by Hal Erickson
synopsis
Patrick McGoohan does his patented "carrying the world on my shoulders" bit in The Hard Way. McGoohan is cast as Conner, a worldly, weary professional assassin. On the verge of retirement, he is cajoled by former associate McNeal (Lee Van Cleef) into doing one last job. Expecting a routine assignment, Conner is in for quite a jolt when he learns the identity of his target. Co-star Van Cleef effectively matches and sometimes surpasses McGoohan's trenchant cynicism. Filmed in 1979 for British television, The Hard Way was released theatrically the following year.
