Prime Cut **** (1972, Lee Marvin, Gene Hackman, Sissy Spacek) – Classic Movie Review 2964

The brilliant, controversial 1972 American action crime thriller film Prime Cut stars Lee Marvin as a Chicago mob enforcer sent to Kansas to collect a debt from a meatpacker boss (Gene Hackman) who grinds his enemies into sausages.

Director Michael Ritchie’s brilliant 1972 American action crime thriller film Prime Cut stars Lee Marvin, who lands one of his most quintessential roles as Nick Devlin, a Chicago mob killer sent to collect a debt from – and terminate – Kansas City mobster cattle rancher Mary Ann (Gene Hackman), a meatpacker boss who has recklessly angered the Chicago Irish syndicate. Mary Ann grinds his enemies into sausages and sells women as sex slaves!

Weirdly, perhaps, Marvin turns out to be the good guy – well of the two men, anyway – who eventually rescues and falls for young Poppy (played by Sissy Spacek, who is outstanding in her credited movie début), an orphan being sold into prostitution.

Director Ritchie handles this ultra-taut and riveting prime cut slice of pulp thriller with dazzling flair and panache, bringing an eagle eye for tense and exciting Hitchcock-style situations and chases. There’s plenty of visual flair in Gene Polito’s widescreen cinematography and Bill Malley’s production designs. Robert Dillon writes a cracking, original screenplay. And Lalo Schifrin comes up with a perfect Seventies thriller score.

Always disturbing, violent and thrilling, this exploration of the underbelly of American society is commendably dark and gritty. The casting of the Marvin and Hackman against type works a treat, with the two stars showing that they are obviously relishing their bullet-spattered screen battle royal. The chase scene involving a combine harvester in an open field is a thrilling classic.

Controversial material here includes its strong violence, Its hint of a homosexual relationship between two brothers, its graphic depiction of female slavery, a scene depicting naked young women in pens being auctioned like cattle, and its depiction of the beef slaughtering process.

Also in the cast are Gregory Walcott, Janit Baldwin, William Morey, Clint Ellison, Howard Platt, Les Lannom, Eddie Egan, Therese Reinsch, Bob Wilson, Gordon Signer, Gladys Watson, Wayne Savagne, Hugh Gillin Jr and Les Lannom.

Prime Cut runs 88 minutes, is directed by Michael Ritchie, is made by Cinema Center Films, is released by National General Pictures, is written by Robert Dillon, shot by Gene Polito,, produced by Joe Wizan (producer), Mickey Borofsky (associate producer) and Kenneth L. Evans (executive producer), scored by Lalo Schifrin, and designed by Bill Malley.

It was released on June 28, 1972.

Spacek made her debut as an extra in Andy Warhol’s Women in Revolt (1971) and her breakout role came with Terrence Malick’s crime film Badlands (1973).

The cast are Lee Marvin as Nick Devlin, Gene Hackman as Mary Ann, Angel Tompkins as Clarabelle, Gregory Walcott as Weenie, Sissy Spacek as Poppy, Janit Baldwin as Violet, William Morey as Shay, Clint Ellison as Delaney, Howard Platt as Shaughnessy, Les Lannom as O’Brien, Eddie Egan as Jake, Therese Reinsch as Jake’s Girl, Bob Wilson as Reaper Driver, Gordon Signer as Brockman, Gladys Watson as Milk Lady, Wayne Savagne as Freckle Face, Hugh Gillin Jr and Les Lannom.

© Derek Winnert 2015 Classic Movie Review 2964

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