The Hot Rock (1972)

Director:

Peter Yates

Writers:

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

Release Date:

26 January 1972 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Comedy | Crime

Tagline:

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

Plot:

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...

Plot Keywords:

Heist | Locksmith | Recruiting | Police Station | Prison Escape

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 1 nomination

Cast

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

Also Known As:

How to Steal a Diamond (UK) (informal title)
How to Steal a Diamond in Four Uneasy Lessons (UK)

Runtime:

101 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Iceland:16 | UK:U | Canada:PG (video rating) | Finland:K-16 | Norway:15 | Norway:16 (1972) | Sweden:15 | USA:GP (original rating) | USA:PG | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

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

Company:

Landers-Roberts Productions

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 get to use "no parking" zones when they might be making emergency visits.)

Goofs:

Miscellaneous: The Swedish 9mm SMG used is by no means realistic. They are both mounted with the special barrel and security equipment used for firing blanks for this actual type of SMG - plastic bullets that disintegrates when fired - only used in combat training.

Quotes:

Abe Greenberg: I am so astute, it's remarkable. There are some things people will not do.
Dortmunder: But they're things that get done that you can't do yourself. There's things that happen that you can make happen.

Soundtrack:

When You Believe

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?"......