Charley Varrick

Director: Don Siegel, Donald Siegel

Overview

"Don Siegal directed this offbeat crime thriller which stars Walter Matthau as the titular Charley Varrick. Varrick is a small-time stick-up man who, in tandem with his partner Harman Sullivan (Andrew Robinson), makes plans to rob a small bank in New Mexi

Product Details

Release Date:	06/01/2010
UPC:	0025192620324
Original Release:	1973
Rating:	PG
Source:	UNIVERSAL STUDIOS
Region Code:	1
Presentation:	[Full Frame]
Language:	English
Time:	1:51:00
Sales rank:	29,729

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Walter Matthau	Actor,Boy
Joe Don Baker	Actor
Felicia Farr	Actor
Andy Robinson	Actor
John Vernon	Maynard Boyle
Sheree North	Jewell Everett
Norman Fell	Mr. Garfinkle
Benson Fong	Honest John
Woodrow Parfrey	Howard Young
William Schallert	Sheriff Bill Horton
Jacqueline Scott	Nadine Varrick
Marjorie Bennett	Mrs. Taff
Rudy Diaz	Rudy Sanchez
Colby Chester	Steele
Charlie Briggs	Highway Deputy
Priscilla Garcia	Miss Ambar
Scott Hale	Mr. Scott
Hope Summers	Miss Vesta
Monica Lewis	Beverly
Jim Nolan	Clerk
Tom Tully	Tom
Albert Popwell	Randolph
Kathleen O'Malley	Jessie
Christina Hart	Jana
Al Dunlap	Taxi Driver
Virginia Wing	Chinese Hostess
Bob Steele	Bank Guard
Craig R. Baxley	Van Sickle
Don Siegel	Murph
Lalo Schifrin	Composer

Technical Credits

Howard Rodman

Dean Riesner

Howard Rodman	Screenwriter
Dean Riesner	Screenwriter
Don Siegel	Producer
Jennings Lang	Executive Producer
Waldon O. Watson	Sound Effects

Editorial Reviews

Genre veteran Don Siegel made one of his more subversive choices when he cast the hangdog Walter Matthau as the cunning title character in 1973's caper flick Charley Varrick. It's almost as if Siegel were trying to deflate the type of mythic hero that he previously helped create in Dirty Harry, poking fun at the creation by presenting its slovenly alter ego. Audiences may have balked at Matthau as a captivating crook, but his sarcastic, laconic presence works well within the well-trod realm of action pictures: he doesn't have to work hard to be funny here; his mere presence gives the movie a lightness and vitality. Ultimately, Siegel uses Matthau to much the same effect as Robert Altman did with Elliott Gould in another great crime picture of 1973, The Long Goodbye: the sly, easygoing, benevolent nature of the lead performer makes the film's seemingly out-of-character violence all the more riveting.