Tough Guys

Plot synopsis:
Harry Doyle (Lancaster) and Archie Long (Douglas) are gangsters who've served a 30-year prison sentence for hijacking a Southern Pacific train called The Gold Coast Flyer, ready to collect Social Security.
Their parole officer, Richie Evans (Carvey), who seems to be more of a fan of historically notable criminals than a representative of law enforcement, meets Harry and Archie at the gates and offers them a ride. Meanwhile, Leon B. Little (Eli Wallach), an elderly hit man with bad eyesight who still has an outstanding contract on them, immediately tries to kill them. Harry and Archie manage to get away.
At Richie's office, they are informed of the conditions of their parole. Harry, at age 72, is committed to a retirement community; despite his desire to work, he's past the mandatory retirement age of 70. Archie, still allowed to work at age 67, takes a job at an ice cream parlor and later a restaurant. They are told not to have further contact with each other for at least three years.
Both are in for a shock at how much the world has changed from 1956 to 1986—clothing, sexual lifestyles (their favorite bar is now a gay club for men), lack of respect from the younger generation, and the advance of technology. Archie's young restaurant manager treats him poorly while Harry is denied proper food by a nasty orderly and is given even worse treatment by the retirement home's even nastier manager.
Harry reconnects with an old flame named Belle (Alexis Smith), and reminisces about old times. Archie embraces the contemporary scene, listening to new wave music, asking out a much younger woman, Skye (Darlanne Fluegel), and dressing in faddish clothes. Though both their relationships go well, neither Archie nor Harry seems to fit in society anymore.
Tired of trying to adjust, Harry and Archie go back to their old ways. First they try to rob a bank with members of their old gang, but all are now either crippled, invalids or dead. Then they hijack an armored truck, only to find it empty except for a roll of quarters. When the media mock them for their blunder and mistake them for younger men in masks, Archie decides to hijack the Gold Coast Flyer again as it makes its final southbound run. Harry refuses, but Archie decides to do it anyway with or without his help.
Archie stops the Flyer just as it's leaving the railyard and is soon joined by Harry. The media and dignitaries aboard are surprised, but Harry and Archie gladly answer their questions and pose for pictures. To their surprise, Leon arrives and explains why he's after them: an old enemy of theirs paid him $25,000 and he has waited 30 years for them to get out of jail. Deke Yablonski (Charles Durning), the police officer who first arrested Harry and Archie, soon arrives with a full SWAT team. Richie, disguised as a SWAT officer, boards the train and starts it moving again.
Harry, Archie, Richie and Leon temporarily join forces. They decide to take the train to Mexico, but unfortunately the tracks end a few feet from the border. Harry throws Leon from the cab; the hit man vows to get them even if it takes another 30 years. Archie then takes Richie back to the coaches and uncouples the train, advising Richie to tell the police that he was kidnapped. Harry and Archie drive 4449 at full throttle through a fusillade of bullets from U.S. border police. They crash through, burying the engine partially in the soil of Mexico a few feet across the border. A Mexican border patrol arrives to arrest them. A tough guy till the end, Archie kicks the lead officer in the groin.

Tags: violence

Review:
It was too bad, because it was a funny film, and would turn out to be the best comedy buddy film of the films that they did together.Harry and Archie (Lancaster and Douglas) pulled off one of the smoothest and most impressive railway train robberies in American history back in 1947.
That in the end, the battle of youth and old age unites Lancaster, Douglas, Wallach, and even Durning should not surprise anyone.
The film has some nice moments, such as Douglas almost going in for dirty dancing with a young chippy, and Lancaster protesting the slop he has to eat in an old age home, and memorably showing his teeth to advantage for a purpose (for a change).
I've watched it many times and what's more my grand-daughters enjoy it too, and they don't even know the two stars like I do.It's funny, with a good pacey script.
It's got comedy (see Kirk trying on "hot" clothes taking advice from a CCTV shop assistant) and also it has some touching scenes of Burt in the old people's home, where he's forced to live.The supporting cast has class - Eli Wallach, Dana Carvey, Charles Durning and Alexis Smith.
Of course Kirk Douglas did quite a few more films after this but he didn't do em with this kind of fun in mind.Two former train robbers get parole after 30 years.
Burt Lancaster is the straight man and Kirk Douglas has all the good lines.
Burt Lancaster and Kirk Douglas were inexorably linked not just by their co-starring films together, but by the fact that Hedda Hopper in one of her books did a chapter on both of them.
Go into the production end and take total responsibility for the work they did.It would never have worked had not Lancaster and Douglas not been good judges of the roles they were best suited for.
Robert Taylor was widely quoted that he stayed with MGM as long as he did because he felt they knew best how to present him and what were good film properties.But Burt and Kirk knew their minds and made their own careers work.
As Harry Doyle and Archie Long two elderly crooks released after a thirty year stretch for robbing the West Coast Flyer train, they find roles perfectly suited to their age and personality.Lancaster's old and he knows it, but he still wants to be treated with some dignity.
And then they decide on one spectacular coda to their lives and careers in the wonderful world of crime.The two men are in great form and they get some able support from Alexis Smith, Charles Durning and Dana Carvey in the supporting cast.
I wasn't disappointed when in 1986, Burt Lancaster announced on BBC's Wogan show that his new movie was going to star himself and his long time friend and frequent co-star Kirk Douglas.
The answer is brilliant.Harry Doyle (Lancaster), and Archie Long (Douglas) are released from prison after a 30 years sentence after being caught dead bang robbing a train.
After being humiliated, patronised, and generally treated like dirt for the better part of a week, The two ageing gangsters decide that a life of crime has to be better then honest work, and predictably they revert to their previous careers as train robbers.The film is enjoyable there's no escaping it, but there are more holes in the plot than there are in a grannies cardigan, and is also SOoooo predictable in fact the films outcome is more predictable than the outcome of a fight betwix elephant and duck.
Co-incidentally the day the get out of prison is 1 week before the train they were caught robbing is making it's farewell run.This aside the film IS enjoyable, and Lancaster and Douglas play their parts wonderfully and you enjoy the film more for their presence.
Other cast members also rate highly, Eli Wallach is by far the funniest character, and his wonderful performance in some ways steals the film from it's intended stars.
and finally there is (Pre Wayne's World) Dana Carvey as the Youthful Idealistic Parole Officer, but it's a shame that Carvey is restricted to playing pretty much a straight character, especially considering he is probably one of the funniest men working in Hollywood today.Tough Guys should have been better, but I feel Kanew spent most of the budget on getting the perfect Sterling cast, rather than to hire a good script writer.
You could still see the occasional flashes of the old Kirk D, chilling look etc and Burt still has the movement of an athlete even at age 73, and his trade mark mirthless laugh but it was Eli Wallach who stole the film, absolutely brilliant.
I think his character was stolen by the writers of a BBC TV comedy called "Last of the Summer Wine" which has a very short sighted character called Eli. So many scenes were so good that it makes it difficult to pick the best but I think the scene outside the old folks home is excellent when Leon B.
As two train robbers, released from prison after a 30 year stretch, this dynamic duo try to adjust to life in the '80's and all the changes that have taken place.
Eli Wallach contributes some funny scenes as a near-sighted hit-man who has waited 30 years to fulfill a contract to kill the duo.
Despite the thin script, this is a very enjoyable film that may best be viewed with a senior citizen family member who can both identify with the characters and who remembers Lancaster and Douglas when they were A-List actors.
Tough Guys re-unites after a near 30 year gap the screen pairing of Kirk Douglas and Burt Lancaster and as such it's a wonderful piece of nostalgia.
The premise suits the stars very well Archie Long and Harry Doyle after 30 years in prison for a train robbery are released into society and find things aren't want the used to be back in the old neighbourhood.
The duo are soon mixed up with a short sighted hit-man (a scene stealing Eli Wallach), a hero worshipping parole officer (Dana Cavey), an old time cop convinced they'll rob again (Charles Durning) and some seriously 80's style thugs.
Add to this just dealing with Archies day job and Harry's new life in a retirement home and their is a recipe for comedy and some surprisingly touching moments as the pair come to terms with old age.The film is fun and well paced although there are some big plot holes and inconsistencies you can overlook these as its not a serious film.
Douglas and Lancaster are clearly having a blast making the movie and seeing them on screen again one last time is great.
I'd recommend this film for a feel good comedy or a bit of nostalgia for older movie fans.
These 'Tough guys' got it all along with a few bad guys and one old near-sighted hit-man, (played by: Eli Wallach) that has had a contract on these two for over thirty years and he is itching to collect on it.
And if it weren't rough enough that these two 'grampa's' (the gang member referred to Archie and Harry as) knocked these guys confidence down and gave them a little pain to remember them by, leave and then the hit-man who's hot on their trail suddenly shows up and asks the gang members where the two old guys went?
"Don't let the goggles fool ya, he's a 'Sharp shooter!" That scene is a modern day comedy, 'classic' that I loved from the moment the movie previews were showing the 'coming attractions'.
The thing that offended me was Kirk (or Archie) 'dropped trow' showing his 'bum' when he was on top of the train making his get away, although it was funny and some of the women said, that was 'cute'.
Tough Guys is the 7th and final film legendary actors Kirk Douglas and Burt Lancaster made together .
They play Harry Doyle ( Lancaster ) and Archie Long ( Douglas ) , the last American train robbers who just finished a 30 year prison sentence.
A lot has changed since the 1950's as they attempt to adjust to civilian life in 1980's Los Angeles.Tough Guys as a film holds up real well due to the great chemistry of Lancaster and Douglas .Eli Wallach nearly steals the show as an aging hit-man who 's waited 30 years to kill Doyle and Long .Charles Durning and Dana Carvie are great as well in this fast paced ,nostalgic action comedy .
Definitely needs a US DVD release as my VHS tape won't last forever.Tough Guys is a great comedy classic that should satisfy fans of the 80's..
Legends Douglas and Lancaster play two aging ex-train robbers who set out to prove they're not over the hill for one more heist.
While Kirk Douglas and Burt Lancaster turn in engaging performances, the movie is stolen by Eli Wallach, whose character is nothing if not persistent!
It was nice to see aging superstars Burt Lancaster and Kirk Douglas together as a pair of old train robbers back on the streets after 30 years in jail.
However, the story is a little hard to take with any credibility and - call me old-fashioned - I didn't care to see and hear a couple of "classic film" stars involved in modern-day sleaze.As someone who has seen thousands of classic films, it just seems odd to see two famous actors in a film like this with the profanity and sex, although I had already seen Lancaster in "Atlantic City" (1980).
Still, seeing a hot 25-year-old falling for Douglas and the two having sex all night, was a little strange to witness.
The Legends Make it a Must See. Tough Guys (1986) *** (out of 4) Lifelong friends Harry Doyle (Burt Lancaster) and Archie Long (Kirk Douglas) are being released from prison after thirty-years.
They find it hard fitting in with the current world so that's when Archie gets the idea of robbing the train one last time.If you're looking for a hard-hitting drama or some sort of nasty comedy then TOUGH GUYS certainly won't be for you.
Look, I'll admit that this isn't a masterpiece or a classic but at the same time it's great getting to see Lancaster and Douglas working together.
It's not like they were given countless great roles later in their careers so getting to see them having some fun together makes this movie worth watching.As far as the comedy goes, I thought a lot of it was rather funny.
With Lancaster, he plays it more straight and this includes a relationship with an old fling (Alexis Smith) of his.The reason to watch this movie is for the actors.
Eli Wallach plays a nutbag trying to kill the boys and he too adds a lot of fun.TOUGH GUYS isn't a masterpiece and there's no question that it overstays its welcome with the extended running time.
Harry Doyle (Burt Lancaster) and Archie Long (Kirk Douglas) are old gangsters who were sentenced together to 30 years in prison for a famous train robbery of The Gold Coast Flyer.
It almost seems surreal to see these great timeless actors to show up in this film, years later, if like just popped out of the blue.
After a thirty year stretch for robbing a train, ex cons, Archie (Douglas) and the older and wiser Harry (Lancaster) are released, where everything has changed.
Eli Wallach is a frickin' cool hoot, as a really p..s poor sighted hit-man, who always sees a job through, no matter how long, lets say, bumbling repeatedly, in his efforts to take out our famous duo.
Burt Lancaster and Kirk Douglas were two great actors who entertained millions of moviegoers since the mid-1940s.
Here they play two convicts being released from prison after 30 years.But times have changed and Harry Doyle (Lancaster) and Archie Long (Douglas) have more than a little difficulty adjusting.
None of us know until the very end of the film why this guy has been gunning for the two ex-cons since the day they were released from prison.
In their younger days, Kirk Douglas and Burt Lancaster made six films together, and in their final pairing Tough Guys, they're absolutely adorable.
And you girls who had crushes on Kirk Douglas will delight in seeing him adapt to his new surroundings, including 80s fashions, nightclubs, and a relationship with a younger woman.Tough Guys is hilarious and super cute, and a must-see for Burt or Kirk fans.
They're both wonderful in this classic "old guys still got it" movie.
Legendary Hollywood Actors Kirk Douglas, Burt Lancaster And Eli Wallach Immortalized In This Timeless Classic..
My favorite Kirk Douglas films: 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954), Lust For Life(1956) and Spartacus(1960), Burt Lancaster: On Wings of Eagles (1986) and Eli Wallach: The Good The Bad And The Ugly (1966).Watch these films if you haven't yet.
Back to this film the film concerns two crooks Harry Doyle (Lancaster) and Archie Long (Douglas), have botched a hijack on Southern Pacific train called The Gold Coast Flyer, ready to collect Social Security.
More comedy films you may like: Ruthless People (1986), Soul Man (1986), Planes Trains & Automobiles (1987)..
The teaming of stars Burt Lancaster and Kirk Douglas is really the only reason to watch this thin comedy caper.
United on screen for the sixth time (and, let it be noted, their first movie work together since Seven Days in May in 1964), Lancaster and Douglas breeze through this nonsensical fluff with tongues firmly in cheek.
You will never see Tough Guys on anybody's top-100 list, but it is a likable time filler that doesn't particularly tax the patience.Train robbers Archie Long (Douglas) and Harry Doyle (Lancaster) are released from jail after serving thirty years for their misdemeanours.
Eventually, Archie and Harry decide to complete the train robbery for which they were captured all those years ago.
But rob it they do, just for the sheer thrill of it, hurtling full steam for the Mexican border with old law adversary Deke Yablonski (Charles Durning) hot on their trail.Tough Guys never amounts to anything more than harmless fun.
Not only did they make this film but also Stakeout and the very poor, even though it was a minor hit, Outrageous Fortune.Here we have Kirk Douglas and Burt Lancaster.
Although, Kirk Douglas is given first credit, the emphasis is on Burt Lancaster's character, Harry Doyle.
As a man who has been in prison for most of his adult life and is getting old, you could go a lot of directions with the character.
Not for one moment can you take him serious as a hit-man but Douglas and Lancaster, gents as they are, do let him think so..
Director Jeff Kanew's crime comedy "Tough Guys" gave Burt Lancaster and Kirk Douglas the big-send-off.
Comparatively, "Tough Guys" surpasses "The List of Adrian Messenger" and "Victory at Entebbe." Lancaster and Douglas were cast as two old-time convicts who spent 30 years in prison for robbing a train and ultimately received parole.
The scene in the old folks home when Harry leads the protest against the inadequate food is reminiscent of "White Heat." Eli Wallach has supporting role as a bespectacled hit-man who has waited 30 years to carry out a contract on our protagonists.
Train robbers Harry Doyle (marvelously played by Burt Lancaster) and Archie Long (an excellent and vigorous Kirk Douglas) get paroled from prison after serving a three decade sentence.
The witty script by James Orr and Jim Cruickshank delivers plenty of funny gags concerning Harry and Archie's difficulty in dealing with life's limited options and the radical changes that have happened in the world thirty years down the road as well as makes a few valid points about society's prejudice towards and lack of respect for the elderly (Harry's scenes in which he clashes with the patronizing staff at a hellish retirement home are absolute gold).
Douglas and Lancaster display a natural and engaging chemistry in the lead roles; they receive fine support from Charles Durning as bitter and grouchy detective Deke Yablonski, Alexis Smith as Harry's adoring old flame Belle, Dana Carvey as friendly probation officer Richie Evans, and Darlanne Fluegel as perky oversexed gym owner Skye.
Two years after he brought us "Revenge of the Nerds", director Jeff Kanew presented us with a film that could have been entitled "Revenge of the Elderly Ex-cons", as two senior citizens who have just completed a thirty year jail sentence find themselves at odds with the society that they have been forced to re-enter.Burt Lancaster and Kirk Douglas are Harry Doyle and Archie Long, the last two "Tough Guys" to rob a train, way back in 1955.
Douglas and Lancaster appear to enjoy themselves, but neither is capable of any inspiration, in a show which displays similarities to "Cocoon", with its theme of the oldies showing the young ones how its done.Fans of the two veteran actors may get the odd laugh from "Tough Guys", but don't expect too much form this B-grade comedy.Sunday, June 26, 1994 - Video.
This film was made in 1986 but had more of an older feeling to it something you might see on PBS, but it still is very entertaining funny.The plot has Harry Doyle (Burt Lancaster) and Archie Long (Kirk Douglas) as two old guys finishing a 30 year prison sentence for robbing a train, and now have to face a new world.
Little (Eli Wallach) who's trying to kill them.Of course being on parole is really like being on a leash, Archie Long is given a job whilst luckily Harry gets retirement checks but has to live in a very boring rest home.
1986; Great Year Of US Comedy - Crocodile Dundee; Ruthless People; TOUGH GUYS !.
Plenty of hilarious spontaneous anarchic mayhem acted out by Kirk Douglas + Burt Lancaster as our 2 crooks.