life story into a book
, to be written by Dennehy's character, a veteran police officer turned author.
Years later, Meechum has been promoted to Detective. On a case at the docks, the suspect runs as Meechum gives chase. A person joins the chase named “Cleve.” The suspect hides in an overhead crane and attempts to shoot Meechum, but Cleve kills the man, then disappears.
Later, a book company rep is having lunch with Meechum, complaining that the publishers have not received the overdue book that he had promised to write. The best-selling author now suffers from writer's block.
Cleve arranges a meeting with Meechum. He tries to sell Meechum on the idea that he will give him information on his past history as a paid assassin for a corporate empire so that the detective can write a book about it. Cleve promises to show evidence to back up his claims.
He proceeds to take trips to New York and Texas to show Meechum his history of hits, leading ultimately to the corporation's founder, Madlock, bent on getting anything he wants through greed and corruption. Madlock tries to bribe Meechum but fails, so he kidnaps the cop's daughter instead.
Storming the millionaire's oceanfront estate, Cleve guns down all of Madlock's men, then sacrifices his own life to save that of Meechum and the girl's.
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
written by Larry Cohen
Larry Cohen
Lawrence G. "Larry" Cohen is an American film producer, director, and screenwriter. He is best known as a B-Movie auteur of horror and science fiction films - often containing a police procedural element - during 1970s and 1980s...
, directed by John Flynn
John Flynn
John Flynn may refer to:*John Flynn , professional baseball player*John Flynn , American film director*John Flynn , Irish footballer...
and starring Brian Dennehy
Brian Dennehy
Brian Mannion Dennehy is an American actor of film, stage and screen.-Early years:Dennehy was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, the son of Hannah and Edward Dennehy, who was a wire service editor for the Associated Press; he has two brothers, Michael and Edward. Dennehy is of Irish ancestry and was...
and James Woods
James Woods
James Howard Woods is an American film, stage and television actor. Woods is known for starring in critically acclaimed films such as Once Upon a Time in America, Salvador, Nixon, Ghosts of Mississippi, Casino, and in the television legal drama Shark. He has won three Emmy Awards, and has gained...
. The plot concerns a career hitman
Hitman
A hitman is a person hired to kill another person.- Hitmen in organized crime :Hitmen are largely linked to the world of organized crime. Hitmen are hired people who kill people for money. Notable examples include Murder, Inc., Mafia hitmen and Richard Kuklinski.- Other cases involving hitmen...
, played by Woods, who wants to turn his life story into a book
Book
A book is a set or collection of written, printed, illustrated, or blank sheets, made of hot lava, paper, parchment, or other materials, usually fastened together to hinge at one side. A single sheet within a book is called a leaf or leaflet, and each side of a leaf is called a page...
, to be written by Dennehy's character, a veteran police officer turned author.
Plot
It all begins one day at the local police evidence storage unit, where Officer Dennis Meechum was unfortunately on the scene during a robbery. After stabbing one of the unknown armed robbery suspects, Meechum was shot. He survived and wrote a book based on his experience.Years later, Meechum has been promoted to Detective. On a case at the docks, the suspect runs as Meechum gives chase. A person joins the chase named “Cleve.” The suspect hides in an overhead crane and attempts to shoot Meechum, but Cleve kills the man, then disappears.
Later, a book company rep is having lunch with Meechum, complaining that the publishers have not received the overdue book that he had promised to write. The best-selling author now suffers from writer's block.
Cleve arranges a meeting with Meechum. He tries to sell Meechum on the idea that he will give him information on his past history as a paid assassin for a corporate empire so that the detective can write a book about it. Cleve promises to show evidence to back up his claims.
He proceeds to take trips to New York and Texas to show Meechum his history of hits, leading ultimately to the corporation's founder, Madlock, bent on getting anything he wants through greed and corruption. Madlock tries to bribe Meechum but fails, so he kidnaps the cop's daughter instead.
Storming the millionaire's oceanfront estate, Cleve guns down all of Madlock's men, then sacrifices his own life to save that of Meechum and the girl's.
Cast
- James WoodsJames WoodsJames Howard Woods is an American film, stage and television actor. Woods is known for starring in critically acclaimed films such as Once Upon a Time in America, Salvador, Nixon, Ghosts of Mississippi, Casino, and in the television legal drama Shark. He has won three Emmy Awards, and has gained...
as Cleve - Brian DennehyBrian DennehyBrian Mannion Dennehy is an American actor of film, stage and screen.-Early years:Dennehy was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, the son of Hannah and Edward Dennehy, who was a wire service editor for the Associated Press; he has two brothers, Michael and Edward. Dennehy is of Irish ancestry and was...
as Meechum - Victoria TennantVictoria TennantVictoria Tennant is an English film and television actress.-Early life:Tennant was born in London, England. Her mother, Irina Baronova, was a Russian prima ballerina who appeared with the Ballet Russes de Monte Carlo, and her father, Cecil Tennant, was an English producer and talent agent who ran...
as Roberta Gillian - Allison BalsonAllison BalsonAllison Balson is an American actress, who is also a published singer and songwriter. Her best known role was Nancy Oleson on the Little House on the Prairie series which she held between 1981 and 1983...
as Holly Meechum