The Rip-Off
| The Rip Off | |
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| Directed by | Antonio Margheriti |
| Produced by | Turi Vasile[1] |
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| Story by |
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| Music by | Paolo Vasile[1] |
| Cinematography | Sergio D'Offizi[1] |
| Edited by | Roberto Sterbini[1] |
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Running time | 100 minutes |
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The Rip-Off (Italian: Controrapina, also known as The Squeeze, Diamond Thieves, The Heist and The Big Rip-Off) is a 1980 Italian-West German film directed by Antonio Margheriti. It was Margheriti's third collaboration with actor Lee Van Cleef, after previously directing him in The Stranger and the Gunfighter and Take a Hard Ride.
Synopsis
Retired safe-cracker Chris Gretchko is coaxed out of comfortable retirement by Jeff Olafson, the impulsive son of a former accomplice, who begs him to help steal an undocumented shipment of diamonds to satiate Van Stratten, a New York City crime boss whose mistress, Jessica, has been seeing Jeff on the side. Chris subsequently recruits his old friend, pawn shop owner Sam, who agrees to fence the diamonds afterward. When they learn Van Stratten intends to cut them out of the deal, Chris and Jeff plot a countermeasure, resulting in Jeff getting thrown in jail to give him plausible deniability, and Chris convalescing in a safe house after getting shot during the heist. Clarisse, an eccentric neighbor in the building, discovers Chris, and agrees to help tend his injuries and lie to police who come looking for him. However, Captain Donati begins to piece together the events, and all the involved parties find their lives in danger.
Cast
- Lee Van Cleef : Chris
- Karen Black: Clarisse
- Edward Albert : Jeff
- Robert Alda : Captain Donati
- Lionel Stander : Sam
- Angelo Infanti : Inspector
- Antonella Murgia : Jessica
- Peter Carsten : Van Stratten
- Ron van Clief : Duke
- Roy Brocksmith : Warehouse owner
Production
The Rip-Off was filmed in Hamburg and on location in New York City from December 1977 to February 1978.[1] Future action/horror director William Lustig worked as production manager for the New York scenes, which were plagued by heavy snowfalls and a sanitation workers' strike that left streets strewn with garbage.
Release
The Rip-Off was released in Italy on April 1, 1980.[1] It was given a staggered release in the United States as The Squeeze that same year, with subsequent television airings under the title The Rip-Off.
Notes
References
- Curti, Roberto (2013). Italian Crime Filmography, 1968-1980. McFarland. ISBN 1476612080.