The Split

Delivered in a timely manner

I want to clearly state that I LOVE THIS MOVIE!!! And I always have, ever since I first saw it on the big screen way back in the day at my favorite neighborhood theatre. It wasn't a box office hit, however, so I never thought it would ever get an official pristine remastered dvd release. Kudos to Warner's Archive Collection for this and many other obscure dvd releases.I strongly disagree with some of the reviews that claim it is dull and boring-as a crime thriller I admit that it's not in the same league as, say, The French Connection or Don Siegal's highly underrated classic Madigan, but it does move at a swift enough pace to hold your interest. I do have one question to pose to anybody out there who may know the answer to a burning question that hit me as I watched the dvd. At the 1:02:41 mark, just after the landlord (James Whitmore) machineguns Ellie to death, it appears a scene was cut because the movie abruptly jumps to show the landlord in an anguished state without the gun in his hand. Unfortunately, it's been some 45 years since I last saw the film, so I can't recall if any scenes were actually cut. However, the film was rated R, and in Leonard Maltins movie guide he lists the running time as 91 min, while the dvd only clocks in at a little under 90 min. Just for curiosity's sake, if anyone does know if the dvd is indeed cut, this inquiring mind would like to know. Nevertheless, I still highly recommend this action flick.

I saw this film on release in 1968, hoping that it would be as good as the prior year's Point Blank based on another Richard Stark novel, since when I had read nearly all the Parker novels then available in the intervening year. With a cast of well known faces in support (Oates, Borgnine, Sutherland (in an early film for him), Hackman and Klugman) the omens looked good but sadly on re-seeing the film again in 2012 it is all as dire as I remember it from the original cinema release!The key problems are the script sacrifices the hard edge of the source Stark novel to venture into early Blaxploitation territory with Jim Brown and Diahann Carroll who provide zero of the menace or tension needed in the lead roles to make this crime caper and double cross plot work. The best actor in the whole film is a manipulative Julie Harris who shows the type of cunning that the lead characters roles lack. Add to that a very disjointed and edited shoot with too many late 60s/early 70s set camera pieces (e.g. red full screen images for sunset beach walks and too much zooming around in the action pieces) and a pretty unbelievable depicted storyline of Brown as the gang leader and Hackman as a corrupt policeman working together after the heist has gone wrong, means very little works or is memorable in this movie.The strange opening and ending with little explanation or closure probably sums the whole sad affair up.

It's a treat to see this many excellent actors all in one movie. Jim Brown convincingly plays a no-nonsense operator who assembles a diverse team to rob the L.A. Coliseum of more than half a million dollars. Recommended if you like any of the featured actors. Each has a standout moment that reveals how different his/her character is from the others in the film. The cinematography is vivid, and the location photography at the Coliseum only makes you wish there was more of it. The plot (no spoiler) takes an odd turn toward the end, which may account for the film's lack of popularity. But the cast and the other positive attributes (Quincy Jones' score, for example) far outweigh this slight drawback.

1970's blacksploitation film. Somewhat based on the Parker novel. Would have been better if stayed true to the novels. Great cast. No real surprises. Good late-night entertainment.

Yes, another film from the 70s series that has great theme for its time. Great for the avid collector of this genre.

Finally got to see this movie remember when it came out and missed it

good

Wanted this movie for a while, love clever heist movies; great cast and very 1960's background setting make it a very 1969 movie! Gene Hackman and Jim Brown would also star in the underrated Riot.

VERY WELL DONE THRILLER