Charley Varrick: Difference between revisions
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==Plot== |
==Plot== |
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Charley Varrick (Matthau) is a [[Aerial application|crop-duster]] and former stunt pilot |
Charley Varrick (Matthau) is a [[Aerial application|crop-duster]] and former stunt pilot. The aging trailer-park dweller has clearly not been too successful. Together with three others, including his wife Nadine and edgy Harman Sullivan, a heavily disguised Varrick robs a small bank in Tres Cruces, New Mexico. During the robbery, two policemen and the fourth robber are killed. Nadine drives the get-away car and eludes the police, but she too has been mortally wounded and dies shortly thereafter. |
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When they count the money, Varrick and Sullivan find themselves with $765,118 — far more money than they expected. |
When they count the money that evening, Varrick and Sullivan find themselves with $765,118 — far more money than they expected. A television news broadcast reports that only $2,000 was stolen according to the bank. Varrick explains to Sullivan that the bank must have been involved in a [[Mafia|mob]] [[money laundering]] operation and that the mafia will pursue them more relentlessly than the police. Varrick tells Sullivan that they can only evade the mafia by laying low and not spending the money immediately. The young and impatient Sullivan will hear none of it and plans to spend the money on the luxuries he craves. |
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Soon, mafia financier Maynard Boyle and [[hitman]] Molly are dispatched to find the robbers and |
Soon, mafia financier Maynard Boyle and [[hitman]] Molly are dispatched to find the robbers and recover the stolen money by any means necessary. |
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Realizing that Sullivan's rashness endangers both of them, Varrick decides to double-cross him before Sullivan can do the same to him. He makes a plan to flee the country and puts in a rush order for two fake passports with Jewell Everett, a pretty photographer. She promptly betrays Varrick and puts Molly on his trail. The sadistic Molly catches up with Sullivan at the trailer, brutally beating and killing him while attempting to determine Varrick's whereabouts. |
Realizing that Sullivan's rashness endangers both of them, Varrick decides to double-cross him before Sullivan can do the same to him. He makes a plan to flee the country and puts in a rush order for two fake passports with Jewell Everett, a pretty photographer. She promptly betrays Varrick and puts Molly on his trail. The sadistic Molly catches up with Sullivan at the trailer, brutally beating and killing him while attempting to determine Varrick's whereabouts. |
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Boyle, meanwhile, terrifies the mousy bank manager Harold Young with the threat that the mob suspects that the robbery to be an inside job as Varrick's gang robbed the bank during the brief period the money would be there. Young also unwittingly guided Varrick to the mafia stash instead of letting him leave with just the tellers' money. |
Boyle, meanwhile, terrifies the mousy bank manager Harold Young with the threat that the mob suspects that the robbery to be an inside job as Varrick's gang robbed the bank during the brief period the money would be there. Young also unwittingly guided Varrick to the mafia stash instead of letting him leave with just the tellers' money. Boyle suggests that Young may be tortured with a pair of pliers and a [[blowtorch]]. Rather than submit to such treatment, Young commits [[suicide]] by shooting himself. |
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Varrick flies his plane to [[Reno, Nevada|Reno]], where he surprises and seduces Boyle's secretary, Sybil Fort, who urges Varrick not to trust her boss. Nonetheless, Varrick sets up a meeting with Boyle in a remote automobile [[wrecking yard]] back in New Mexico, arriving |
Varrick flies his plane to [[Reno, Nevada|Reno]], where he surprises and seduces Boyle's secretary, Sybil Fort, who urges Varrick not to trust her boss. Nonetheless, Varrick sets up a meeting with Boyle in a remote automobile [[wrecking yard]] back in New Mexico, arriving in his crop duster. Varrick ostentatiously hugs Boyle and proclaims they've gotten away with stealing the money. Molly, surveilling the meeting in his car, is convinced that the two must have cooperated in the robbery. He runs down and kills Boyle with his car. |
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Molly then |
Molly then chases Varrick, who tries to escape by plane in the junkyard. Molly damages the crop-duster's tail with his car before it can take off. Varrick's crippled plane flips over. Flat on his back in the wreckage, Varrick can do nothing to save himself except tell Molly where the money is hidden. |
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Seemingly in mortal danger, Varrick has actually set a [[booby trap]] for Molly, flipping the plane on purpose, a trick he learned back in his barnstorming days. Varrick tells him the money is in the trunk of an old Chevy parked among the junkers. Molly opens the Chevy's trunk to retrieve the hidden money and is blown up. In the remains of the explosion are a number of hundred-dollar bills and Sullivan's body, to be mistaken for that of Varrick, who had earlier switched dental records. Varrick scoops up the remaining money and makes his getaway. |
Seemingly in mortal danger, Varrick has actually set a [[booby trap]] for Molly, flipping the plane on purpose, a trick he learned back in his barnstorming days. Varrick tells him the money is in the trunk of an old Chevy parked among the junkers. Molly opens the Chevy's trunk to retrieve the hidden money and is blown up. In the remains of the explosion are a number of hundred-dollar bills and Sullivan's body, to be mistaken for that of Varrick, who had earlier switched dental records. Varrick scoops up the remaining money and makes his getaway. |
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Revision as of 00:00, 8 May 2014
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (October 2012) |
| Charley Varrick | |
|---|---|
 Film poster | |
| Directed by | Don Siegel |
| Written by | John H. Reese (novel) Dean Riesner Howard Rodman |
| Produced by | Don Siegel |
| Starring | Walter Matthau Andrew Robinson Joe Don Baker John Vernon Felicia Farr |
| Cinematography | Michael C. Butler |
| Edited by | Frank Morriss |
| Music by | Lalo Schifrin |
| Distributed by | Universal Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 111 min. |
| Language | English |
Charley Varrick is a 1973 crime film directed by Don Siegel and starring Walter Matthau, Andrew Robinson, Joe Don Baker and John Vernon. The film was based on the novel The Looters by John H. Reese. Tom Tully had a small part as a shopkeeper in a wheelchair. This was his last film.
Plot
Charley Varrick (Matthau) is a crop-duster and former stunt pilot. The aging trailer-park dweller has clearly not been too successful. Together with three others, including his wife Nadine and edgy Harman Sullivan, a heavily disguised Varrick robs a small bank in Tres Cruces, New Mexico. During the robbery, two policemen and the fourth robber are killed. Nadine drives the get-away car and eludes the police, but she too has been mortally wounded and dies shortly thereafter.
When they count the money that evening, Varrick and Sullivan find themselves with $765,118 — far more money than they expected. A television news broadcast reports that only $2,000 was stolen according to the bank. Varrick explains to Sullivan that the bank must have been involved in a mob money laundering operation and that the mafia will pursue them more relentlessly than the police. Varrick tells Sullivan that they can only evade the mafia by laying low and not spending the money immediately. The young and impatient Sullivan will hear none of it and plans to spend the money on the luxuries he craves.
Soon, mafia financier Maynard Boyle and hitman Molly are dispatched to find the robbers and recover the stolen money by any means necessary.
Realizing that Sullivan's rashness endangers both of them, Varrick decides to double-cross him before Sullivan can do the same to him. He makes a plan to flee the country and puts in a rush order for two fake passports with Jewell Everett, a pretty photographer. She promptly betrays Varrick and puts Molly on his trail. The sadistic Molly catches up with Sullivan at the trailer, brutally beating and killing him while attempting to determine Varrick's whereabouts.
Boyle, meanwhile, terrifies the mousy bank manager Harold Young with the threat that the mob suspects that the robbery to be an inside job as Varrick's gang robbed the bank during the brief period the money would be there. Young also unwittingly guided Varrick to the mafia stash instead of letting him leave with just the tellers' money. Boyle suggests that Young may be tortured with a pair of pliers and a blowtorch. Rather than submit to such treatment, Young commits suicide by shooting himself.
Varrick flies his plane to Reno, where he surprises and seduces Boyle's secretary, Sybil Fort, who urges Varrick not to trust her boss. Nonetheless, Varrick sets up a meeting with Boyle in a remote automobile wrecking yard back in New Mexico, arriving in his crop duster. Varrick ostentatiously hugs Boyle and proclaims they've gotten away with stealing the money. Molly, surveilling the meeting in his car, is convinced that the two must have cooperated in the robbery. He runs down and kills Boyle with his car.
Molly then chases Varrick, who tries to escape by plane in the junkyard. Molly damages the crop-duster's tail with his car before it can take off. Varrick's crippled plane flips over. Flat on his back in the wreckage, Varrick can do nothing to save himself except tell Molly where the money is hidden.
Seemingly in mortal danger, Varrick has actually set a booby trap for Molly, flipping the plane on purpose, a trick he learned back in his barnstorming days. Varrick tells him the money is in the trunk of an old Chevy parked among the junkers. Molly opens the Chevy's trunk to retrieve the hidden money and is blown up. In the remains of the explosion are a number of hundred-dollar bills and Sullivan's body, to be mistaken for that of Varrick, who had earlier switched dental records. Varrick scoops up the remaining money and makes his getaway.
Cast
- Walter Matthau as Charley Varrick
- Andy Robinson as Harman Sullivan
- Joe Don Baker as Molly
- John Vernon as Maynard Boyle
- Sheree North as Jewell Everett
- Felicia Farr as Sybil Fort
- Norman Fell as Garfinkle
- Woodrow Parfrey as Harold Young
- William Schallert as Sheriff Horton
- Jacqueline Scott as Nadine
- Benson Fong as Honest John
- Marjorie Bennett as Mrs Taft
- Joe Conforte as himself
- Tom Tully as Tom
Locations
Charley Varrick was set in New Mexico, but filmed primarily in two Nevada towns, Dayton and Genoa. The opening bank robbery exterior shots were filmed in Genoa at the old court house. The police chase of Varrick and his gang were filmed nearby at Genoa Lane, and U.S. Route 395. The interior bank scenes were filmed in Minden. The trailer park scenes were shot in Dayton at the trailer park near today's Red Hawk Casino (closed in 2008) and the Carson River, near U.S. Route 50, at the corner of Hart and Louie Streets. The closing plane flight scene was filmed at City Auto Wrecking, located at Rt. 1 Mustang Exit, Sparks, near the defunct but now reopened Mustang Ranch brothel, ten miles east of Reno. The Chinese restaurant scene was filmed at 538 S. Virginia St., Reno, Nevada. Today a Starbucks coffee shop and Ceol Irish Pub are at this location in Reno. The photographer's studio and gun store scenes were filmed in Gardnerville. Director Don Siegel filmed several of his movies in northern Nevada, including Charley Varrick, The Shootist and Jinxed! The little boy who tells the sheriff he's got blood on his head and asks if he's gonna die is played by Walter Matthau's real life son, Charles, and the apartment building where Varrick meets Miss Fort is the Arlington Towers in Reno.
Awards
British Academy of Film and Television Arts Awards — Best Actor, 1974, Walter Matthau
Award nominations
British Academy of Film and Television Arts Awards — Best Editing, 1974, Frank Morriss
DVD release
The film was released as a Region 1 DVD on December 28, 2004. It has no extras. On February 14, 2008 the film was released as a Region 2 DVD in Europe in Widescreen and some Special Features. Both Versions are uncut.
Production notes
Director Don Siegel wanted Varrick's company's motto, "Last of the Independents," to be the title of the film. The motto appears on the movie poster and briefly as a subtitle in the film trailer.
Cultural references
- In Ray Davies' semi-fictional autobiography, X-Ray, the film Charley Varrick is mentioned approvingly several times, and he claims it is his "favourite video".[1]
- The song "Last of the Independents" by Rory Gallagher was also inspired by Charley Varrick, according to his long-time bassist Gerry McAvoy in his book, Riding Shotgun'".[2]
- The line "... go to work on you with a pair of pliers and a blowtorch ..." is paraphrased in Pulp Fiction.
- The protagonists of 2 Guns rob a bank in Tres Cruces, New Mexico[3]
References
- ^ Davies, Ray X-Ray New York: The Overlook Press, 1995.
- ^ McAvoy, Gerry with Pete Chrisp Riding Shotgun Maidstone, Kent: SPG Triumph, 2005
- ^ http://insidemovies.ew.com/2013/08/02/2-guns-bill-paxton/