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Storyline
After being released on parole, a burglar attempts to go straight, get a regular job, and just go by the rules. He soon finds himself back in jail at the hands of a power-hungry parole officer. When he is released again, he assaults the parole officer, steals his car, and returns to a life of crime. Written by
Andrew DeLaVergne <ajd2@acsu.buffalo.edu>
Plot Summary
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Plot Synopsis
Taglines:
"Please God, don't let him get caught."
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Did You Know?
Trivia
Uncredited,
Michael Mann worked on adapting the film's source novel "No Beast So Fierce" by
Edward Bunker for the movie's script . The book later acted as a point of reference for Mann for the Neil McCauley character (played by
Robert De Niro) when Mann later made the movie
Heat.
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Goofs
Max tells the parole officer that the hotel room costs $17 per week. However, when he initially starts renting it, he agrees on the price of $18 per week.
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Quotes
Max Dembo:
You know what I'd like to do... Why don't you run me by that hotel we'll check it out.
Mickey:
Yeah, well I'll drive you out there but I'm not gonna rob it for you, you have to do that yourself. I got stomach trouble... no guts.
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Connections
Edited into
La classe américaine (1993)
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Soundtracks
"Doin' Fine"
Music by
David Shire
Lyrics by Nora Helms
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Dustin Hoffman is surprisingly serious, surprisingly gritty playing a recently paroled thief named Max Dembo who can't seem to straighten out his life. After meeting a new lady who is very supportive of him, Dembo reverts back to the only thing he really knows: robbery. Tough and vivid character study based on real-life convict Edward Bunker's novel "No Beast So Fierce" gives Hoffman a wonderful chance as an actor to stretch some technical muscles (he hadn't been this focused in years). Ulu Grosbard's atmospheric direction aids in Hoffman's triumph, as well as some flavorful dialogue (worked on by several writers). Theresa Russell is lovely as the smitten secretary in Max's life, supporting work from M. Emmet Walsh also good. The picture is marred by gaps of logic or credibility, not to mention by a tepid finale, but otherwise it's quite gripping. *** from ****