Ah yes, the "ex-con pulls one more job" movie that every actor signs up for at least once in his career. And, if you like him, you'll go out and watch the movie to support his career. If you don't, you'll roll your eyes during the preview and wait until your celebrity boyfriend acts in one. That being said, Kirk Douglas fans should run out and watch The Master Touch. Non-fans should wait, because unless you're armed with your crush, you probably won't enjoy the movie.Kirk gets out of prison and returns home to his girlfriend Florinda Bolkan, who wants him to stay straight. Giuliano Gemma leads him into temptation-as always happens in these movies-and Kirk has to decide whether he'll risk his freedom and his girlfriend for the chance to pull of one last, big heist. The movie is very 1970s, so expect a slow pace, car chases, long shots and zooms, and a European flavor. If you particularly like that style, you'll find the movie more enjoyable. If not, you'll get through it and look forward to the next Kirk Douglas movie you rent.

Master Touch (aka) Un Uomo Da Rispettare is what can be genuinely described as an unsung classic of poliziotto. Outside of 'Escape From Death Row' (1973) this appears to be, Michele Lupo's only foray into the grimy idiom of Italian crime cinema, and by Jove what a dashed shame, as this brisk, stylish actioner is up there with the very best. Premise is simple and stylishly handled: Steve Wallace (Kirk Douglas) is a seasoned heist expert who is encouraged to attempt a seemingly impossible blag of removing $1.000.000 from what initially appears to be an impenetrable fortress masquerading as a bank. What separates this from many other similar titles is the weathered, enigmatic presence of veteran actor, Kirk Douglas, whose roguish, insouciant exterior belies the heart of a truly exemplary, meticulous thief. As Kirk's better half the delightful, Florinda Balkan has little to do outside of sporadic brooding followed by a soupcon of crotch-expanding smolder, but her preternaturally sultry visage has improved many a euro cult offering, and 'Master Touch' benefits exponentially by her ravishing physiognomy; and the woefully underrated, Giulino Gemma excels as the nimble trapeze artist who is recruited to construct what appears to be a vacuum-tight alibi. The film's manifold delights include a destructive, hair raising, cacophonous car chase through the dank streets of Hamburg and the beautifully handled heist is a veritable Boy's own dream. It would be remiss not to mention the low key, atmospheric score by Ennio Morricone which adds a terse piquancy to all the sweaty-browed, Alpha Male theatrics.

In its 92-minutes DVD version, this expensive and expansively produced Italian movie filmed on location in Hamburg, packs in plenty of fast-paced action. Kirk Douglas makes the best of a meaty role and he is well supported by Florinda Bolkan as the girl friend who has had enough excitement and Guiliano Gemma (sic on the Alpha DVD) who is about to experience his baptism of fire on the wrong side of the law. The music score by Ennio Morricone is effective while watching the movie but gives you nothing to hum about when you leave the theatre, but I guess you can't have everything. The bargain-priced Alpha DVD is reasonably well-framed even though it is presented in a halfway fashion midway between full screen and scope. Well, as I've already said, I guess you can't have everything, and this movie is a most definite MUST for all Kirk Douglas fans.

This entertaining 'crime-does-not-pay' European heist caper pits mastermind safe-cracker Kirk Douglas against his trapeze artist sidekick Giuliano Gemma as well as his former Teutonic criminal underworld boss Wolfgang Preiss. "Goliath and the Sins of Babylon" director Michele Lupo's suspenseful yarn boasts intrigue, betrayal, and a demolition-derby car chase in Hamburg, Germany, as our hero sets out to pull another one of those formulaic fool-proof last jobs. "Un uomo da rispettare" benefits from the terrific widescreen cinematography of "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly" lenser Tonino Delli Colli and his use of 'Dutch' tilt angles. Composer Ennio Morricone contributes a minimalist orchestral score while Lupo relies on Mozart's Symphony 40 in two scenes. The twist is that our anti-heroic protagonist stages one robbery but plans to be caught for another robbery so as throw the German police and the villains off the scent. Naturally, nothing goes as planned in this ingenious but familiar caper. Like Richard Brooks' crime caper "Dollars" (1971), Lupo's film focuses on a bank that contain ultra-sophisticated security systems to safeguard their assets."Un uomo da rispettare" opens with marked police cars rampaging around the city while Detective Hoffman (Reinhard Kolldehoff of "Shout at the Devil") transports convicted career criminal Steve Wallace (Kirk Douglas of "Gunfight at the O.K. Corral") home to his wife Anna (Florinda Bolkan of "The Last Valley") after having served three years in prison. No sooner does the police car leave Wallace in front of his house than a carload of thugs cruise up. One of the ruffians informs Wallace that their boss, Miller (Wolfgang Preiss of "Raid on Rommel"), wants to talk to him. Reluctantly, Wallace accompanies them to see the well-heeled Miller in his huge office above a casino. Miller surrounds himself with an array of electronic gadgets to present his proposition for a heist with a million dollar payday. "I've got a job only you can do," he explains. "Now, listen carefully, you must knock out this alarm system. It's called 'Big Ben.' If it goes off, the whole city can hear it." Miller shows Wallace the vault on the top floor where the International Insurance Company has a cool million. "Now I know you can handle this safe, Steve, but Big Ben is the problem. The buzzing of a fly, a footstep, a deep breath is enough to trip the alarm." Miller pauses and then observes in an effort to entice Wallace. "Nobody has ever thought of it before." Wallace refuses flatly to pull the job for Miller. Before he worked for Miller, Wallace never encountered trouble. He wound up serving three years in prison when he did his first job for Miller. Nevertheless, Wallace tours the building and finds the edifice decked out with surveillance galore. He heads up to the top floor to snoop around but the disembodied voice of a woman interrupts him. He tells her that he has an appointment with Mr. Schmitt. The woman at a central control desk tells him that Schmitt's office is located on the second floor. Miller's rough-hewn henchman (Romano Puppo of "Death Rides A Horse") spots him leaving the building. He tries to persuade Wallace to see Miller again. Wallace refuses. While they are talking, a young man in an old jalopy, Marco (Giuliano Gemma), pulls up behind the henchman and honks at him. The two tangle in a rough and tumble fight with Marco demonstrating his agility. Miller's man brandishes a pistol. Wallace intervenes and knocks the gun out of the thug's fist.Wallace and Marco become fast friends as a result of this chance encounter. Wallace convinces Anna he can steal millions without being held accountable if he stages one robbery but takes the fall for another lesser robbery. If everything goes according to plan, Wallace calculates that--under German law--he will only serve 18 months from robbing a pawn shop. Unfortunately, Marco relies too heavily on his switchblade knife. Earlier, Wallace warns Marco sternly about this predilection. Director Lupo does a good job of staging the International Insurance safe-cracking job. Wallace decides to pull the job in the afternoon rather than at night. He slips into the building just after it has closed and looks like just another businessman with a bag that contains his instruments. Meantime, Anna makes appropriate phone calls at the precise moments to distract the uniformed guards while our hero sets up an array of gadgets to warn him when the guards are making their rounds. He uses Mozart music to skillfully distract the 'Big Ben' alarm system. Furthermore, after he gains access to the vault room, Wallace sprinkles powder on the push-buttons that must be punched according to a sequence to raise the circular vault out of the floor. He uses the powder to determine which buttons have fingerprints on them. Pretty savvy!!! Unfortunately, the best laid plans go awry when poor Marco kills the guard. You'd think after his knock down, drag-out brawl with Miller's henchman that Marco could have beaten the guard and left him unconscious. That isn't the point. The guard must be found down and at the last moment so that it comes as a complete surprise to Wallace."Un uomo da rispettare" is one of those crime caper films made after the demise of the Production Code. Earlier, Hollywood as well as European films would never allow criminals to escape with their ill-gotten gains. This would constituted a prescription for anarchy. Filmmakers could not make such a radical, anti-status-quo statement. The idea that 'crime could pay' would have been considered unethical! Cleverly, however, Lupo and scenarists Roberto Leoni, Franco Bucceri, Mino Roli, and Nico Ducci create suspense by letting Wallace get away with one robbery, only to be nabbed for another one! After all, this is a testament to Wallace's brilliance as a safe-cracker. The slam-bang car chase between Marco and Miller's lieutenant around Hamburg is amusing.