The Rip-Off (film)

The Rip Off
File:The Rip-Off.jpg
Directed by	Antonio Margheriti
Produced by	Turi Vasile
Screenplay by	Paul Costello Marc Princi Giovanni Simonelli
Story by	Paul Costello Marc Princi Giovanni Simonelli
Music by	Paolo Vasile
Cinematography	Sergio D'Offizi
Edited by	Roberto Sterbini
Release dates	1978 (1978)
Running time	100 minutes
Country	Italy West Germany

The Rip-Off (), also known as The Squeeze and Diamond Thieves, is a 1978 crime action 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.

In the film, a veteran safe-cracker comes out of retirement to steal a shipment of diamonds. He is shot during the heist and then has his injuries tended by an eccentric neighbor.

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

• Lee Van Cleef as Chris
• Karen Black as Clarisse
• Edward Albert as Jeff
• Robert Alda as Captain Donati
• Lionel Stander as Sam
• Angelo Infanti as Inspector
• Antonella Murgia as Jessica
• Peter Carsten as Van Stratten
• Ron van Clief as Duke
• Roy Brocksmith as Warehouse owner

Production

The Rip-Off was filmed in Hamburg and on location in New York City and New Jersey from December 1977 to February 1978.

Release

The Rip-Off was released in Italy on 1 April 1980. The film has been released in the United States under the titles The Rip-Off and The Squeeze.

External links

• The Rip-Off at IMDb
• The Rip-Off at the TCM Movie Database