TOUGH GUYS
US, 1986, 104 minutes, Colour.
Kirk Douglas, Burt Lancaster, Charles Durning, Alexis Smith, Dana Carvey, Darlanne Flugel, Eli Wallach.
Directed by Jeff Kanew.
Tough Guys is a nostalgia comedy. Allegedly, its writers were impressed by seeing Kirk Douglas and Burt Lancaster together at the Oscars 1985 and decided to write this film for them. Douglas and Lancaster appeared together in several films over 40 years - including I Walk Alone, Gunfight at O.K. Corral, The Devil's.Disciple, Seven Days in May.
Two oldtimers are released from jail after 30 years (reminiscent of Richard Farnsworth as the Grey Fox set at the beginning of the century). They find the world quite changed - there is comedy in seeing the '80s through their eyes. They don't fit in in jobs or in the old people's home. They decide to do the same robbery that they had done 30 years before. There are some amusing character roles including Eli Wallach as a myopic Leon B. Little with a contract for them for 30 years. Charles Durning is the policeman who caught them. Alexis Smith is an old-time showgirl at the home.
There is humour, action - and a star vehicle for the two stars. Direction is by Jeff Kanew (Natural Causes and the frivolous comedies Gotcha and Revenge of the Nerds).
1. An enjoyable caper movie? A star vehicle for the old stars?
2. The '80s in the light of the '50s? Seeing the 1980s through the eyes of Kirk Douglas and Burt Lancaster? Television, punk attitudes?
3. Age and nostalgia, memory, changes, the old values? The irony of the title - and the relationship to old films?
4. The situation: jail, leaving, 30 years later, their age, Leon B. Little and his firing at them, Deke and his threats and promises? Their prospects?
5. Los Angeles and its changes, buildings, clubs, bars? The punks and their trying to mug the two oldies who beat them at their own game? The open society, frankness?
6. Sarry and Burt Lancaster, in old aqe, going to the home, his style? Meeting Belle and the romance between the two, their conversation, diet and changes? Sharing,the sexual relationship, the reaction of the authorities?
7. The contrast with Archie and Kirk Douglas's active style, Richie and his helping to get him jobs, not feeling at home in the bar, not at home with the people?
8. Skye and her youthfulness, aerobics, attraction towards Archie, the sexual relationship, living together, his opting out?
9. Richie and his admiration, trying to round up the old group, the setting up of the robbery?
10. Deke and his stories, his suspicions? The clash between him and the two?
11. Leon B. Little and his style, the comedy, his insults, his attacks, on the train, going into the river?
12. The past robbery and its success? The decision to do it again? Deke's change of attitude? Richie into the river? Rushing into Mexico?
13. An enjoyable caper, the blend of the humorous and the corny, characters and situations? Time and age? American myths?
