A cynical police detective becomes involved with a murder case that he is personally connected to.
Director Robert Aldrich bounced around from genre to genre beginning in the mid-1950s, but is mostly associated with his film noir work, particularly Cold War thriller Kiss Me Deadly and the camp classic Whatever Happened To Baby Jane? While successful in Hollywood, Aldrich wasn't taken seriously by the industry until his exaltation by the French New Wave critics, who considered him an auteur making very personal films via pulp subject matter.
Burt Reynolds' rise to super-stardom was nearly complete in the mid-1970s, having appeared in hits Deliverance and The Longest Yard, soon to become the top box office draw for five consecutive years. At this stage Reynolds was not yet known for his goofy charm and still stretching himself as an actor. Aldrich was perhaps paying tribute to his overseas admirers by pairing Reynolds with French actress Catherine Deneuve, as well as making references to French cinema in his film. The cast also includes veterans Ben Johnson (The Last Picture Show), Eddie Albert, Eileen Brennan, and Ernest Borgnine.
While his earlier noirs were ahead of their time, with Hustle Aldrich sidestepped the current trend of action and violence of 1970s police thrillers, focusing instead on the characters and the story's moral implications.
The film was photographed by frequent Aldrich collaborator and Academy Award-winner Joseph Biroc.
Running time is approximately 2 hours.
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