Burglar (1987)

Bernice "Bernie" Rhodenbarr is a burglar by trade, and she runs a bookstore as well. Her friend Carl Hefler is a dog groomer. After a successful burglary, it's discovered that a dead body ... See full summary »

Director:

Hugh Wilson

Writers:

Lawrence Block (novels), Jeph Loeb (screenplay),

Stars:

Whoopi Goldberg, Bobcat Goldthwait, G.W. Bailey

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Whoopi Goldberg	...	Bernice Rhodenbarr
Bobcat Goldthwait	...	Carl Hefler
G.W. Bailey	...	Ray Kirschman
Lesley Ann Warren	...	Dr. Cynthia Sheldrake
James Handy	...	Carson Verrill
Anne De Salvo	...	Detective Todras (as Anne DeSalvo)
John Goodman	...	Detective Nyswander
Elizabeth Ruscio	...	Frankie
Vyto Ruginis	...	K.E. Graybow
Larry Mintz	...	Vincent 'Knobby' DiCarno
Raye Birk	...	The Jogger
Eric Poppick	...	Deliveryman
Scott Lincoln	...	Man in Cadillac
Thom Bray	...	Shoplifter in Bookstore
Nathan Davis	...	Mr. Paggif

Storyline

Bernice "Bernie" Rhodenbarr is a burglar by trade, and she runs a bookstore as well. Her friend Carl Hefler is a dog groomer. After a successful burglary, it's discovered that a dead body was in the house she burgled. As she's the only one who can be placed at the scene of the crime, she has to use her criminal skills to clear her name of the murder AND avoid getting charged with the burglary.

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Plot Keywords:

burglar | bookstore | murder | cat burglar | female protagonist | 

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Taglines:

A first rate comedy about a second story woman.

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA Canada

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 March 1987 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Ladrona

Filming Locations:

San Francisco, California, USA

Box Office

Gross:

$16,337,355 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Nelvana, Warner Bros

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

While loosely based on the Burglar novels by Lawrence Block, two of the principal characters underwent major changes: Bernard "Bernie" Rhodenbarr, a white male bookstore owner/burglar, became Bernice "Bernie" Rhodenbarr as played by Whoopi Goldberg; lesbian dog groomer Carolyn Kaiser, Bernie's best friend, became straight dog groomer Carl Heller and was portrayed by Bobcat Goldthwait.

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Goofs

At the scene at the used book store when Bernice is on the phone trying to reach Abe Froman, the shoplifter approaches the counter to pay for the books. Bernice then locks the door and flips the closed sign leaving the two of them locked in the store. The shoplifter is caught and gets angry, and after Bernice pulls her gun on him and tells him to never steal from her again, he flies out of a now unlocked front door.

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Quotes

Bernice 'Bernie' Rhodenbarr: [Bernice enters the apartment and the alarm sounds] That's right, bitch, don't tell me about the alarm.

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Connections

Referenced in Game On: Episode #3.2 (1998)

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Soundtracks

"New Way of Living"
Written and Performed by The Distance
Produced by Bernard Edwards

User Reviews

Not As Bas As I'd Heard

In 1985 Whoopi Goldberg made her film debut in 'The Color Purple' and gave one of the best performances of all time. After the success of 'The Color Purple' it seemed like Hollywood wasn't really sure how to find the right fit for Goldbergs talents. In 1986 and 1987, she starred in three action comedies, 'Jumpin' Jack Flash,' 'Fatal Beauty,' and 'Burglar.' It seemed like Hollywood was trying to mold her into a female Eddie Murphy.

Of the three, 'Burglar' is easily the best. Goldberg plays Bernice Rhodenbarr, a cat burglar and used book shop owner. When an ex-cop comes to her with a threat to hand in evidence that he withheld years ago that would incriminate her, she is forced to do a job for him. She agrees to steal a dentist's jewelery back from her ex-husband after a messy split. She carries out the crime but is interrupted and has to hide. When she comes out of hiding she finds the man dead and her bag of jewels gone. In order to clear herself she must find out who would want the man dead before the cops can get to her.

While 'Fatal Beauty' was too dark, and 'Jumpin' Jack Flash' was too scatter-shot, 'Burglar' manages to find a good balance between the comedy and the action. Most of the comedy comes from Goldberg, who plays the smart-ass, streetwise type very well. The rest of the laughs come from Bobcat Goldthwait, playing Goldberg's manic friend, and Lesley Ann Warren, playing the frazzled dentist. The rest of the cast plays it straight, not attempting to upstage the star, and it works well.

The film does have it's major flaws. Some sequences drag on too long, some of the comedy falls flat, and the movie is filled with clichéd twists and turns. But when the film works, it works, thanks completely to Goldberg.