Le lion sort ses griffes

Cat burglar Jack Rhodes (Burt Reynolds) is at a high class party to steal jewels only to be scooped by Gillian Bromley (Lesley-Anne Down). He is immediately taken with her. He recruits her into his gang for a big job. She is actually a secret informer sent by Scotland Yard Chief Inspector Cyril Willis (David Niven).

Burt is trying to get by with his natural charms. It works to some extent but this movie is doomed from the start. Gillian working for Cyril should have been revealed much later. Gillian revealing that to Jack is even more problematic. One of the bad results is the lack of caper planning. That's one of the joys of a caper movie. The characters have fun planning and setting it all up. Instead, we're left with only Burt and Lesley frolicking and doing next to nothing. Any fun with the beginning gets slowly drained away. Another result from the lack of planning fun is not following the caper. First it's a plane chase and then it's a car chase. I don't think the caper actually makes sense and the final twist makes it complete non-sense. All that is left is an extremely charming Burt Reynolds.

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.

Burt Reynolds was a better actor than he is given credit for, but I suspect his dramatic ambitions were not high. In any case, this is the kind of witty action movie he excelled in. We have here a superb cast, carried by Reynolds and David Niven, and a heist story whose improbabilities can be ignored in favor of the sheer pleasure of watching things progress to a surprise ending. Production values are first rate. This is the kind of light-hearted, intelligent entertainment we don't see much of anymore. A most enjoyable way to fritter away a couple of hours.

Picture this: Burt Reynolds is at a decadent party. He spies Leslie-Anne Down in a sequined black dress and is determined to meet her. Neither of them speak, until at last, Burt opens his mouth and does his best Cary Grant impersonation. She smiles and asks, "Why are you doing Tony Curtis?" If you laughed just now, you'll like Rough Cut.

Burt catches Leslie stealing diamonds at the party, and he surreptitiously steals them from her a few minutes later. To get them back, she follows him back to his apartment and tries to stealthily rob him. Sparks fly, and he asks her on a date. In the next scene, she visits Chief Inspector David Niven; it turns out, she's cooperating with the police to catch Burt, a notorious jewel thief!

Rough Cut is a constant game of cat-and-mouse and who's-playing-who, so if you like those types of movies, you'll love this one. It's funny and full of twists and turns in the plot-and everyone is easy to root for! Rent this for a cute date night with your sweetie pie; it'll be a lot of fun.

Don Siegel assembled a good cast together and did a terrific job directing Rough Cut. Especially with Burt Reynolds doing a bad Cary Grant imitation for Lesley Anne Down setting the stage. He reminded me of Cary and she of Grace Kelly from To Catch A Thief. Add David Niven to the mix and this film is a winner.

Niven is a chief inspector for Scotland Yard and de for retirement and a rocking chair. But before he goes he's going to get Reynolds a known thief he hasn't been able to touch because Reynolds is so darn clever. But he has a libido and Niven blackmails another jewel thief Lesley Anne Down to keep tabs on him. She does in every way she can.

Nice location cinematography in London and Amsterdam One interesting moment was when Niven at a low moment appears drunk and disheveled. Highly unusual for that most unflappable of actors.

And the ending, a complete surprise. he closest I can think of is Joe Mankiewicz's western There Was A Crooked Man, a western with some dark comedy moments, a considerably darker film than Rough Cut. But the endings are similar and this one will floor you.

This one is a real delight.