Me too, and I'd be surprised if some version of it isn't floating around out there. I like the stupidity of the orphanage ending, but I'm never going to pass up more Hackman.
I really like this unrestrained belch of a movie. Marvin is doing that thing where you can't quite tell if he's taking the piss out of himself or not, which I really enjoy.
If he's not taking the piss out of himself, he's taking the piss out of the movie. I think it normally happens when he's bored or underused - the man was a pro, after all. Giving us Lee-heads a little something extra.
Been too long since I watched this, and you’ve whetted my appetite, Ray, with this excellent review to see it again ASAP!
I remember it being exactly as you describe it, Ray: seedy and sordid, but with terrific performances all round! Lee Marvin was very rarely, if at all, ever upstaged by anyone, but Hackman’s more than capable than most to do such an unthinkable thing.
I’d always believed Badlands was Sissy Spacek’s big screen debut, but this beats it by a matter of months, I suppose. Regardless, she’s another who’s terrific in near everything she does, and though Badlands was the star making role, I definitely remember her catching my attention here!
Looking forward to The Candidate…they certainly don’t make ‘em like this trio of Ritchie films anymore, do they?
I too believed that Badlands was her debut - it feels more like the debut she deserves, probably - so this was a new one for me. And I think I'm going to be arguing that it's more than a trio of films: after The Candidate, we've got a couple of downright classics in store!
PS Just looked up the alternative title for Call Harry Crown, which I was completely unaware of, and it certainly proves William Goldmans oft quoted observation that nobody in Hollywood knows anything!
I seem to remember it's a reference to Ivory Soap, which I think had the old "99 and 44/100%" in the advertising somewhere, so I guess it's a parody title? It kind of fits the movie, which is one of those Pop Art movies that's about fifteen years too late to be effective. And fuck knows what Harris is doing in it.
Imagine how the film would have been if Don Siegel, Richard Fleischer or Sam Peckinpah had directed it. Ironically, I once asked someone about what Prime Cut was like and he replied it was similar to Dirty Harry. They both had the same editor (Carl Pingitore) and the same composer (Lalo Schifrin).
If it had been Siegel or Fleischer, I think it would have been great, but would have had some of the odder edges sanded away. The Peckinpah version would have been a treat too, but it might have ramped up the seedier side of the story - that's if Peckinpah and Marvin stopped drinking long enough to make it. There's definitely a '70s FEEL to it that echoes what Dirty Harry brought to the table, but there's also the feeling that everyone involved is cashing a cheque rather than inspired by the material. I don't mean that as a slight - if only every pay cheque movie was as interesting as Prime Cut!
What if it had been a Charles Bronson/Michael Winner thriller? No doubt Jill Ireland would have had a role, but not Sissy Spacek's. The action would have been ramped up and Bronson would have played either a cop, ex-soldier or Mob assassin. Ironically, Gene Hackman was considered for the Mountie role in Death Hunt.
Oh, then it definitely would’ve been shit. No disrespect to Bronson, who can be a lot of fun, but Winner was a hack and a nasty piece of work. For the purposes of this theoretical, we’ll take Fleischer. No doubt Bronson would’ve insisted on a moll character for Jill to get a role. Season Hubley for Spacek. And following the Mr. Majestyk template, let’s get Al Lettieri in instead of Hackman. Yeah, I’d still watch that. Let’s just keep Winner away.
What if John Boorman directed Prime Cut? It could have rounded off a trilogy of Lee Marvin films. Probably John Vernon would have been cast in the Mary Ann role, Bill McKinney as Weenie and Angie Dickinson as Clarabelle. It could have seen a return for Walker who is now seeking shelter in Kansas City, away from the big city after his dangerous exploits in LA, when he stumbles onto this white slavery/trafficking ring and comes across a gangster looking suspiciously like Mal Reese. It is in fact his twin brother who recognizes Walker as the man who killed his brother. Boorman would have likely kept the suspense/chase scenes intact and the revenge theme too with Walker playing a deadly cat and mouse game with Reese Mk II, only this time using a handgun and his wits. I don't think Boorman would have approved of a Sissy Spacek character. It would have been just Walker vs Reese and his gang.
I thought it was Lewis Medlock. Gene Hackman was considered for that role I believe. Marvin's version of Gentry would have been intriguing. He could have played him as a nervy WWII veteran who was anxious about taking a life again.
This movie was a lot, which is why I liked it. I wish we could see Ritchie's cut.
Me too, and I'd be surprised if some version of it isn't floating around out there. I like the stupidity of the orphanage ending, but I'm never going to pass up more Hackman.
I really like this unrestrained belch of a movie. Marvin is doing that thing where you can't quite tell if he's taking the piss out of himself or not, which I really enjoy.
If he's not taking the piss out of himself, he's taking the piss out of the movie. I think it normally happens when he's bored or underused - the man was a pro, after all. Giving us Lee-heads a little something extra.
Been too long since I watched this, and you’ve whetted my appetite, Ray, with this excellent review to see it again ASAP!
I remember it being exactly as you describe it, Ray: seedy and sordid, but with terrific performances all round! Lee Marvin was very rarely, if at all, ever upstaged by anyone, but Hackman’s more than capable than most to do such an unthinkable thing.
I’d always believed Badlands was Sissy Spacek’s big screen debut, but this beats it by a matter of months, I suppose. Regardless, she’s another who’s terrific in near everything she does, and though Badlands was the star making role, I definitely remember her catching my attention here!
Looking forward to The Candidate…they certainly don’t make ‘em like this trio of Ritchie films anymore, do they?
I too believed that Badlands was her debut - it feels more like the debut she deserves, probably - so this was a new one for me. And I think I'm going to be arguing that it's more than a trio of films: after The Candidate, we've got a couple of downright classics in store!
Just looked at his filmography…can’t wait to see which of those following The Candidate you might have in mind, Ray!
PS Just looked up the alternative title for Call Harry Crown, which I was completely unaware of, and it certainly proves William Goldmans oft quoted observation that nobody in Hollywood knows anything!
I seem to remember it's a reference to Ivory Soap, which I think had the old "99 and 44/100%" in the advertising somewhere, so I guess it's a parody title? It kind of fits the movie, which is one of those Pop Art movies that's about fifteen years too late to be effective. And fuck knows what Harris is doing in it.
Ha-ha…probably the same thing he was doing in Orca:The Killer Whale…concentrating on his fee!
Very true. All that booze and cocaine does have a tendency to drain the old coffers.
Imagine how the film would have been if Don Siegel, Richard Fleischer or Sam Peckinpah had directed it. Ironically, I once asked someone about what Prime Cut was like and he replied it was similar to Dirty Harry. They both had the same editor (Carl Pingitore) and the same composer (Lalo Schifrin).
If it had been Siegel or Fleischer, I think it would have been great, but would have had some of the odder edges sanded away. The Peckinpah version would have been a treat too, but it might have ramped up the seedier side of the story - that's if Peckinpah and Marvin stopped drinking long enough to make it. There's definitely a '70s FEEL to it that echoes what Dirty Harry brought to the table, but there's also the feeling that everyone involved is cashing a cheque rather than inspired by the material. I don't mean that as a slight - if only every pay cheque movie was as interesting as Prime Cut!
What if it had been a Charles Bronson/Michael Winner thriller? No doubt Jill Ireland would have had a role, but not Sissy Spacek's. The action would have been ramped up and Bronson would have played either a cop, ex-soldier or Mob assassin. Ironically, Gene Hackman was considered for the Mountie role in Death Hunt.
Oh, then it definitely would’ve been shit. No disrespect to Bronson, who can be a lot of fun, but Winner was a hack and a nasty piece of work. For the purposes of this theoretical, we’ll take Fleischer. No doubt Bronson would’ve insisted on a moll character for Jill to get a role. Season Hubley for Spacek. And following the Mr. Majestyk template, let’s get Al Lettieri in instead of Hackman. Yeah, I’d still watch that. Let’s just keep Winner away.
What if John Boorman directed Prime Cut? It could have rounded off a trilogy of Lee Marvin films. Probably John Vernon would have been cast in the Mary Ann role, Bill McKinney as Weenie and Angie Dickinson as Clarabelle. It could have seen a return for Walker who is now seeking shelter in Kansas City, away from the big city after his dangerous exploits in LA, when he stumbles onto this white slavery/trafficking ring and comes across a gangster looking suspiciously like Mal Reese. It is in fact his twin brother who recognizes Walker as the man who killed his brother. Boorman would have likely kept the suspense/chase scenes intact and the revenge theme too with Walker playing a deadly cat and mouse game with Reese Mk II, only this time using a handgun and his wits. I don't think Boorman would have approved of a Sissy Spacek character. It would have been just Walker vs Reese and his gang.
But then we wouldn't have Deliverance. If I remember correctly, Lee Marvin was supposed to play Ed Gentry at one point.
I thought it was Lewis Medlock. Gene Hackman was considered for that role I believe. Marvin's version of Gentry would have been intriguing. He could have played him as a nervy WWII veteran who was anxious about taking a life again.
"You just bought the farm, Mary Ann".
"No, you did!"