Jack shoots him repeatedly, killing him. Finally, Jack takes Reggie to go see the girl he had met earlier in Fillmore. Jack leaves the money in Reggie's car, but asks for a loan to buy a convertible when Reggie is released, to which Reggie agrees. Jack gives Reggie a stern warning about changing his ways once he's released, and Reggie agrees to do so, while half attempting to steal Jack's lighter. The two men share a laugh before driving back to the prison. Cast Nick Nolte as San Francisco Police Inspector Jack Cates Eddie Murphy as Reggie Hammond Annette O'Toole as Elaine Marshall Frank McRae as Captain Haden James Remar as Albert Ganz David Patrick Kelly as Luther Kelly Sonny Landham as Billy Bear Brion James as Inspector Ben Kehoe Kerry Sherman as Rosalie Jonathan Banks as Detective Algren James Keane as Detective Van Zant Tara King as Frizzy Greta Blackburn as Lisa Margot Rose as Casey Denise Crosby as Sally Olivia Brown as Candy Jack Thibeau as Detective Lloyd Clare Nono as Ruth Sandy Martin as Officer Kramer Chris Mulkey as Officer Bellis John Hauk as Henry Wong Peter Jason as Torchy's Bartender John Dennis Johnston as Torchy's Patron Ola Ray as Torchy's Dancer Production Development and writing Lawrence Gordon came up with the original idea for the film. The premise had the Governor of Louisiana's daughter kidnapped by a criminal, who strapped dynamite to her head and threatened to blow her up in 48 hours if the ransom was not met. The meanest cop goes to the worst prison in the state and gets out the most vicious criminal for his knowledge of the kidnapper who was his cellmate. Walter Hill says Gordon may have had the idea as far back as 1971 and a few writers worked on the project. In 1975 Gordon was making Hard Times with writer-director Walter Hill and editor Roger Spottiswoode. Spottiswoode wanted to direct and Hill suggested he break in by writing a script. He did a draft of 48 Hours supervised by Hill for Columbia Pictures, who had financed 48 Hours. Later Tracy Keenan Wynn worked on the script The film moved from Columbia to Paramount, who wanted to do a draft for Clint Eastwood. They hired Hill to rewrite the script with Eastwood as the criminal. He did so "but when I turned it in I said that I didn't