CrimeThriller

Charley Varrick

- When he runs out of dumb luck, he always has genius to fall back on!

Charley Varrick robs a bank in a small town with his friends, but instead of obtaining a small amount of money, they discover they stole a very large amount of money belonging to the mob. Charley must now come up with a plan to not only evade the police but the mob as well.

Release Date : 1973-09-19

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Universal Pictures

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Character Name : Charley Varrick

Original Name : Walter Matthau

Gender : Male

Character Name : Molly

Original Name : Joe Don Baker

Gender : Male

Character Name : Sybil Fort

Original Name : Felicia Farr

Gender : Female

Character Name : Harman Sullivan

Original Name : Andrew Robinson

Gender : Male

Character Name : Jewell Everett

Original Name : Sheree North

Gender : Female

Character Name : Mr. Garfinkle

Original Name : Norman Fell

Gender : Male

Character Name : Honest John

Original Name : Benson Fong

Gender : Male

Character Name : Harold Young

Original Name : Woodrow Parfrey

Gender : Male

Character Name : Bill Horton

Original Name : William Schallert

Gender : Male

Character Name : Nadine

Original Name : Jacqueline Scott

Gender : Female

Character Name : Mrs. Taft

Original Name : Marjorie Bennett

Gender : Female

Character Name : Deputy Sanchez

Original Name : Rudy Diaz

Gender : Male

Character Name : Deputy Steele

Original Name : Colby Chester

Gender : Male

Character Name : Maynard Boyle

Original Name : John Vernon

Gender : Male

Character Name : Highway Deputy

Original Name : Charlie Briggs

Gender : Male

Character Name : Miss Ambar

Original Name : Priscilla Garcia

Gender : Female

Character Name : Mr. Scott

Original Name : Scott Hale

Gender : Male

Character Name : Boy

Original Name : Charles Matthau

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mess Vesta

Original Name : Hope Summers

Gender : Female

Character Name : Beverly

Original Name : Monica Lewis

Gender : Female

Character Name : Clerk

Original Name : James Nolan

Gender : Male

Character Name : Tom

Original Name : Tom Tully

Gender : Male

Character Name : Percy Randolph

Original Name : Albert Popwell

Gender : Male

Character Name : Jessie

Original Name : Kathleen O'Malley

Gender : Female

Character Name : Jana

Original Name : Christina Hart

Gender : Female

Character Name : Van Sickle

Original Name : Craig R. Baxley

Gender : Male

Character Name : Taxi driver

Original Name : Al Dunlap

Gender : Male

Character Name : Chinese Hostess

Original Name : Virginia Wing

Gender : Female

Character Name : Murphy

Original Name : Don Siegel

Gender : Male

Character Name : Bank Guard (uncredited)

Original Name : Bob Steele

Gender : Male

Character Name : Joe Conforte (uncredited)

Original Name : Joe Conforte

Gender : Male

Character Name : Indian (uncredited)

Original Name : Carol Daniels

Gender : Female

Reviews

John Chard

@John Chard

2024-05-16

You can never worry too much... ...when you got the fuzz and the mafia after you. Charley Varrick is a quality caper movie courtesy of director Don Siegel and backed up by a wonderful understated performance from Walter Matthau as Charley Varrick. Varrick along with his partners rob a small New Mexico bank, but instead of the usual decent haul they find that they have nabbed over $760.000, sadly for the boys it is mafia money that the bank was laundering. Varrick is a smart cookie and thinks it should be given back, but his young greedy partner insists that it's a chance of a lifetime and convinces Varrick that they should keep the cash. This not only brings the law after them but also sadistic hit-man for the mob, Molly, and he is cruelty personified. Can the boys flee the country in one piece? This is a delightful film that relies heavy on character development and strength of plot. Siegel gets fine performances from the supporting cast to back up the cunningly sedate lead turn from Matthau. As Siegel left Dirty Harry behind, where 1973 saw the sequel Magnum Force released (Ted Post directing), the director gives us a complete opposite to the machismo of Harry Callahan. Matthau’s Varrick is low-key and hang-dogged, but below that sleepy exterior beats the heart of a cunning devil and he’s the one with all the aces up his sleeves. Andy Robinson as Varrick's partner Harman Sullivan is all twitchy and on the edge, whilst Joe Don Baker as hit-man Molly is simply magnetic in his icy portrayal. Lalo Schifrin again scores for Siegel with great results, and the photography from Michael Butler is very rich indeed as the locales seep with that bleached dried look. This is great storytelling with suspense and no little action (the opening robbery and the finale involving a car and a plane joust are quality Siegel constructions), but most of all it's a film to remind you that cinema can be great without crash bang wallop every ten minutes. An excellent heist and escape movie. 8/10