11 Harrowhouse (1974)

User Rating:

6.0/10   

Director:

Aram Avakian

Writers:

Gerald A. Browne (novel)
Charles Grodin (adaptation)

Release Date:

2 October 1974 (Sweden)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime

Tagline:

This is like no robbery you've ever imagined

Plot:

A small time diamond merchant jumps at the chance to supervise the purchase and cutting of a large first class diamond...

Plot Keywords:

Heist | Planning | Diamond Theft | Spoof | Heist Movie

Cast

Charles Grodin	...	Howard R. Chesser
Candice Bergen	...	Maren Shirell
James Mason	...	Charles D. Watts
Trevor Howard	...	Clyde Massey
John Gielgud	...	Meecham
Helen Cherry	...	Lady Anne Bolding
Peter Vaughan	...	Coglin
Glynn Edwards	...	First Guard
Leon Greene	...	Max Toland, Jewel Thief
Jack Watson	...	Miller, 11 Harrowhouse Security
Jack Watling	...	Fitzmaurice
Clive Morton	...	Sir Harold the Chairman
Cyril Shaps	...	Wildenstein, the Diamond Cutter
Larry Cross	...	Whitman
John Bindon	...	Second Guard

Also Known As:

Anything for Love (USA) (TV title)
Eleven Harrowhouse
Fast Fortune

Runtime:

94 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

London, England, UK

Company:

Elliott Kastner Productions

Trivia:

The last film of Clive Morton.

Quotes:

Howard R. Chesser: Slow down! You're reckless!
Maren Shirell: I'm not reckless, I'm skillful.

Soundtrack:

Day after Day

Robert Morgan's review notes that there are two vastly different versions of this film

One with the Grodin narration, and one without. I suspect many of the negative reviews refer to the highly edited TV-version. Unfortunately, I'm not sure if the commercial VHS tape offered is the edited version, so caution is advised.

As a fan of heist films, I only recently learned of this rare film and had an opportunity to obtain the widescreen laserdisc presentation. And while it's true that this isn't a top-notch comedy or thriller, it's certainly better than you would think given the majority of less-than-flattering reviews here.

There are clever heist tricks - many of which have not been used again since this film. You know how much Hollywood likes to "borrow" clever ideas and use them over and over to the point where they become sad clichés. Well, you have to admire the use of cockroaches and chocolate cake to defeat an ultra-secure vault! How many times have you seen that done before? Or since?

If you're a fan of the heist genre or a Grodin devotee - this is a 'must see'. Otherwise, I'd wait 'til it gets a DVD release.