ROUGH CUT
US, 1980, 111 minutes, Colour.
Burt Reynolds, Lesley- Anne Down, David Niven, Timothy West, Patrick Magee, Joss Ackland, Isobel Dean, Andrew Ray, Douglas Wilmer, Roland Culver, Cassandra Harris, Sue Lloyd.
Directed by Donald Siegel.
Rough Cut is an ambitious attempt for Burt Reynolds to move into sophisticated romantic comedy. He does quite well (echoes of Cary Grant, Tony Curtis) but the screenplay emphasises his macho image, stunt work and gives him many trite lines. David Niven is much older but suave, Lesley Ann Down is beautifully elegant, with an elaborate wardrobe reminding us that this is affluent fantasy world. This is also a diamond robbery caper with a touch of The Sting. The opening gam:-bit is quite protracted, then much glossy dawdling on the way. The robbery, however, is quickly and effectively paced, reminding us that director is action expert Donald Siegel - responsible for such films as The Invasion of the Body Snatchers, many Clint Eastwood police dramas like Dirty Harry and westerns, and Escape From Alcatraz. Amusing, but not essential viewing.
1 . The appeal of the comedy, romance, robbery? An entertainment film?
2. The work of Donald Siegel? Action adventure? The film as a Burt Reynolds vehicle - his work in sophisticated comedy? A change of image? A variation on his image? His popularity in the '70s and '80s?
3. The background of caper film like The Sting - unpredictable predictable? Twists? The audience enjoying being taken in?
4. The character portraits of this kind of film? Types? Expectations? Dialogue and situations? The affluent and glossy world? The fantasy of wealth, fashion? Identification with the stars? The importance of the English background and setting? The use of the Continent?
5. The opening 25 minutes? The audience being attracted by Gillian along with Jack? The mystery of her presence at the party? Jack's curiosity? The style of the party - dancing, guests? English society? Wealth? Jack and his pursuit of Gillian,' his stunt work, observation of the robbery? Jack's arrival home and Gillian's presence in the closet? The puzzle of who was tracking whom? The theme of control and manipulation?
6. Burt Reynolds as Jack: the imitation of Cary Grant and Tony Curtis? His presence in England, wealth, restaurant? Clothes and apartment? A romantic lead? His presence at the party with Sheila and the return home with the emphasis on the macho image? The following of Gillian, the stunt work over the house, watching her steal the jewels? Encountering her in the closet? The attraction to Gillian? Her leading him on? The various outings - restaurants, the car ride and the police pursuit, the garbage over the car? The sexual attraction but the delay in the liaison?
7. Gillian and her fashionable presence, air of mystery? The irony of her being a kleptomaniac? Her father and Willis' hold over her? Her contacting him in the middle of the night? Her visit to Scotland Yard? The various visits to Willis and his elaborating of the plan? Her rebellious attitudes? His prison threats? Her concealing the truth from Willis? Her falling in love with Jack? The love scenes - the long tracking sequence through the bedroom with the scattered clothes culminating in the bath? Their plans together?
8. The presence at the tennis, Jack's trick and finding out the truth about Gillian and the diamond contacts?
9. The portrait of Willis and New Scotland Yard, his work, his assistant? His imminent retirement, small pension? Hopes and obsessions about Jack? The home sequences and his indifferent relationship with his wife? The irony of his using Jack and Gillian? The build-up to his wife leaving? The finale and the truth?
10. Jack's decision to steal the diamonds - the elaboration of the plan, the introduction of Nigel, the recruiting of Muller and the satire on the neo-Nazi, the jazz player in Paris? The visit to the red light district of Amsterdam and the hostility towards the pimp?
11. The picture of the police work especially at Antwerp?
12. The pace of the caper itself, Willis' supervising the diamonds, his advice to the board? The planes, the rerouting of the plane? The examination of the diamonds? The car chase and the stealing of the diamonds, the use of Dutch locations for the pace and chase?
13. The irony of the truth when all was revealed?
14. The appeal of this kind of caper robbery film? Amoral? Audience fantasies?
