The Anderson Tapes (1971)

Director:

Sidney Lumet

Writers:

Lawrence Sanders (novel)
Frank Pierson (screenplay)

Release Date:

2 September 1971 (West Germany)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

The Crime of the Century!

Plot:

A thief (Duke Anderson) just released from ten years in jail, takes up with his old girlfriend (Ingrid) in her posh apartment...

Plot Keywords:

Surveillance | Tape | New York City | Surveillance Camera | City

Cast

Sean Connery	...	Anderson
Dyan Cannon	...	Ingrid
Martin Balsam	...	Tommy Haskins
Ralph Meeker	...	Delaney
Alan King	...	Angelo
Christopher Walken	...	The Kid
Val Avery	...	Parelli
Dick Anthony Williams	...	Spencer (as Dick Williams)
Garrett Morris	...	Everson
Stan Gottlieb	...	Pop
Paul Benjamin	...	Jimmy
Anthony Holland	...	Psychologist
Richard B. Shull	...	Werner (as Richard B. Schull)
Conrad Bain	...	Dr. Rubicoff
Margaret Hamilton	...	Miss Kaler
Judith Lowry	...	Mrs. Hathaway
Max Showalter	...	Bingham
Janet Ward	...	Mrs. Bingham
Scott Jacoby	...	Jerry Bingham
Norman Rose	...	Longene
Meg Myles	...	Mrs. Longene (as Meg Miles)
John Call	...	O'Leary
Raoul Kraushaar	...	D'Medico (as Ralph Stanley)
John Braden	...	Vanessi
Paula Trueman	...	Nurse
Michael B. Miller	...	First Agent (as Michael Miller)
Michael Prince	...	Johnson
Frank Macetta	...	Papa Angelo
Jack Doroshow	...	Eric
Michael Clary	...	Eric's Friend
Hildy Brooks	...	Receptionist
Robert Dagny	...	Doctor
Bradford English	...	T.V. Watcher
Reid Cruickshanks	...	Judge (as Reid Cruckshanks)
Tom Signorelli	...	Sync Man
Carmine Caridi	...	Detective A
Michael Fairman	...	Sergeant Claire
George Patelis	...	Detective B
William J. Daprato	...	Detective C (as William Daprato)
Sam Coppola	...	Private Detective
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Mary Boylan	...	Bus Station Lady (uncredited)
Bruce Brown	...	Policeman (uncredited)
Charles Frank	...	Ambulance Attendant (uncredited)
Al Kirk	...	Thief (uncredited)
Helen Martin	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Tom Nobles	...	Police Lt. (uncredited)

Directed by
Sidney Lumet

Writing credits
Lawrence Sanders		(novel "The Anderson Tapes")
Frank Pierson		(screenplay) (as Frank R. Pierson)

Produced by
George Justin	....	associate producer
Robert Weitman	....	producer (as Robert M. Weitman)

Original Music by
Quincy Jones

Cinematography by
Arthur J. Ornitz		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Joanne Burke

Casting by
Marion Dougherty

Production Design by
Ben Kasazkow		(as Benjamin J. Kasazkow)

Art Direction by
Philip Rosenberg

Set Decoration by
Alan Hicks

Costume Design by
Gene Coffin

Makeup Department
Betty DeStefano	....	hair stylist (as Betty Destefano)
Ian Forest	....	hair stylist (as Ian Forrest)
Saul Meth	....	makeup artist

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Alan Hopkins	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Jack Fitzstephens	....	sound editor
Al Gramaglia	....	mixer
Dennis Maitland	....	production sound
James Perdue	....	sound (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Charles Kolb	....	grip
Willie Meyerhoff	....	gaffer (as William Meyerhoff)
Albert Taffet	....	camera operator (uncredited)
Felix Trimboli	....	assistant camera (uncredited)

Casting Department
Vic Ramos	....	extra casting

Editorial Department
Peter Genung	....	assistant editor
Janet Lauretano	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Quincy Jones	....	conductor

Other crew
Roger G. Battie	....	technical consultant: of The William J. Burns International Detective Agency Inc.
Harve Brosten	....	assistant to producer
Nicholas Sgarro	....	script supervisor (as Nick Sgarro)

Production Companies

• Columbia Pictures Corporation (presents) (as Columbia Pictures)
• Robert M. Weitman Productions (as A Robert M. Weitman Production)

Distributors

• Columbia Pictures (1971) (USA) (theatrical)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1972) (USA) (TV) (pan/scan)
• Columbia Films (1977) (France) (theatrical) (as Columbia Film S.A.B.)
• RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video (1983) (USA) (VHS) (pan and scan)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (2002) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2008) (USA) (DVD)
• Columbia Films (197?) (Belgium) (theatrical) (as Columbia Film S.A.)
• LK-TEL Vídeo (19??) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Mill Creek Entertainment (2012) (USA) (DVD)
• Mill Creek Entertainment (2013) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)

Other Companies

• F. Hillsberg  title design (as F. Hillsberg Inc.)
• William J. Burns International Detective Agency  technical consultant: Roger G. Battie of (as The William J. Burns International Detective Agency Inc.)
• Ampex Corporation  video & tape recorders & related equipment by
• Lee's  carpets by
• U.S. Plywood  flexwood paneling by
• Delta Consultants  physical properties & coordination by (as Delta Consultants Inc.)
• Production Resources Co.  physical properties & coordination by

Also Known As:

Runtime:

99 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | Norway:15 | Norway:16 (1971) | Sweden:15 | UK:15 (video rating) (1986) (1993) (2002) | UK:AA (original rating) | USA:GP (original rating) | USA:PG | Iceland:12 | Germany:12 (re-rating) (2013) | West Germany:16 (original rating) | France:U

Filming Locations:

1 East 91st Street, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

This is the first movie in which Connery stopped wearing a toupee.

Goofs:

Continuity: After police rush the building and a large group head upstairs they open double doors at the stairwell that were locked by the thieves from the other side minutes earlier.

Quotes:

The Kid:America, man! You know, it's so beautiful I wanta eat it!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Siskel & Ebert: True Romance/The Ballad of Little Jo/Kalifornia/The Joy Luck Club/The Real McCoy" (1993)

Ho-hum heist

The late 60's and early 70's saw a spate of heist movies ("The Heist", "The Hot Rock", "How To Steal A Diamond") but this didn't strike me as being one of the best of them, despite Sidney Lumet directing and a toupee-less Sean Connery starring.

The gimmick to the story, as is made abundantly clear from the outset, is that released felon Connery's every move and utterance is being taped, not only by the authorities but also by the jealous sugar daddy of his call-girl lover Dyan Cannon, in the end thwarting his big-idea plan to clean out every flat in a luxury complex of their occupants' rich pickings.

The improbability of the story is its biggest stumbling block. Despite having mob connections you don't comprehend just why Connery merits such official attention which added to the coincidence of Cannon's surveillance too, stretches credulity way too far. In other ways a determinedly adult-oriented film, especially the scenes between Connery and Cannon in bed and the casual violence of the heist itself, it wants to be gritty and grown- up, at the same time attempting to be modern and clever with various showy directorial techniques (assorted flashbacks, stop-start sequencing), but in the end it all fails to gel and underachieves, with too many inconsequential scenes and thinly-drawn characterisations at its heart. The robbery itself attempts to impose some forced and unwelcome humour by highlighting the individual quirks of the intended victims which include a disabled computer whizz-kid, an ancient but feisty old woman and a warring couple but this just comes across as distasteful and glosses over the real horror and violation I'm sure any ordinary citizen would feel at the violation they endure.

The acting is mixed, Connery seemingly miscast as the "Limey" (he'd hate that) leader of the motley crew he gathers around him for the job, amongst whom only Martin Balsam as way-too-far over-the-top homosexual and a young Christopher Walken as a savvy new- kid-on-the-block, shine. Dyan Cannon is wasted in an underwritten role and is mainly required, it seems, to be something for Connery to nuzzle up to.

No, not the greatest of caper films and not the strongest item in the careers of Messrs Lumet and Connery. I'm a keen student of early 70's contemporary thrillers and had high hopes for this movie, but like Connery's character's plans, it just never got off the ground.