Three Tough Guys

Three Tough Guys (also known as Tough Guys) is a 1974 crime-action film directed by Duccio Tessari.   It may be regarded as an example of the Blaxploitation genre.  It stars Lino Ventura, Fred Williamson and Isaac Hayes, who also composed the soundtrack. It is a coproduction between United States, Italy (where it was released Uomini duri) and France (where is known as Les Durs). The film was shot in Chicago.

Plot
Roman Catholic priest Father Charlie and former police officer Lee solve a bank robbery mystery that stretches across the city. After Lee is removed from the force due to $1,000,000 being stolen from the bank, Father Charlie helps him to gain revenge for the loss of one of his friends.

Cast 
Lino Ventura - Father Charlie
Isaac Hayes - Lee
Fred Williamson - Joe Snake
Paula Kelly - Fay
William Berger - Captain Ryan 
Vittorio Sanipoli - Mike Petralia
Lorella De Luca - Anne Lombardo
Mario Erpichini - Gene Lombardo
Jess Hahn - The Bartender 
Jacques Herlin - Mike Petralia
Guido Leontini - Sgt. Sam 
Luciano Salce - The bishop
Nazzareno Zamperla as Snake's henchman

Production
Three Tough Guys was filmed as Vasca Navale in Rome and on location in Chicago between September 4 and October 1973. The film was Isaac Hayes' acting debut.

Release
Three Tough Guys opened in New York on March 15, 1974. was released in France under the title Les durs on May 29, 1974. It was released in Italy under the title Uomini duri where it was distributed by Titanus. It grossed a total of 761.271 million Italian lire. Italian film historian and critic Roberto Curti said this gross was "moderate, but not outstanding success" as it had grossed less than half of Enzo G. Castellari's Street Law.

Soundtrack

 

The soundtrack was composed, conducted and performed by Isaac Hayes, with string arrangements performed by the Memphis Symphony Orchestra and rhythm tracks performed by Isaac Hayes' band, The Movement.  The original LP record, Tough Guys, was released by Enterprise Records, an imprint of Stax Records.

The main theme of Three Tough Guys would be used in Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill Vol. 2. “Hung Up on My Baby” was sampled for the Geto Boys song Mind Playing Tricks on Me.

Original Track listing
Side one
 "Title Theme" - 2:32 	
 "Randolph & Dearborn" - 4:24 	
 "The Red Rooster" - 4:04 	
 "Joe Bell" - 4:57 	

Side two
 "Hung Up On My Baby" - 6:15 	
 "Kidnapped" - 2:40 	
 "Run Fay Run" - 2:45 	
 "Buns O' Plenty" - 4:37 	
 "The End Theme" - 1:13

Notes

References

External links

Category:1974 films
Category:1970s buddy films
Category:1970s crime action films
Category: Blaxploitation films
Category:Films about Catholic priests
Category:Films directed by Duccio Tessari
Category:Films produced by Dino De Laurentiis
Category:Films set in Chicago
Category:Italian films
Category:Italian action films
Category:Italian buddy films
Category:French films
Category:English-language French films
Category:Isaac Hayes soundtracks
Category:Stax Records albums
Category:Films scored by Isaac Hayes
Category:French crime action films
Category:French buddy films
Category:Titanus films