The Hot Rock (1972)

Dortmunder and his pals plan to steal a huge diamond from a museum. But this turns out to be only the first time they have to steal it...

Director:

Peter Yates

Writers:

Donald E. Westlake (novel), William Goldman (screenplay)

Stars:

Robert Redford, George Segal, Ron Leibman

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Robert Redford	...	Dortmunder
George Segal	...	Kelp
Ron Leibman	...	Murch
Paul Sand	...	Greenberg
Moses Gunn	...	Dr. Amusa
William Redfield	...	Lt. Hoover
Topo Swope	...	Sis
Charlotte Rae	...	Ma Murch
Graham Jarvis	...	Warden (as Graham P. Jarvis)
Harry Bellaver	...	Rollo the Bartender
Seth Allen	...	Happy Hippie
Robert Levine	...	Cop At Police Station
Lee Wallace	...	Dr. Strauss
Robert Weil	...	Albert
Lynne Gordon	...	Miasmo

Storyline

Dr. Amusa approaches Dortmunder about a valuable gem in a museum that is of great signifigance to his people in Africa, stolen during colonial times. Dortmunder assembles a crack team of cat burglars and hatches an elaborate plan for stealing the gem. Despite their care and experience, circumstances and plain bad luck keep the gem just out of their reach.

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Plot Keywords:

locksmith | heist | criminal mastermind | prison escape | ambulance | 

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Taglines:

How many times does it take to steal the same diamond?

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Genres:

Action | Comedy | Crime

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Certificate:

GP

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 January 1972 (USA)

Also Known As:

Les quatre malfrats

Filming Locations:

Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Landers-Roberts Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

101 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In the Dortmunder novels by Donald Westlake, Kelp always steals cars owned by medical doctors. In the movie, the license plates of the stolen cars have the letters "MD" as part of the plate number. (Kelp's reason is that doctors have expensive tastes, and their cars are usually loaded with the best options - leather seats, stereo, etc..)

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Goofs

While scouting the police station, Dortmunder is mugged of his watch with the wide leather wrist band. However, when they leave the police station by helicopter, the watch is back on his wrist.

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Quotes

Dortmunder: Not me. I've got no choice. I'm not superstitious. And I don't believe in jinxes, but that stone's jinxed me and it won't let go. I've been damned near bitten, shot at, peed on and robbed. And worse is gonna happen before it's done. So I'm takin' my stand. I'm going all the way. Either I get it, or it gets me.

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Connections

Followed by What's the Worst That Could Happen? (2001)

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Soundtracks

"When You Believe"
Written by Bill Rinehart
Sung by Táta

User Reviews

amiable and engaging caper movie

A wonderful cast propels this warmly funny heist movie.As mentioned above-No sex, minute violence (knock on the head), no cussing-and totally entertaining.The cast Redford,Segal,Leibman and Paul Sand are all in top form. Add Zero Mostel and Moses Gunn and you'll find yourself watching with grin all the way through.Look fast for a very young Christopher Guest as a cop.Perfect score by Quincy Jones,and directer Peter Yates injects action into a nice prison break scene.I too, as a teen , saw this movie in the theater and it's still one of my favorites.... "But there are things you can have people do for you....Isn't that right Chicken?"......