The Split (1968)

Interesting facts

The Split is a 1968 American neo-noir crime drama film directed by Gordon Flemyng. It was written by Robert Sabaroff, based upon the Parker novel The Seventh by Richard Stark.

Production

The screenplay of The Split was written by Robert Sabaroff. The film was produced by Robert Chartoff and Irwin Winkler. They had just made Point Blank, another movie based on a Parker novel, for MGM. Winkler first offered the lead role to Steve McQueen, who was interested, but ultimately decided to make Bullitt instead. Brown, who had read the script and was enthusiastic about it, was then cast as the lead.

Chartoff and Winkler had had success with a British director, John Boorman, on Point Blank. Seeking another, they chose Gordon Flemyng, who had impressed them with his work on Great Catherine. A strong supporting cast for Brown was selected.

Said Chartoff of the lead character, "This negro is no Harvard graduate on his way to winning a Nobel prize ... He doesn't hit a white man just because he had been hit by him first."

Brown's original action double for the film was Black Stuntmen's Association founding member Calvin Brown. Prior to the 1960s, on the rare occasions that a stunt double was required for a black actor, he or she was usually played by a "painted down" white performer. Bill Cosby became instrumental in changing this practice when he refused to be doubled by painted down stuntmen on I Spy.

Released shortly after the MPAA rating system was introduced on November 1, 1968, the film is among the earliest titles to receive an R rating.

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