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IMDb > The Hot Rock (1972)
The Hot Rock
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The Hot Rock (1972) More at IMDbPro »

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Overview

User Rating:
6.7/10   1,936 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 5% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers:
Donald E. Westlake (novel)
William Goldman (screenplay)
Contact:
View company contact information for The Hot Rock on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
26 January 1972 (USA) more
Genre:
Tagline:
How many times does it take to steal the same diamond? more
Plot:
Dortmunder and his pals plan to steal a huge diamond from a museum. But this turns out to be only the first time they have to steal it... full summary | add synopsis
Awards:
Nominated for Oscar. Another 1 nomination more
NewsDesk:
(3 articles)
Writer Donald E. Westlake dies, aged 75
 (From digitalspy. 2 January 2009, 3:40 PM, PST)

Mystery Writer Westlake Dies
 (From WENN. 2 January 2009, 4:08 AM, PST)

User Reviews:
This may be the movie that hooked me on caper films. more (51 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Robert Redford ... Dortmunder

George Segal ... Kelp
Ron Leibman ... Murch
Paul Sand ... Greenberg
Moses Gunn ... Dr. Amusa
William Redfield ... Lt. Hoover
Topo Swope ... Sis
Charlotte Rae ... Ma Murch
Graham Jarvis ... Warden (as Graham P. Jarvis)
Harry Bellaver ... Rollo the Bartender
Seth Allen ... Happy Hippie

Robert Levine ... Cop at Police Station
Lee Wallace ... Dr. Strauss
Robert Weil ... Albert
Lynne Gordon ... Miasmo
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Also Known As:
How to Steal a Diamond (UK) (informal title)
How to Steal a Diamond in Four Uneasy Lessons (UK)
more
Runtime:
101 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (Westrex Recording System)
Certification:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
In the Dortmunder novels by Donald Westlake, Kelp always steals cars owned by medical doctors. In the movie, the license plates of the stolen cars have the letters "MD" as part of the plate number. (Kelp's reason is that doctors get to use "no parking" zones when they might be making emergency visits.) more
Goofs:
Factual errors: Abe Greenberg has a conversation with his son using the monitored visitor telephones. As his son's attorney, they would have been entitled to a private conversation. more
Quotes:
Warden: [as he is being released from prison] No matter what institution I'm in, sooner or later I got you inside it. You couldn't, um, really go straight?
Dortmunder: [after a thoughtful pause and an exhale] My heart wouldn't be in it, Frank.
more
Soundtrack:
When You Believe more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
10 out of 10 people found the following review useful.
This may be the movie that hooked me on caper films., 18 March 2003
Author: Sean Walsh (spykdogs) from Sacramento, California

I saw this film for the first time when I was a kid of about 4th grade age. It hooked me then and has stuck with me ever since as an enjoyable, fun, light caper movie. Granted it is not deep, serious or complicated. You do, however, "get your money's worth" because there is more than one caper that gets pulled for the good guys to finally come out ahead. If you are looking for fun adventure with the 70's charm and very little violence and virtually no adult language, give this movie a try.

Was the above review useful to you?
more (51 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Hot Rock (1972)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Funny bit from the book left out loweco99
sand stole liebman's steal onleft22-558-111411
Ron Liebman stole film! Aujouret
Movie locales cryptical70
Steve McQueen Cameo? Alvy Singer
Six years to build? buckaroobanzai50
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