Charley Varrick (1973)

Director:

Don Siegel

Writers:

John Reese (novel)
Howard Rodman (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

19 September 1973 (Sweden)

Genre:

Crime | Thriller | Drama

Tagline:

He stole from the Mob, now he's running for his life.

Plot:

Charley Varrick and his friends rob a small town bank. Expecting a small sum to divide amongst themselves...

Plot Keywords:

Crop Duster | Chase | Mafia | Cop Killer | Bank Robbery

Awards:

Won BAFTA Film Award. Another 1 nomination

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Walter Matthau	...	Charley Varrick
Joe Don Baker	...	Molly
Felicia Farr	...	Sybil Fort
Andrew Robinson	...	Harman Sullivan (as Andy Robinson)
Sheree North	...	Jewell Everett
Norman Fell	...	Mr. Garfinkle
Benson Fong	...	Honest John
Woodrow Parfrey	...	Harold Young
William Schallert	...	San Miguel Sheriff Bill Horton
Jacqueline Scott	...	Nadine
Marjorie Bennett	...	Mrs. Taft
Rudy Diaz	...	Deputy Sanchez
Colby Chester	...	Deputy Steele
Charlie Briggs	...	Highway deputy
Priscilla Garcia	...	Miss Ambar

Also Known As:

Kill Charley Varrick (Europe: English title)
The Last of the Independents (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

111 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Singapore:PG | West Germany:16 (nf) (re-rating) | West Germany:18 (nf) (original rating) | France:Unrated | UK:15 | Finland:K-16 | Norway:16 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

Mustang, Nevada, USA

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

Director Cameo: ['Don Siegel (I)']a table tennis player.

Goofs:

Audio/visual unsynchronized: During the chase scene between Baker's sedan and Matthau's bi-plane, the tires of the sedan 'screech' repeatedly as though they were running on pavement, while the terrain is sandy desert scrub.

Quotes:

Molly: [when asked if he would like a prostitute] I don't sleep with whores... at least, not knowingly.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Xenobites (2008)

I`m Sure Quentin Tarantino Has Seen This

Did someone say this was written for Clint Eastwood in the title role rather than Walter Matthau ? This would explain how Charley has a couple of sidekicks half his age and how he has a distasteful scene of going to bed with someone young enough to be his daughter . Hey wait a minute if Eastwood had been cast would they have left in that line about " I figured you weren`t Clint Eastwood " ? As for the rest of the cast Joe Don Baker is memorable as a really evil hitman , John Vernon plays the most laid back mobster I think I`ve ever seen in a movie while Andrew Robinson is slightly disappointing after his show stopping appearence in DIRTY HARRY but it`s amazing to think his only notable role after this movie is in HELLRAISER some fourteen years later

CHARLEY VARRICK is a very clever and totally amoral thriller . It`s the sort of film Quentin Tarantino wants to make but he doesn`t have the economy of skill to do so , and I couldn`t help noticing there`s a line of dialogue about " A blow torch and a pair of pliers " that seems to have been reused in PULP FICTION