Rough Cut (1980) Reviews

• Charming romantic caper movie; awesome leads

  TomFODW2001-10-27

  Rough Cut is delicious froth, a shiny bauble of wonderfully made costume jewelry - not the real thing, but so much fun you don't care how silly and artificial it is. Burt Reynolds and the overpoweringly gorgeous Lesley-Anne Down are so perfect in the lead roles that you forgive this movie its many flaws. This is, essentially, a fairy tale. You know everything will go right, it's just a question of how. It's like the great early 1990s British show Lovejoy - filmed in a beautiful England of pastels and greenery, of charming U characters and not-all-that-menacing bad guys. It's just a very enjoyable, very romantic caper movie with two terrific stars and a fine supporting cast, filmed in splendid colors. Everything doesn't have to be Some Like It Hot.

• " Some criminals are so good, if you can't beat them . . join them "

  thinker16912010-07-30

  In his long lists of wonderful movies, Mr. David Niven has given audiences some real gems, this is among those which did not market very well, but has become a notable jewel. Niven plays an English Inspector who has tallied a great number of criminals. One however has continued to elude him for twenty years. Mr Jack Rhodes (Burt Reynolds) is the one Jewel thief he hopes to arrest before he is forced into retirement. To do that he extorts the services of Gillian Bromley (Lesley-Anne Down) another jewel thief. Her task is to lure Rhodes into a heist with a snare. The movie, Directed by Don Siegel, has many copy-cats such as 'jack of Diamonds' 'Entrapment' and 'Thomas Crown Affair.' In each is danger, interest and romance, but with this version, comedy become the additional element. Reynolds and Niven work well together and in doing so carry this film well. With good character actors like Patrick Magee and Timothy West, the story written by Larry Gelbart (MASH) fits well for all fans. As a result Reynolds and Niven create amusing fanfare for everybody. ****

• Not as good as Oceans Eleven, but in the same mold

  stuprince2003-10-23

  Solid film that has multiple people working together to pull off a jewel heist. David Niven is good, and Burt Reynolds breaks out of his "Smokey" types role and does something more sophisticated. Very much on the Oceans mold, though not as good. I always enjoy catching it on TV, fun film with some unexpected twists and turns.

• A Brilliant Film.

  grickards55-12007-11-05

  This a brilliant film, a sophisticated comedy thriller in the 'North By Northwest' and 'To Catch A Thief' mould. I have always thought that Burt Reynolds was at his best in comedies, and his performance in this delightful film proves my point. David Niven adds his usual strong support in the role of the craft Chief Inspector Cyril Willis, (What a great name), and Lesley-Anne Down adds the required sophistication and glamour in necessary quantities. The supporting cast is excellent, especially Patrick Magee as the Nazi pilot. The script is extremely literate and funny, and the locations are glamorous and sophisticated. A great movie that I hope will come out on DVD. I musn't forget Nelson Riddle's brilliant score, orchestrating the work of Duke Ellington into a remarkable and hummable score. Can anybody please tell me if a soundtrack exists for this brilliant film? Also, who originally sang the song, 'Boogie, Let's Boogie'? Any help really will be appreciated. Thanks, Gaz.

• "I'm going to get Rhodes!"

  lost-in-limbo2011-07-16

  Another enjoyably hearty Burt Reynolds vehicle to the long-winded comedy caper list, but making it more a welcoming ride is a strong cast along side him with David Niven, Lesley-Ann Down and Patrick Magee. Director Don Siegel serviceably lets it flow without much structure, as the crafty story has its twists and turns with its clever façade before finally revealing its trump cards. An aging Scotland Yard detective Chief Insp. Cyril Willis is coming towards retirement, but before calling it a day he has plans of capturing Jack Rhodes an American jewel thief that throughout his career has always been one step ahead. So in comes a beautiful lady, which is part of the plan to nab his man. But what blossoms is unexpected. Tailored like an old-fashioned romance comedy, "Rough Cut" is all about a laconically lounging Reynolds sweeping the gorgeous Lesley Ann-Down off her feet, while finding some time to organise a quick in and out heist of some diamonds. Sometimes the tone can be jumpy, but everything feels like its on cruise-control with Siegel's automatic handling, especially when it comes to the excitement and dangers of the job. The witty script is where the rapid fire comes from. However the action when it arrives is masterfully shot. It's smooth and magnetic, just like the performances. The interplay between the cast works. Reynolds plays it dry and confident. A sexy Down is a complete delight and Niven only adds to the wilily fun.