Livers Ain't Cheap

Livers Ain’t Cheap (also known as The Real Thing) is a 1996 crime film written and directed  by James Merendino and  starring James Russo, Jeremy Piven, Emily Lloyd, Fabrizio Bentivoglio, Ashley Lawrence, Esai Morales, Gary Busey & Rod Steiger.

Plot
Rupert Little is an ex-con, has decided to go straight. His little brother James wants to pursue a life of delinquency. After being released from jail, James tells Rupert that while he was in jail, he overheard Dexter, a criminal who was arrested for a purse snatching incident, tells his friend Collin that he plans to heist a nightclub on New Year's Eve. But when James is suddenly gunned down by Collin, who wanted him out of the way, he lies in a hospital bed. When Rupert arrives at the hospital, he learns that James needs a liver transplant. Determined to save him, Rupert decides to execute the heist himself to get the money he needs. After Rupert quits his job, he assembles a crew of ex-cons, including Dexter who had to break out of prison, his best friend John & his ex-girlfriend Lisa Turtle. On the night of the heist, Rupert & his gang enter the nightclub for a climax showdown that spins out of control.

Cast

 * James Russo as Rupert Little
 * Jeremy Piven as John
 * Fabrizio Bentivoglio as Alfredo Donati
 * Robert LaSardo as Eric Fidel
 * Ashley Laurence as Carla
 * Emily Lloyd as Lisa Tuttle
 * Dave Buzzotta as James Little
 * Rod Steiger as Victor
 * Pat Gallagher as Dexter
 * Esai Morales as Collin
 * Gary Busey as Foreman
 * Max Perlich as Tom
 * Barbara Nickell as Bartender
 * James Wardlaw as Magnus

Production
Principal photography began on July 1, 1995 & lasted for 30 days. Filming took place in & around Los Angeles, California. The prison breakout scene was filmed at the Old Montana Prison in Deer Lodge, Montana. Filming at the prison began on the evening of July 20. Part of the area was cordoned off for filming. The crew used a one camera movement for filming the character Dexter climbing from the prison wall, dressed as a guard, walking out from the gate, across the bridge & into a car. Filming at the prison was finished in the early morning hours on July 21. After that, the cast and crew went back to Los Angeles and filming wrapped in late July.

Released
Livers Ain't Cheap was released at the Palm Springs Film Festival on January 12, 1996.

Home Video
The film was released on VHS on January 13, 1998. Instead of using the original title, it was released under the new title The Real Thing.