Three Tough Guys Explained

Three Tough Guys
Screenplay:
Story:
  • Luciano Vincenzoni
  • Nicola Badalucco
Starring:
Music:Isaac Hayes
Cinematography:Aldo Tonti
Editing:Mario Morra
Production Companies:
  • Produzioni Cinematografiche Inter. Ma. Co.
  • Columbia Film
Distributor:Titanus
Runtime:92 minutes
Country:
  • Italy
  • France
Gross:761.271 million

Three Tough Guys (also known as Tough Guys) is a 1974 crime-action film directed by Duccio Tessari.[1] It stars Lino Ventura, Fred Williamson and Isaac Hayes, who also composed the soundtrack. It is a coproduction between United States, Italy (where it was released Uomini duri) and France (where is known as Les Durs). The film was shot in Chicago.[2]

Plot

Roman Catholic priest Father Charlie and former police officer Lee solve a bank robbery mystery that stretches across the city. After Lee is removed from the force due to $1,000,000 being stolen from the bank, Father Charlie helps him to gain revenge for the loss of one of his friends.

Cast

Production

Three Tough Guys was filmed in Rome and on location in Chicago between September 4 and October 1973. The film was Isaac Hayes' acting debut.

Release

Three Tough Guys opened in New York on March 15, 1974.[3] was released in France under the title Les durs on May 29, 1974. It was released in Italy under the title Uomini duri where it was distributed by Titanus. It grossed a total of 761.271 million Italian lire. Italian film historian and critic Roberto Curti said this gross was "moderate, but not outstanding success" as it had grossed less than half of Enzo G. Castellari's Street Law.

Soundtrack

Tough Guys
Type:Soundtrack
Artist:Isaac Hayes
Released:May 1974
Recorded:1974
Genre:Progressive soul,[4] funk
Length:34:13
Label:Enterprise
ENS-7504
Producer:Isaac Hayes
Prev Title:Joy
Prev Year:1973
Next Title:Truck Turner
Next Year:1974

The soundtrack was composed, conducted and performed by Isaac Hayes, with string arrangements performed by the Memphis Symphony Orchestra and rhythm tracks performed by Isaac Hayes' band the Movement. The original LP record, Tough Guys, was released by Enterprise Records, an imprint of Stax Records.

The main theme of Three Tough Guys would be used in Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill Vol. 2. "Hung Up on My Baby" was sampled in the Geto Boys song "Mind Playing Tricks on Me."

Original track listing

Side one

  1. "Title Theme" - 2:32
  2. "Randolph & Dearborn" - 4:24
  3. "The Red Rooster" - 4:04
  4. "Joe Bell" - 4:57

Side two

  1. "Hung Up On My Baby" - 6:15
  2. "Kidnapped" - 2:40
  3. "Run Fay Run" - 2:45
  4. "Buns O' Plenty" - 4:37
  5. "The End Theme" - 1:13

Notes

References

Notes and References

  1. Book: Joe Bob Briggs. Profoundly disturbing. Universe, 2003.
  2. Book: Roberto Curti. Italia odia: il cinema poliziesco italiano. Lindau, 2006.
  3. Web site: Three Tough Guys. American Film Institute. December 9, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20140403095731/http://www.afi.com/members/catalog/DetailView.aspx?s=&Movie=55671. 3 April 2014.
  4. Winistorfer. Andrew. December 28, 2020. Isaac Hayes' Prog-Soul Soundtrack Epic. Vinyl Me, Please. January 23, 2021.