The General
Synopsis
He organised a number of daring and carefully planned robberies, gaining the sobriquet, The General. Hollyfield was a no-go area for the police and the fierce loyalties of it's inhabitants protected Cahill. He lived outside the system easily eluding the law.
He overreached himself when he and his gang stole paintings from Russborough House including the only Vemeer in private ownership. With public and political pressure mounting, the police instigated a surveillance operation headed by Ned Kenny, a man who admired Cahill but was determined to break him. Cahill and his men were trailed night and day. Even so, he continued to defy and elude them. Despite suffering from diabetes and the enormous strain, they could not break him. He regarded the IRA as just another aspect of the authority and he defied them as he did all others. Lacking the forbearance of the police, the IRA shot him dead in the street on the eve of the 1994 cease-fire.
His potent mix of violence and humour and generosity made him a legend in his lifetime.
Details
- Year
- 1998
- Type of film
- Features
- Format
- 35mm
- Director
-
John Boorman
- Producer
- Gunther Falkenthal, Kieran Corrigan
- Principal cast
- Brendan Gleeson, Jon Voight and Adrian Dunbar
- Screen Writer
- John Boorman
Categories
Production Status
Sales Company
J&M Entertainment 2 Dorset Square London NW1 6PU Tel: 020 7723 6544 Fax: 020 7724 7541 E Mail: (name)@jment.com
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