After five years in prison and 14 armed robberies, wavy-haired Nick Nolte (as Daniel Lucas) is out on parole. His cell-mates are going to miss those golden locks. Dressed for success, Mr. Nolte gets a ride to the bank from former arresting officer James Earl Jones (as Dugan). Nolte hopes to open an account with his prison paycheck - he earned 25 cents an hour working in the laundry. While opening his account, Nolte is taken hostage by bumbling bank robber Martin Short (as Ned Perry). The men become unlikely partners because police think Nolte must be the mastermind...
Mr. Short planned the heist to get money for his mute daughter Sarah Rowland Doroff (as Meg). She hasn't spoken since the death of her mother. The plot follows writer-director Francis Veber's original French-language version, "Les fugitifs" (1986). This is the one area where "Three Fugitives" could have been made more distinctive. The little girl is amazingly cute and adds a high level humanity to the co-stars, but that could have been handled in other ways. Imagine the little girl as a sassy young teenager revealed to have prompted papa to hold up the bank - inadvertently, of course...
Another suggestion would have been to add some make-up and more womanly features to Short's disguise when he and Nolte are posing as husband and wife. This is something a teenage daughter could have helped with. Still, Martin Short is a very, very funny fellow and Mr. Veber directs everyone well. Finally, "Three Fugitives" gives supporting actor Kenneth McMillan (as Doctor Horvath) a great last role. His first appearance was on the fantastical TV serial "Dark Shadows" as a sailor frightened by the arrival of Leviathans. Always an asset, he's an old veterinarian, herein.
******* Three Fugitives (1/27/89) Francis Veber ~ Martin Short, Nick Nolte, Kenneth McMillan, James Earl Jones
Mr. Short planned the heist to get money for his mute daughter Sarah Rowland Doroff (as Meg). She hasn't spoken since the death of her mother. The plot follows writer-director Francis Veber's original French-language version, "Les fugitifs" (1986). This is the one area where "Three Fugitives" could have been made more distinctive. The little girl is amazingly cute and adds a high level humanity to the co-stars, but that could have been handled in other ways. Imagine the little girl as a sassy young teenager revealed to have prompted papa to hold up the bank - inadvertently, of course...
Another suggestion would have been to add some make-up and more womanly features to Short's disguise when he and Nolte are posing as husband and wife. This is something a teenage daughter could have helped with. Still, Martin Short is a very, very funny fellow and Mr. Veber directs everyone well. Finally, "Three Fugitives" gives supporting actor Kenneth McMillan (as Doctor Horvath) a great last role. His first appearance was on the fantastical TV serial "Dark Shadows" as a sailor frightened by the arrival of Leviathans. Always an asset, he's an old veterinarian, herein.
******* Three Fugitives (1/27/89) Francis Veber ~ Martin Short, Nick Nolte, Kenneth McMillan, James Earl Jones