The Rip-Off

The Rip Off
Directed by Antonio Margheriti
Produced by Turi Vasile[1]
Screenplay by
Story by
  • Paul Costello
  • Marc Princi
  • Giovanni Simonelli[1]
Music by Paolo Vasile[1]
Cinematography Sergio D'Offizi[1]
Edited by Roberto Sterbini[1]
Production
companies
  • Laser Film
  • Dritte Centama Gbth[1]
Release dates
  • April 1, 1980 (1980-04-01) (Italy)
Running time
 100 minutes
Country
  • Italy
  • West Germany[1]

The Rip-Off (Italian: Controrapina, also known as The Squeeze, Diamond Thieves, The Heist and The Big Rip-Off) is a 1980 Italian-West German film directed by Antonio Margheriti. It was Margheriti's third collaboration with actor Lee Van Cleef, after previously directing him in The Stranger and the Gunfighter and Take a Hard Ride.

Synopsis

Retired safe-cracker Chris Gretchko is coaxed out of comfortable retirement by Jeff Olafson, the impulsive son of a former accomplice, who begs him to help steal an undocumented shipment of diamonds to satiate Van Stratten, a New York City crime boss whose mistress, Jessica, has been seeing Jeff on the side. Chris subsequently recruits his old friend, pawn shop owner Sam, who agrees to fence the diamonds afterward. When they learn Van Stratten intends to cut them out of the deal, Chris and Jeff plot a countermeasure, resulting in Jeff getting thrown in jail to give him plausible deniability, and Chris convalescing in a safe house after getting shot during the heist. Clarisse, an eccentric neighbor in the building, discovers Chris, and agrees to help tend his injuries and lie to police who come looking for him. However, Captain Donati begins to piece together the events, and all the involved parties find their lives in danger.

Cast

Production

The Rip-Off was filmed in Hamburg and on location in New York City from December 1977 to February 1978.[1] Future action/horror director William Lustig worked as production manager for the New York scenes, which were plagued by heavy snowfalls and a sanitation workers' strike that left streets strewn with garbage.

Release

The Rip-Off was released in Italy on April 1, 1980.[1] It was given a staggered release in the United States as The Squeeze that same year, with subsequent television airings under the title The Rip-Off.

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Curti 2013, p. 253.

References

  • Curti, Roberto (2013). Italian Crime Filmography, 1968-1980. McFarland. ISBN 1476612080. 
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