Burglar (1987)

User Rating:

4.4/10   

Director:

Hugh Wilson

Writers:

Lawrence Block (novels)
Jeph Loeb (writer) ...

Release Date:

20 March 1987 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

A first rate comedy about a second story woman.

Plot:

Bernice "Bernie" Rhodenbarr is a burglar by trade, and she runs a bookstore as well. Her friend Carl Hefler is a dog groomer...

Plot Keywords:

Murder | Burglar | Bookstore | Cat Burglar | Ex Convict

Cast

Whoopi Goldberg	...	Bernice 'Bernie' Rhodenbarr
Bob Goldthwait	...	Carl Hefler
G.W. Bailey	...	Ray Kirschman
Lesley Ann Warren	...	Dr. Cynthia Sheldrake
James Handy	...	Carson Verrill
Anne De Salvo	...	Det. Todras (as Anne DeSalvo)
John Goodman	...	Det. Nyswander
Elizabeth Ruscio	...	Frankie
Vyto Ruginis	...	K.E. Graybow
Larry Mintz	...	Vincent 'Knobby' DiCarno
Raye Birk	...	The jogger
Eric Poppick	...	Deliveryman
Scott Lincoln	...	Man in Cadillac
Thom Bray	...	Shoplifter in bookstore
Nathan Davis	...	Mr. Paggif

Runtime:

103 min

Country:

USA | Canada

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:12 | Finland:K-14 | Sweden:15 | USA:R | Australia:M | West Germany:16 | Argentina:13

Filming Locations:

San Francisco, California, USA

Company:

Nelvana

Trivia:

In one of the bar scenes, "WKRP in Cincinnati" (1978) can be seen playing on a television in the background. Director Hugh Wilson was the creator of this series.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the scene when She enters the apartment three cigarette tab ends can be seen in the ash tray yet after she breaks out the closet and surveys the room only two are shown.

Quotes:

[to the man who just tried to kill her by drowning]
Bernice Bernie Rhodenbarr: You ruined my life, my 'do, AND my Manilow tapes!

Movie Connections:

References Marnie (1964)

Soundtrack:

Flying in a Blue Dream

Great Book, Terrible Movie

The book the movie is based on -- Burglars Can't Be Choosers -- and the whole Bernie Rhodenbarr series by Lawrence Block are simply marvelous books - must reads! This movie does a great disservice to the book. The casting choices are odd, given that Bernie is a male character -- and is played by Whoopi Goldberg -- and Carolyn (Carl here) is female, played by Bobcat Goldwaith. This effort to be clever is really a smokescreen for a badly written adaptation. The book is delightful and a joy to read, the movie is heavy handed and dark, with none of the light charms of the original text. My advice to you is simple: In this case, avoid the movie, read the book!