Cutter’s Way [Cutter and Bone] **** (1981, Jeff Bridges, John Heard, Lisa Eichhorn, Ann Dusenberry, Stephen Elliott, Nina Van Pallandt) – Classic Movie Review 5799

Director Ivan Passer’s involving and gripping 1981 film version of Newton Thornburg’s novel Cutter and Bone is always fascinating, with lovely performances from ideally cast Jeff Bridges and John Heard in their prime. It is a satisfying, cynical, offbeat mystery, scripted by Jeffrey Alan Fiskin.

Bridges stars as a small-time gigolo Richard Bone who thinks he may have uncovered a murder when he witnesses someone dumping in an alley what turns out to be the body of a young girl. Heard also stars as the hard-drinking, maimed Vietnam veteran Alex Cutter who forces him to become involved in the case to expose the killer.

Though the film loses its way sometimes, it is satisfyingly acted and forcefully directed by Czech emigré Passer, who gazes with a beady, amused look on the Californian scene.

There is excellent Jordan Cronenweth cinematography and an excellent Jack Nitzsche score to back it up.

Also in the cast are Lisa Eichhorn, Ann Dusenberry, Stephen Elliott, Nina Van Pallandt, Julia Duffy, Arthur Rosenberg, Patricia Donahue, Geraldine Baron, Katherine Pass, Frank McCarthy, George Planco, Jay Fletcher, George Dickerson, Jack Murdock, Randy Shepard, Billy Drago and Jon Terry.

RIP John Heard, who died on 21 July 2017, aged 72.

Ivan Passer (1933–2020).

RIP esteemed leading Czech new wave director Ivan Passer, who died on 9 January 2020. He escaped Prague in 1969 with his friend Milos Forman as Russian tanks were advancing. He was best known for A Boring Afternoon (1964), Intimate Lighting (1965), Crime and Passion (1976), Cutter’s Way [Cutter and Bone] (1981) and Haunted Summer (1988). He began in Prague collaborating on Forman’s films including The Loves of a Blonde [A Blonde in Love] and The Firemen’s Ball.

© Derek Winnert 2017 Classic Movie Review 5799

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