Word: hackman
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...much a movie of the times-both now and then. It is a wisecracking, softhearted romantic adventure in which the major characters seem modeled on movie stars. With the shade of Jean Harlow peering over her cocked shoulder, Liza Minnelli plays a '20s rumrunner called Claire Dobie. Gene Hackman and Burt Reynolds, her partners in crime, are like Tracy and Gable, fast friends and occasional antagonists, both in love with Claire. These three amorous buddies run booze up the California coast from Mexico, playing cat-and-mouse with the Coast Guard and doing battle with the Mob boys...
...three principals seem to realize their importance in maintaining the proper chemical balance. Liza Minnelli is better than she has ever been, sweet and raffish, while Burt Reynolds cuts up with infectious bemusement. Much of the heavy acting falls to Gene Hackman-just as it did to Spencer Tracy-and he performs with subdued authority. If the stars seem sometimes to be off on different courses, playing out their own roles instead of playing to each other, this is one of the hazards of all-star Hollywood entertainment...
...breeziness, Lucky Lady falters over a few other hazards. The proceedings get a little arch at tunes: an occasional line seems too cherished, some secondary performances are rendered in strokes too broad. Besides, at the last minute the film makers changed the original ending, in which Hackman and Reynolds were killed, because preview audiences were disappointed. Now the three protagonists are last seen much older and still together. The happy ending is in one of Hollywood's best traditions. Those traditions can be limiting even when the show is flush with high spirits...
...Gund Hall, Gene Hackman doesn't do much to foster goodwill between nations as he stalks Frog One in The French Connection. Along with Popeye Doyle, Dirty Harry livens up the weekend and makes the double bill a strong contender for first prize in the Blood and Guts Unorthodox Cops Division...
...Agent Freddie Fields: "Bruce needs to make love to a woman on the screen." In his 19-year career, Bruce has only kissed a woman once. She was Karen Black in Gatsby. "And then the script had me break her nose -very romantic," says Dern. Other stars, like Gene Hackman, lack sex appeal, but Hackman makes up for it by displaying an appealing self-doubt...