The Hot Rock - Twilight Time [1972] Blu-ray

I didn’t get a chance to see it because it was the wrong region for my DVD player. I had to return it but it’s a great movie.

A hard-to-find disc of an excellent film! Very pleased with my purchase.

When people discuss the films of Robert Redford I’m often surprised that no one ever seems to mention THE HOT ROCK. The film didn’t do tremendous business at the box office but fans that have seen it love the film. It had a huge group of the most talented people involved in making it from screenwriter William Goldman who had written the screenplays for both HARPER and BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID to director Peter Yates who four years prior had made BULLITT. The cast included not just Redford but George Segal, Ron Leibman, Zero Mostel, Paul Sand and Moses Gunn. So why wasn’t it a huge hit?For those who’ve never seen the movie it is based on the novel by Donald E. Westlake involving his character Dortmunder (Redford). Just getting out of prison as the film opens he’s picked up by his brother in law Kelp (Segal). Even though he’s sworn never to work with Kelp he can’t help but be intrigued by a proposition he brings to him.The pair meet with Dr. Amusa (Gunn), a representative of an African nation that wants them to steal a priceless gem for them now on display in the Brooklyn Museum. The diamond was stolen from their country and for them this is a matter of honor. Amusa agrees to front them the money and supplies they will need.The pair recruit their team to accomplish the task: Stan Murch (Leibman) will be their driver and Allan Greenburg their explosive experts. The plan is laid out on how to steal the gem but continues to change. In addition to that the expenses continue to rise. And even when the final theft goes down complications place the gem in the most precarious of places. When you watch you’ll find out where.The gem becomes available to them again but each time it comes within their grasps something else goes wrong to make it unavailable once more. Therein lies the biggest comedic take in the film, the elusiveness of the gem. Always within reach but not quite there.This comedy of circumstances has moments that might be belly laughs but plays more along the lines of a long number of chuckles instead. The combination of deft writing and superb acting on display here work so well together that you find yourself rooting for the thieves in spite of the fact that they are criminals. And the circumstances that take the jewel out of their hands off and on are hilarious when you think about them. None of them are things that the group could have predicted or done anything about. It is chance items that play into their dilemma.There isn’t a bad performance to be seen here. Each and every actor is at the top of their game. Yates direction is perfect. Westlake’s story and Goldman’s script are marvelous. Now it’s up to a new generation to discover how great the movie is. Fortunately Twilight Time has released the film on blu-ray and access to it returns. Extras on their edition include an isolated score track (composed by Quincy Jones), a commentary track featuring film historians Lem Dobbs, Julie Kirgo and Nick Redman and the original theatrical trailer. As with all Twilight Times released it’s limited to just 3,000 copies so make sure you get yours as soon as possible.

Top notch acting and script

Arrived in good time. Very satisfied.

The resolution was superb. Full, wide screen unlike earlier pan and scan prints.

The DVD I received requires a weird format to play. Unfortunately, I didn't try to watch it until it was too late to send it back. I was scammed!

A fun early 70’s caper film that features fun performances from a top notch cast, PETER Yates film was s box office bomb back in the day but the absurdity of the film might have made it an acquired taste for audiences.William Goldman’s script introduces Donald Westlake’s John Dormunder (Robert Redford) fresh out,of,prison and ready to go back to thieving again. His brother-in-law locksmith Kelp (George Siegel) has a brand new job lined up; stealing a Diamond the ownership of which is disputed by two different African nations. Hired by Dr. Amusa (Moses Gun), the two assemble a team with a driver (Ron Leibman) and explosives expert (Paul Sand). Their heist becomes a comedy of errors as the Diamond remains elusive even after they steal it.Filled with Donald Westlake and William Goldman’s characteristic humor, Peter Yates direction is breezy (especially for the time this was made in) and during a helicopter sequence we get wonderful vintage footage of New Uork Owe even see the Twin Towers being build).The Twilight Time Blu-ray features a fresh 2K scan of the film and it looks exceptionally good. Sharpness and detail in close up is particularly good. There are some soft shots that are part of the cinematography.The Blu-ray features an isolated music track (Quincy Jones composed the score) and we get a very good commentary track from the late Nick Redman, JulieKirgo and Lem Dobbs. There’s also an excellent booklet with an essay on the making of the film.A fun 70’s caper film with winning performances, “The Hot Rock” was overlooked by audiences at the time which is a pity; it’s a terrific heist film.

I saw this movie on release when it was titled: "How To Steal A Diamond In 4 easy Lessons"It remains a very interesting plot-twisting caper- a sort of semi-mindless comedy for a Friday / Saturday Night unwinding DVD. Unusual in that Redford is actually not delving deeper into the American Psyche for this one.

Bought the DVD following a lead from a newspaper columnist. I hadn't watched ever before and I had a very good time with all the twists and humor to the very end. Not the style of ilms nowadays although it's recognizablw where other films about burglars took the inspiration on details.

A great film with a superb cast and script. I'm pretty certain it was originally titled "How to steal a diamond" and that in four lessons! Do the good guys win? You'll have to decide who is good and who is bad and who is on the fence!This film is full of humour with a touch of pathos and shows just how good real, experienced acting can be. Redford with the baby is a gem and the final scenes with Redford walking down the street are absolutely brilliant.It's a film for all the family, those aged around 10-14 will like it the best. Well worth buying, you will want to see it more than a couple of times.

1972 New York, a heist, a great cast, Redford almost lyrical in characterisation, as if reading from a musical manuscript rather than the spoken word. His character is down at heel, unlucky & in need of a big break, so go ahead & watch the film & see if he comes up trumps. I was rooting for his character all along during the film, Redford makes you care about what happens to his character. All the ensemble character actors are terrific, there's a lot of this film in so many films that followed it, but, none quite so charming.

Product great, film great. No complaints!