Charley Varrick

Charley Varrick is a 1972 crime film directed by Don Siegel and starring Walter Matthau, Andrew Robinson and Joe Don Baker. The film was based on the novel, The Looters, by John Reese. Another lean Siegel crime thriller, full of well-drawn but unpleasant characters, studied cinematography, music by Lalo Schifrin and, surprisingly, an implausible plot.

Related Topics:
1972 - Crime film - Don Siegel - Walter Matthau - Andrew Robinson - Joe Don Baker - John Reese - Lalo Schifrin

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Charley Varrick (Matthau) is a crop-duster by trade ("Last of the Independents", is the byline to his company, and Siegel initially wanted that as the film title). By inclination he prefers armed robbery, but the aging trailer-park dweller has clearly not been too successful. Together with four others, including his wife Nadine (Jacqueline Scott) and edgy Harman Sullivan (Robinson), he robs the small Tres Cruces bank. During the raid, two policemen and the fourth robber are killed and Nadine wounded, dying soon afterwards. Varrick and Sullivan find themselves with far more money that expected, or the bank manager (a wonderfully puny character played by Woodrow Parfrey) reports stolen. Realising they have stumbled onto a 'Mob' operation they find themselves in trouble. Calculating 'Mob' boss Maynard Boyle (John Vernon) puts the cheerful but viciously amoral Molly (Baker) on their trail.

Related Topics:
Jacqueline Scott - Woodrow Parfrey - John Vernon

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