48 Hrs.

48 Hrs. (pronounced 'forty-eight hours') is a 1982 American buddy cop action comedy film directed and co-written by Walter Hill, co-written by Larry Gross, Steven E. de Souza and Roger Spottiswoode, and starring Nick Nolte and Eddie Murphy (in his film debut) as a cop and a convict, respectively, who team up to catch two hardened criminals. The title refers to the amount of time they have to solve the crime. Though it is predated by Richard Rush's Freebie and the Bean, the film is often credited as being the first in the "buddy cop" genre, later popularized by films such as Lethal Weapon, Bad Boys and Rush Hour. 48 Hrs. was Joel Silver's first title as a producer. Its supporting cast features Annette O'Toole, James Remar, Frank McRae, David Patrick Kelly, Sonny Landham, Jonathan Banks and Brion James. The musical score was composed by James Horner. Released by Paramount Pictures on December 8, 1982, 48 Hrs. was one of the most commercially successful films of 1982, and it received widespread acclaim from critics. It launched Murphy's film career and earned him a Golden Globe Award nomination for New Star of the Year – Actor. A sequel, Another 48 Hrs., was released in 1990, also directed by Walter Hill, with Nolte and Murphy reprising their roles. Plot Convicted career criminal Albert Ganz escapes from custody with the help of his accomplice Billy Bear. They travel to San Francisco and kill Henry Wong, a former associate. SFPD Inspector Jack Cates, accompanied by Detectives Algren and Van Zant, trace Ganz & Bear to a hotel, where they've checked in under aliases. Ganz & Bear ambush the officers. In the ensuing shootout, Ganz kills Algren & Van Zant and escapes with Billy, taking Jack's service revolver.