Lassiter – 1984 – English

Lassiter – 1984 – English – Action – Drama – Suspense

Lassiter – 1984 – English

Film directed in 1984 by Roger Young, and starring Tom Selleck, Jane Seymour, Lauren Hutton, Bob Hoskins, Joe Regalbuto, Ed Lauter, Warren Clarke, Edward Peel, Paul Antrim, Christopher Malcolm, Barrie Houghton…

Synopsis: Lassiter is a handsome jewel thief operating in London in the late 1930s. One day he is arrested and told that if he wishes to avoid prison, he must break into the heavily guarded German Embassy in London and steal millions in Gems.

Review: Tom Selleck; best known for the 1980s cop TV show “Magnum P.I.” and of course for his signature mo. But in the middle of that series he starred in a classy, old-fashion crime caper which sees him as jewel thief Nick Lassiter working in London in the 1930s, but one day he’s arrested by Scotland Yard and blackmailed into stealing a large quantity of diamonds that’s kept in the heavily guarded Germany embassy and is looked after by Hitler’s cruel, but seductive secret agent Kari Von Fursten.

What made the film for me were the performances. Selleck is fitting in the main role as Lassiter; suave, but dogged. Who really stood out though were the ladies; Jane Seymour and especially Lauren Hutton. A hypnotic Seymour brought a sweet innocence to her role as Lassiter’s dancer girlfriend, while the very seductively edgy Hutton was the opposite in her kinky femme fatal part. In support there were solid character actors; Joe Regalbuto, Bob Hoskins, Ed Lauter and a burly Warren Clarke as a German bodyguard. Watching how the breezy story unfolds is predictable (although clever in its schemes and throwbacks), but the engrossing script (Whom playing whom), character interactions and planned-out scenarios (numerous instances of caught between a rock and a hard place) are enjoyably digestible and humorously sharp. The direction is trim, but fashionably tailored with good locations and period details. Catchy theme song during the end credits too.