Hustle (1975)

User Rating:

6.0/10   

Director:

Robert Aldrich

Writers:

Steve Shagan (novel)
Steve Shagan (screenplay)

Release Date:

25 December 1975 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

She's the call girl. He's the cop. They both take their jobs seriously.

Plot:

Phil Gaines is a bitter, cynical cop who investigates the case of a dead stripper/porno actress found on the beach...

Plot Keywords:

Robbery | Female Nudity | Lesbian Scene | Lesbianism | Ford Mustang

Cast

Burt Reynolds	...	Lieutenant Phil Gaines
Catherine Deneuve	...	Nicole Britton
Ben Johnson	...	Marty Hollinger
Paul Winfield	...	Sergeant Louis Belgrave
Eileen Brennan	...	Paula Hollinger
Eddie Albert	...	Leo Sellers
Ernest Borgnine	...	Santuro
Jack Carter	...	Herbie Dalitz
Colleen Brennan	...	Gloria Hollinger (as Sharon Kelly)
James Hampton	...	Bus Driver
David Spielberg	...	Bellamy
Catherine Bach	...	Peggy Summers
Chuck Hayward	...	Morgue Attendant
David Estridge	...	Albino
Peter Brandon	...	Minister

Also Known As:

All the Other Angels (USA) (working title)
City of the Angels (USA) (working title)
Home Free (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

120 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Germany:18 | West Germany:18 (f) | Singapore:M18 | Australia:M | Finland:K-18 | Norway:16 (1976) | Sweden:15 | UK:15 (video rating) (1989) | UK:X (original rating) | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

The movie was produced by Robert Aldrich and Burt Reynolds, hence the "RoBurt" credit in the "company credits" link.

Movie Connections:

References "Mission: Impossible" (1966)

Soundtrack:

Yesterday When I Was Young

Thoughtfully moody modern noir

'Hustle' is an overlooked film, though it is easy to see why.

Stylistically it is very low-key with no notable flourishes or tricksiness. It boasts little in the way of 'action'. A hostage situation sequence seems to have been added purely to provide something in that line for fidgety Burt fans. It is profoundly cynical and resolutely (almost excessively) downbeat. But it is also very thoughtful, atmospheric, well acted and absorbing. A kind of modern dress companion piece to 'Chinatown'. And whilst not quite achieving the force and subtlety of that film, it remains highly creditable.

Reynolds is effective as the world weary cop in love with a French prostitute, a cipher whom Deneuve turns into a real person. Her character represents some sort of unattainable, glamorous continental dream to the policeman. This idea is explored and reinforced by numerous references and allusions to European cinema, culture and locale.

Burt looks uncannily like a youthful Brando and brings great restraint to a role which could have been horribly over-played. Ben Johnson, Eileen Brennan and Paul Winfield also all give good performances as beaten, screwed-up people. The outstanding turn, though, comes from Edward Albert as Leo Sellers, a wealthy and powerful businessman with dubious tastes and connections. This character is key to Steve Shagan's screenplay in the same way that John Huston's Noah Cross was to Robert Towne's 'Chinatown'. A persona symbolic of corruption and degeneracy, but also integral to the prosperity of the society he is such a part of. Sellers is a refined, intelligent man with a keen eye for people's weak spots and fingers deft enough to push all of their buttons at once. Mr. Albert brings him to life with a palpable evil.

'Hustle' is a film that I like to reacquaint myself with from time to time. Whilst Shagan's script is occasionally a tad overblown and too fruity for its own good, there are some great lines and moments. For me, it's noirish exploration of thwarted romanticism is pretty much irresistible.

A minor classic.