Hostage for a Day
Hostage for a Day is a 1994 Canadian/American television comedy film directed by John Candy, in his only directorial effort. Though the film is also billed as "starring" Candy, he in fact plays only a minor role, as a Russian hostage taker. Produced with a mostly Canadian cast, the film was released one month after Candy's death.
| Hostage for a Day | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | John Candy |
| Produced by | Adam Haight |
| Written by | Kari Hildebrand Robert David Crane Peter Torokvei |
| Starring | George Wendt John Candy |
| Music by | Ian Thomas |
| Cinematography | David Herrington |
| Edited by | Jeff Warren |
| Distributed by | Frostbacks |
Release date | April 25, 1994 (USA) |
Running time | 95 minutes |
| Country | Canada |
| Language | English |
Plot
Forty one year old copy shop worker Warren Kooey (George Wendt) begins having a mid-life crisis. His plans are to take a trip to the state of Alaska, but his plans are derailed after his wife drains his entire bank account (approximately $40,000) to pay for a remodelling job by famous home builder and blond, long haired Italian heartthrob "Hondo."
In order to recuperate his money Kooey decides to pose as being held hostage by an imaginary Russian terrorist, and calls the SWAT Team on himself in an effort to extort $50,000 (to Kooey's disappointment, the incompetent SWAT team has suffered major budget cuts). Things take a turn for the worse, when a real Russian terrorist (Candy) takes Kooey hostage.
Cast
- George Wendt as Warren Kooey
- John Vernon as V.D. Regan
- Robin Duke as Elizabeth Kooey
- Peter Torokvei as Ronny
- Kathleen Laskey as Jackie
- Don Lake as Lt. Sneed
- Currie Graham as Hondo
- John Hemphill
- Christopher Templeton as Diane St. Clair
- Walter Alza as Ramon
- Rick Bennett as Caretaker
- Vic Cummings as Television Anchor Paul
- Monika Deol as Monica Etheridge
- Kathy Greenwood as a SWAT Team Member
- Jack Duffy as a SWAT Team Member
- Peter Ferri as Derelict Madman
- John Candy as Yuri Petrovich