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Tough Guys

  • 1986
  • PG
  • 1h 44m
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
8.2K
YOUR RATING
Kirk Douglas and Burt Lancaster in Tough Guys (1986)
Two elderly gangsters are released from prison only to find they have trouble fitting in as old men who still take no guff from anyone.
Play trailer1:23
1 Video
75 Photos
ComedyCrime

Two elderly gangsters are released from prison only to find they have trouble fitting in as old men who still take no guff from anyone.Two elderly gangsters are released from prison only to find they have trouble fitting in as old men who still take no guff from anyone.Two elderly gangsters are released from prison only to find they have trouble fitting in as old men who still take no guff from anyone.

  • Director
    • Jeff Kanew
  • Writers
    • James Orr
    • Jim Cruickshank
  • Stars
    • Burt Lancaster
    • Kirk Douglas
    • Charles Durning
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.3/10
    8.2K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Jeff Kanew
    • Writers
      • James Orr
      • Jim Cruickshank
    • Stars
      • Burt Lancaster
      • Kirk Douglas
      • Charles Durning
    • 40User reviews
    • 22Critic reviews
    • 54Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination total

    Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 1:23
    Trailer

    Photos75

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    Top cast64

    Edit
    Burt Lancaster
    Burt Lancaster
    • Harry Doyle
    Kirk Douglas
    Kirk Douglas
    • Archie Long
    Charles Durning
    Charles Durning
    • Deke Yablonski
    Alexis Smith
    Alexis Smith
    • Belle
    Dana Carvey
    Dana Carvey
    • Richie Evans
    Darlanne Fluegel
    Darlanne Fluegel
    • Skye
    Eli Wallach
    Eli Wallach
    • Leon B. Little
    Monty Ash
    • Vince
    Billy Barty
    Billy Barty
    • Philly
    Simmy Bow
    • Schultz
    Darlene Conley
    Darlene Conley
    • Gladys Ripps
    Nathan Davis
    Nathan Davis
    • Jimmy Ellis
    Matthew Faison
    Matthew Faison
    • Man in Gay Bar
    Corkey Ford
    Corkey Ford
    • Gang Leader
    Rick Garcia
    Rick Garcia
    • Federale Captain
    Graham Jarvis
    Graham Jarvis
    • Richie's Boss
    Doyle L. McCormack
    • Train Engineer
    Bob Maxwell
    • Syms
    • Director
      • Jeff Kanew
    • Writers
      • James Orr
      • Jim Cruickshank
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews40

    6.38.2K
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    Featured reviews

    8TaalibMuhammad

    Great fun from two legends!

    Kirk Douglas. Burt Lancaster. 'Nuff said! As two train robbers, released from prison after a 30 year stretch, this dynamic duo try to adjust to life in the '80's and all the changes that have taken place. Douglas looks great for a man in his 60's and eventually attracts the eye of a young aerobics instructor. Their scenes together are both funny and sincere, as the differences between them eventually dictate the direction of their relationship. Kirk is also forced to work in menial jobs that involve him dealing with rude customers and a boss who doesn't like ex-cons. These scenes provide the film's best humor. Lancaster's role however is far less interested, as he is relegated to an old-folks home, wherein he becomes somewhat of a revolutionary. Realizing that they just don't fit in with society anymore, the two return to train robbing and the film moves downhill from this point. Eli Wallach contributes some funny scenes as a near-sighted hit-man who has waited 30 years to fulfill a contract to kill the duo. Despite the thin script, this is a very enjoyable film that may best be viewed with a senior citizen family member who can both identify with the characters and who remembers Lancaster and Douglas when they were A-List actors. I recommend it.
    6nomoons11

    Two screen icons in their last good role

    Of course Kirk Douglas did quite a few more films after this but he didn't do em with this kind of fun in mind.

    Two former train robbers get parole after 30 years. Now they have to decide what to do when they get out. They're 65 and 72 years old and don't have a lot of skills. On top of that they don't fit in the 80's way of life. Their parole officer tells them they cant see each other for 3 years as per condition of their parole. They both have a heckuva time adjusting to this new existence and finally decide to go back to their old way of life.

    This is one of those 80's gems that I never forgot. Two great actors in their last good film doing what they do best... Acting tough and being guys....Tough Guys. Burt Lancaster is the straight man and Kirk Douglas has all the good lines. Keep a watch out for Eli Wallach...he steals almost the entire film with the small role he has. Yes you will see a very young Dana Carvey pre SNL.

    Grab this 80's flick and have a laugh cause I'll bet it won't be too hard to do.
    8jflynn1-1

    Tough Guys

    Watched it again on late night TV. Still funny after all these years. You could still see the occasional flashes of the old Kirk D, chilling look etc and Burt still has the movement of an athlete even at age 73, and his trade mark mirthless laugh but it was Eli Wallach who stole the film, absolutely brilliant. I think his character was stolen by the writers of a BBC TV comedy called "Last of the Summer Wine" which has a very short sighted character called Eli. So many scenes were so good that it makes it difficult to pick the best but I think the scene outside the old folks home is excellent when Leon B. Little picks himself up using the Zimmer frame, cruel but funny.

    The ending was a bit of an anticlimax (same comment applies to "The Blues Brothers".
    Coxer99

    Tough Guys

    Legends Douglas and Lancaster play two aging ex-train robbers who set out to prove they're not over the hill for one more heist. A fun film. It's nice to see two legends go head to head and have a few laughs...
    8dworldeater

    80's classic

    Tough Guys is the 7th and final film legendary actors Kirk Douglas and Burt Lancaster made together . They play Harry Doyle ( Lancaster ) and Archie Long ( Douglas ) , the last American train robbers who just finished a 30 year prison sentence. A lot has changed since the 1950's as they attempt to adjust to civilian life in 1980's Los Angeles.Tough Guys as a film holds up real well due to the great chemistry of Lancaster and Douglas .Eli Wallach nearly steals the show as an aging hit-man who 's waited 30 years to kill Doyle and Long .Charles Durning and Dana Carvie are great as well in this fast paced ,nostalgic action comedy . Also check out an early performance from The Red Hot Chili Peppers before they blew up and were still part of the LA punk scene. Tough Guys is still funny and is easily one of the most overlooked comedies to come out in the late 80's . Definitely needs a US DVD release as my VHS tape won't last forever.Tough Guys is a great comedy classic that should satisfy fans of the 80's.

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    Related interests

    Will Ferrell in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
    Comedy
    James Gandolfini, Edie Falco, Sharon Angela, Max Casella, Dan Grimaldi, Joe Perrino, Donna Pescow, Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Tony Sirico, and Michael Drayer in The Sopranos (1999)
    Crime

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Huge cards were necessary on the set to help Burt Lancaster's fading memory, and he also had problems to read those cards.
    • Goofs
      The exterior shots of Mickey's show the doors opening outward while the interior shots show them opening inward. The hinges are standard 'saloon bar' hinges seen in every cowboy movie that features a saloon, and work both ways.
    • Quotes

      Belle: I warn you, I know karate!

      Leon B. Little: [points his shotgun at her] I warn "you", I know Winchester!

    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Jumpin' Jack Flash/Tough Guys/Children of a Lesser God/'Round Midnight (1986)
    • Soundtracks
      They Don't Make Them Like They Used To
      Music by Burt Bacharach

      Lyrics by Carole Bayer Sager

      Performed by Kenny Rogers

      Courtesy of RCA Records

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    FAQ19

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 3, 1986 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Dos tipos duros
    • Filming locations
      • Belmont Tunnel - 1304 West 2nd Street, Los Angeles, California, USA(Leon B. Little exits tunnel then speaks to gang members.)
    • Production companies
      • Touchstone Pictures
      • Silver Screen Partners II
      • Bryna Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $10,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $21,458,229
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $4,565,342
      • Oct 5, 1986
    • Gross worldwide
      • $21,458,229
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 44m(104 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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