THREE FUGITIVES
US, 1989, 96 minutes, Colour.
Nick Nolte, Martin Short, Alan Ruck, Sarah Rowland Doroff, James Earl Jones.
Directed by Francis Veber.
Les Fugitves/Three Fugitives is the work of writer, director Francis Veber. Veber wrote such enjoyable farces as A Pain in the A*, and the original La Cage Au Folles.
The French version of this film, Les Fugitifs, starred Pierre Richard and Gerard Depardieu. It was an extraordinary international success, relying on the vitality of the two stars and the way they played against each other as they had played in the film Les Comperes. The same magic is not quite so strong with the combination of Nick Nolte and Martin Short, though they seem reasonable equivalents of the two French stars.
Richard looks zany, has excellent timing and seems perpetually distraught - but is also able to carry the pathos of the relationship between father and daughter and the quiet and manic desperation of the robbery. Martin Short (Three Amigos, Inner Space) is not quite so manic. Gerard Depardieu can look oafish - even though he can act with great sensitivity. Nick Nolte (48 Hours, Extreme Prejudice as well as New York Stories) can do much the same.
The French version was highly entertaining, quickly-paced and witty. Although, perhaps it was the French dialogue and subtitles which made it seem a little more magical than the American version, which has some laughs but seems very high-handed - with some tiresome and frequent profanities.
The suggested questions apply to both versions, with names changed appropriately.
1. Entertaining and popular comedy? The vitality of the French version? Americanised appropriately?
2. The settings, locations, prison, the city, roads, the banks, the orphanage? Musical score?
3. The plausibility of the plot, or not? As a basis for comedy, for farce? The knockabout style?
4. The introduction to Lucas: out of prison, the five years, Dugan there to meet him and taunt him? The lift to the bank? His new aims, hoping to start an account? Perry and the robbery, his advice, being taken as hostage? Being blamed by the police? His anger with Perry, the confrontation, the arguments? The car, being shot in the leg and bleeding, losing consciousness? The police chases, the hiding? Going to the vet and his being treated as a dog, the plan of the removal of the bullet? Delivering Perry to the police station so exasperated? Their treatment of Perry, helping him to escape? The effect of meeting Meg, sentiment? Her speaking, telling him not to go? His decision that he had to leave? hurting her? Her going off, the pursuit, hiding in the garden, the pursuit in the vans? His visiting Meg, bringing her the doll? Her not responding? H1s decision to help Perry, the rescue, taking the wrong girl, the screaming girls? The farce of the escape? Evading the police? Going to the house, the disguise, the drive, the roadblocks, pretending that Perry was pregnant, the police escort? His final farewell, Perry taken as hostage? Lucas's character, going straight, the soft touch?
5. Perry and his type: style, farce, the hold-up and his errors, the bag on the light, tearing the stocking, taking the hostage, the desperate argument, the verbal abuse, the fight, going to the car, shooting Lucas in the leg? His being desperate about the money? His background, the death of his wife, the breakdown, the money needed for his daughter in the special school? His worry about Lucas, taking him to Dr Horvath, relying on his father's friendship? Going to get Meg from the school, being pursued by the police? Her silence, her talking to Lucas? Pleading with him to stay? Meg going off, hiding in the garden, the pursuit in the car? Seeing Meg go to the institution? Wandering, sleeping in the fish nets? Deciding to rescue, his farcical rescue, being helped by Lucas? Going to the home, disguised as a woman, pregnant? His being taken as hostage? His love for his daughter? Credible character?
6. Meg as the screen moppet, not talking, the motivation to talk, her speaking to Lucas, going off in the park, the old man, her going to the institution, keeping silent, guarded by the police, the rescue, getting a haircut, becoming Jonathan, in the car? The final farewell to Lucas?
7. Dugan and his assistant, their not believing in Lucas, giving him the lift, at the scene of the robbery, believing or not, the investigation, the interview with the doctor?
8. The comedy with the absentminded vet, his treating Lucas as a dog, preparing for the operation, his dog comments, the interview with the police?
9. The presentation of the police: work, coming out in force, knockabout humour, chases, the escort to the hospital?
10. A humorous blend of farce and sentiment?
