The Master Touch (1972)

A just released from prison professional thief decides to do one last high-risk heist, which could settle him for life or land him behind bars again.

Director:

Michele Lupo

Writers:

Roberto Leoni (screenplay), Roberto Leoni (story)

Stars:

Kirk Douglas, Giuliano Gemma, Florinda Bolkan

Cast

Credited cast:
Kirk Douglas	...	Steve Wallace
Giuliano Gemma	...	Marco
Florinda Bolkan	...	Anna
Wolfgang Preiss	...	Miller
Reinhard Kolldehoff	...	Detective Hoffman (as Rene Kolldehoff)
Romano Puppo	...	Miller's Lieutenant
Bruno Corazzari	...	Eric
John Bartha	...	Murdered Security Guard
Allen Stanley
Vittorio Fanfoni
Luigi Antonio Guerra
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Herbert A.E. Böhme	...	Captain Hansmunsen
Peter Kuiper	...	Gustav
Paul Muller	...	(scenes deleted)

Storyline

In Hamburg, Germany, convicted burglar and safe cracker Steve Wallace is released from prison.He served two years for a burglary that went wrong.Police inspector Hoffman drives Wallace home and tels him to stay out of trouble. During his heydays Wallace lived in style because the takes were good and he never got caught.This was back when he worked alone, for himself.Since he started working for local crime boss Miller things went wrong.Hence, the two year prison term he just finished.Wallace's girlfriend, Anna, welcomes him home but home nowadays is a modest rented house on the outskirts of the city. Anna wants Steve Wallace to keep his nose clean from now on but Steve hates their modest living conditions.He asks Anna for permission to pull one more job and retire.She doesn't agree but Steve will do it anyway.The ideal opportunity arises when crime boss Miller asks Steve to break into a high security high tech corporate building and steal one million dollars from the safe of an ...

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Plot Keywords:

poliziottesco | german poliziottesco | safe cracker | heist | hamburg germany | 

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Taglines:

To split a car in half... seduce a safe with music... send a city wild !

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Genres:

Action | Crime | Drama | History | Thriller

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Certificate:

PG

Did You Know?

Goofs

During the fight in the alley, the trash cans that gets knocked over sound as if they are made of metal but are clearly plastic ones.

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Alternate Versions

Some video prints run 95 minutes and full-frame, while the uncut version runs 112 minutes and in widescreen.

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Connections

Featured in Rémy Julienne: 50 ans de cascades (2013)

User Reviews

'Master Touch' (aka) 'Un Uomo Da Rispettare' (1972) is an unsung poliziotto gem!

'Master Touch' (aka) 'Un Uomo Da Rispettare' (1972) is what can be genuinely described as an unsung classic of poliziotto. Outside of 'Escape From Death Row' (1973) this appears to be director, Michele Lupo's only foray into the grimy idiom of Italian crime cinema, and by Jove what a dashed shame, as this brisk, stylish actioner is up there with the very best of 'em! Premise is simple and slickly handled: Steve Wallace (Kirk Douglas) is a seasoned heist expert who is encouraged to attempt the seemingly impossible blag of removing $1.000.000 from what initially appears to be an impenetrable fortress masquerading as a bank. What separates this offering from many other similar titles is the weathered, enigmatic presence of veteran actor, Kirk Douglas, whose roguish, insouciant exterior belies the heart of a truly exemplary, meticulous thief. As Kirk's better half, the always delightful, Florinda Balkan has, sadly, little to do outside of some sporadic brooding, followed not infrequently by a soupcon of crotch-expanding smolder, but her preternaturally sultry visage has thus far improved many a flaccid Euro cult offering, and 'Master Touch' benefits exponentially by her ravishing physiognomy; and the woefully underrated cinematic stud, Giulino Gemma excels as the nimble trapeze artist who is recruited to construct what appears to be a vacuum-tight alibi. This most excellent film's manifold delights include a deliriously destructive, scalp-raising, cacophonous car chase through the dank streets of Hamburg, and the beautifully handled heist sequence is a veritable Boy's own dream! It would be greatly remiss not to mention the sublimely low key, hugely atmospheric score by maestro, Ennio Morricone, which adds a terse piquancy to all the sweaty-browed, Alpha Male theatrics.

Details

Country:

Italy West Germany

Language:

English

Release Date:

May 1974 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Man to Respect

Filming Locations:

Hamburg, Germany

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount-Orion Filmproduktion, Verona Produzione

Technical Specs

Runtime:

112 min 95 min (DVD)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1