Wednesday, October 26, 2016

Harry and Walter Go to New York (1976)

Director: Mark Rydell

Writers: Don Devlin, John Byrum, Robert Kaufman

Composer: David Shire

Starring: James Caan, Elliott Gould, Michael Caine, Diane Keaton, Charles Durning, Lesley Ann Warren, Val Avery, Jack Gilford, Dennis Dugan, Carol Kane, Burt Young, Ted Cassidy, Brion James

More info: IMDb

Tagline: All the Digby-Hill-Chestnut gang need is two breaks... out of jail... into a safe.

Plot: Two hoplessly out of their class con-men attempt to pull off the largest bank heist of the l9th century. They gain the enmity of the most famous bank Robber in the world and the affection of a crusading newspaperwoman.



My rating:

Will I watch it again?  Nope.

Ugh.  Big comedies that aren't funny can be painful.  This one isn't funny but it's also not painful.  The cast does well with what they've got but this feels more suited for the likes of Abbott & Costello if it were made in the 40s.  I can see this being A LOT funnier with them thirty years earlier.  It's a film that probably looks better on paper.  I'm not sure where it went wrong (the script is the likely culprit) but it's just not fun, mildly amusing at best but not fun as it desperately wants to be.  The direction, score, editing, production values etc are great.  I'm a fan of a lot of these folks (it's got a great cast, filled with wonderful character actors) so there's no keeping me away from seeing it.  It's always great to see Ted Cassidy with some lines.  I need to see if if he did any films with a more substantial role.  He's great.  I'm glad I finally did but I'm disappointed it wasn't better than it was or at least funnier.  


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