The Anderson Tapes (1971)

Director:

Sidney Lumet

Writers:

Lawrence Sanders (novel)
Frank Pierson (screenplay)

Release Date:

2 September 1971 (West Germany)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

The Crime of the Century!

Plot:

A thief (Duke Anderson) just released from ten years in jail, takes up with his old girlfriend (Ingrid) in her posh apartment...

Plot Keywords:

Surveillance | Tape | Jewel Theft | Criminal Gang | Planning

Cast

Sean Connery	...	Duke Anderson
Dyan Cannon	...	Ingrid
Martin Balsam	...	Haskins
Ralph Meeker	...	Police Captain 'Iron Balls' Delaney
Alan King	...	Pat Angelo
Christopher Walken	...	The Kid
Val Avery	...	Parelli aka Socks
Dick Anthony Williams	...	Spencer (as Dick Williams)
Garrett Morris	...	Officer Everson
Stan Gottlieb	...	Pop
Paul Benjamin	...	Jimmy
Anthony Holland	...	Psychologist
Richard B. Shull	...	Werner (as Richard B. Schull)
Conrad Bain	...	Dr. Rubicoff
Margaret Hamilton	...	Miss Kaler
Judith Lowry	...	Mrs. Hathaway
Max Showalter	...	Bingham
Janet Ward	...	Mrs. Bingham
Scott Jacoby	...	Jerry Bingham
Norman Rose	...	Longene
Meg Myles	...	Mrs. Longene (as Meg Miles)
John Call	...	O'Leary
Raoul Kraushaar	...	D'Medico (as Ralph Stanley)
John Braden	...	Vanessi
Paula Trueman	...	Nurse
Michael B. Miller	...	First Agent (as Michael Miller)
Michael Prince	...	Johnson
Frank Macetta	...	Papa Angelo
Jack Doroshow	...	Eric
Michael Clary	...	Eric's Friend
Hildy Brooks	...	Receptionist
Robert Dagny	...	Doctor
Bradford English	...	T.V. Watcher
Reid Cruickshanks	...	Judge (as Reid Cruckshanks)
Tom Signorelli	...	Sync Man
Carmine Caridi	...	Detective A
Michael Fairman	...	Sergeant Claire
George Patelis	...	Detective B
William J. Daprato	...	Detective C (as William Daprato)
Sam Coppola	...	Private Detective
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Bruce Brown	...	Policeman (uncredited)
Charles Frank	...	Ambulance Attendant (uncredited)
Al Kirk	...	Thief (uncredited)
Helen Martin	...	Minor Role (uncredited)

Directed by
Sidney Lumet

Writing credits
Lawrence Sanders		(novel "The Anderson Tapes")
Frank Pierson		(screenplay) (as Frank R. Pierson)

Produced by
George Justin	....	associate producer
Robert Weitman	....	producer (as Robert M. Weitman)

Original Music by
Quincy Jones

Cinematography by
Arthur J. Ornitz

Film Editing by
Joanne Burke

Casting by
Marion Dougherty

Production Design by
Ben Kasazkow		(as Benjamin J. Kasazkow)

Art Direction by
Philip Rosenberg

Set Decoration by
Alan Hicks

Makeup Department
Betty DeStefano	....	hair stylist (as Betty Destefano)
Ian Forest	....	hair stylist (as Ian Forrest)
Saul Meth	....	makeup artist

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Alan Hopkins	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Jack Fitzstephens	....	sound editor
Al Gramaglia	....	sound mixer
Dennis Maitland	....	production sound
James Perdue	....	sound (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Charles Kolb	....	grip
Willie Meyerhoff	....	gaffer (as William Meyerhoff)
Albert Taffet	....	camera operator (uncredited)
Felix Trimboli	....	assistant camera (uncredited)

Casting Department
Vic Ramos	....	extras casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Gene Coffin	....	costumes

Editorial Department
Peter Genung	....	assistant editor
Janet Lauretano	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Quincy Jones	....	conductor

Other crew
Roger G. Battie	....	technical advisor
Harve Brosten	....	assistant to producer
Nicholas Sgarro	....	script supervisor (as Nick Sgarro)

Production Companies

• Columbia Pictures Corporation (presents) (as Columbia Pictures)
• Robert M. Weitman Productions

Distributors

• Columbia Pictures (1971) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia Films (1977) (France) (theatrical)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1972) (USA) (TV) (original airing) (pan/scan)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (2002) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• LK-TEL Vídeo (19??) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2008) (USA) (DVD)

Other Companies

• F. Hillsberg  title design
• William J. Burns International Detective Agency  technical consultant: Roger G. Battie from (as The William J. Burns International Detective Agency Inc.)
• Ampex Corporation  video & tape recorders & related equipment
• Lee's  carpets
• U.S. Plywood  flexwood paneling
• Delta Consultants  physical properties & coordination
• Production Resources Co.  physical properties & coordination

Runtime:

99 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | Norway:15 | Norway:16 (1971) | Sweden:15 | UK:15 (video rating) (1986) | UK:AA (original rating) | USA:GP (original rating) | USA:PG | Iceland:12

Filming Locations:

1 East 91st Street, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

Final feature film of Margaret Hamilton.

Goofs:

Continuity: When the surveillance man from the House Internal Security Committee picks up the large shotgun microphone, he switches it from his right hand to his left when he turns on one of the tape recorders. In the next shot, as he's still recording the message, the microphone is resting on the table and aiming a different direction.

Quotes:

Anderson: What's advertising but a legalized con game? And what the hell's marriage? Extortion, prostitution, soliciting with a government stamp on it. And what the hell's your stock market? A fixed horse race. Some business guy steals a bank, he's a big success story. Face in all the magazines. Some other guy steals the magazine and he's busted.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Lumet: Film Maker (1975)

Great film that sometimes may get overlooked.

Beautifully made caper film by one of the best in his prime, Sydney Lumet. The pacing and balance may be the true art of the film. Premise is a bit far fetched: recently released con (Sean Connery) plans extravagant heist of entire Manhattan apartment building using mob financing. The hitch is that most everywhere he goes during his planning, electronic surveillance follows from varied and sundry sources.

A young Chris Walken heads a superb support group including Dyan Cannon. Martin Balsam is absolutely spectacular as the femme antique dealer.

Slightly dated, but never tired, the story progresses like a time bomb countdown.

Often imitated, rarely duplicated.