Tough Guys 1986 train movie

Tough Guys (1986, United States)

Running time: 105 minutes

Language: English

After serving 30 years in prison two criminals, Harry Doyle and Archie Long, are released and can return to normal life. But after 30 years the world outside is a strange place for them. They are met just outside the prison gates by their parole officer, Richie Evans, who is a secret admirer of them. They were arrested for hijacking a Southern Pacific train called The Gold Coast Flyer and Richie is fascinated by their crime. But he was not the only one to greet them outside - some older gentleman just pulled out a gun on them and if he would not drop his glasses he surely would shot them dead. Harry and Archie are full of energy, but they learn from Richie that not only they can’t hang out together for 3 years, but also that Harry, 72, is too old to work, has to take mandatory retirement and also he has assigned place in a nursing home. Archie is given a job in ice cream parlour, but it doesn’t last long since the first kid he had to deal with made him lost his temper. There is one more person, who remembers the crime they have both committed - a policeman close to his own retirement, Deke Yablonski, who is determined to prove that those two can be danger to the society. Especially since The Gold Coast Flyer is about to be retired soon and make the final journey down the old railroad. Yablonski is determined to catch Harry and Archie while they will try to rob the train. Or if they do not plan to, he will lead them to committing the same crime again.

Simple comedy with train motif in the background, although the main plot is the clash between two elderly criminals, who are returned to the society and discover how world has changed during the 30 years they have spent in prison. Unfortunately late 1980s wasn’t a good time for comedies, several similar movies were produced in that era that had great actors in the cast, but complete lack of script. Still, it is fun to watch Douglas and Lancaster together, but it would be so much fun if they would have some better story to work on. The last part of the movie takes part aboard the Gold Coast Flyer, but even that part lacked the imagination.

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Creators of Tough Guys

Jeff Kanew

director

James Cruikshank

screenplay

James Orr

screenplay

Cast of Tough Guys

Burt Lancaster

as Harry Doyle

Kirk Douglas

as Archie Long

Dana Carvey

as Richie Evans

Charles Durning

as Deke Yablonski

Alexis Smith

as Belle

Darlanne Fluegel

as Skye

Eli Wallach

as Leon B. Little