The Split (1968)

Thieves fall out when over a half million dollars goes missing after the daring and carefully planned robbery of the Los Angeles Coliseum during a football game, each one accusing the other... See full summary »

Director:

Gordon Flemyng

Writers:

Donald E. Westlake (novel), Robert Sabaroff (screenplay)

Stars:

Jim Brown, Diahann Carroll, Ernest Borgnine

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Jim Brown	...	McClain
Diahann Carroll	...	Ellen 'Ellie' Kennedy
Ernest Borgnine	...	Bert Clinger
Julie Harris	...	Gladys
Gene Hackman	...	Detective Lt. Walter Brill
Jack Klugman	...	Harry Kifka
Warren Oates	...	Marty Gough
James Whitmore	...	Herb Sutro
Donald Sutherland	...	Dave Negli
Joyce Jameson	...	Jenifer
Harry Hickox	...	Detective
Jackie Joseph	...	Jackie
Warren Vanders	...	Mason

Storyline

Thieves fall out when over a half million dollars goes missing after the daring and carefully planned robbery of the Los Angeles Coliseum during a football game, each one accusing the other of having the money.

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Plot Keywords:

football game | corrupt cop | death | colosseum | torture | 

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Taglines:

No wonder they're happy. They just stole a half-million dollars in front of a hundred-thousand witnesses... But watch what happens when it's time for The Split!

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Genres:

Crime | Drama

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

4 November 1968 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Partilha

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), Spectrum

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This film was the very first theatrical release to receive an R rating from the then-new MPAA's film rating system.

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Quotes

Dave Negli: Listen, Marty, the last man I killed I did it for $5000. For $85,000 I'd kill you 17 times.

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Connections

Referenced in Parker (2013)

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Soundtracks

"It's Just A Game, Love"
Music by Quincy Jones
Lyrics by Ernie Shelby
Sung by Arthur Prysock

User Reviews

"The Split" goes splat...

Richard Stark's novel "The Seventh" becomes a great-looking all-star heist flick with a football backdrop which, unfortunately, completely falls apart in the final quarter. Drifting thief, apparently a genius at concocting schemes and rounding up partners, comes up with a brilliant plan to rob the cash-office at the Los Angeles Coliseum during a football game. Selecting his ex-con cohorts by means of making them display their muscles (not especially their skills) is rather perplexing, though it works for the movie. What doesn't work is a sharp left turn in the narrative about an hour into the proceedings, with an absolutely unbelievable (and unforgivable) turn of events pitting the robbers against each other. This ridiculous third act smacks of desperation, and leaves Gene Hackman (as a somewhat dirty detective) with nothing but absurdity to play opposite. The rest of the cast does well until the screenplay drops the ball, and Burnett Guffey's cinematography is first-rate. *1/2 from ****