The Anderson Tapes (1971)

After Duke Anderson is released from prison after ten years for taking the rap for a scion of a Mafia family, he cashes in a debt of honor with the mob to bankroll a caper.

Director:

Sidney Lumet

Writers:

Lawrence Sanders (novel), Frank Pierson (screenplay) (as Frank R. Pierson)

Stars:

Sean Connery, Dyan Cannon, Martin Balsam

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Sean Connery	...	Robert 'Duke' Anderson
Dyan Cannon	...	Ingrid Everly
Martin Balsam	...	Tommy Haskins
Ralph Meeker	...	Captain Delaney
Alan King	...	Pat Angelo
Christopher Walken	...	The Kid
Val Avery	...	Rocco Parelli
Dick Anthony Williams	...	Edward Spencer (as Dick Williams)
Garrett Morris	...	Sergeant Everson
Stan Gottlieb	...	William 'Pop' Meyerhoff
Paul Benjamin	...	Jimmy
Anthony Holland	...	Psychologist
Richard B. Shull	...	Werner Gottlieb (as Richard B. Schull)
Conrad Bain	...	Dr. Rubicoff
Margaret Hamilton	...	Miss Kaler

Storyline

A thief (Duke Anderson) just released from ten years in jail, takes up with his old girlfriend (Ingrid) in her posh apartment. He makes plans to rob the entire building. What he doesn't know is that his every move is recorded on audio and video tape, although he is not the subject of any surveillance.

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Plot Keywords:

masked robber | police | ex convict | electronic music score | character repeats someone else's dialogue | 

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Taglines:

The runaway best seller is on the screen.

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Genres:

Action | Crime | Thriller

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Certificate:

GP

Did You Know?

Trivia

Third theatrical movie of Christopher Walken (The Kid). His first two were Me and My Brother (1969) and Cleopatra (1970).

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Goofs

When the camera moves to show the paraplegic boy's foot, he is shaking it.

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Quotes

The Kid: Is it right to steal from insurance companies?
Anderson: Look, when you rob a guy who's got insurance, you're doing him a favor. You're giving him a little excitement in his life, a story to tell. He becomes a more interesting person because you robbed him. You boost the insurance company because the publicity gets people to buy insurance. You do the fuzz a favor because, well, you prove they're necessary and deserving of a big pay boost.
The Kid: You believe that?
Anderson: Its bullshit. It's just dog eat dog, but I want the...

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Connections

Referenced in Lumet: Film Maker (1975)

User Reviews

I Couldn't Believe The TV Guides ...

... Gave THE ANDERSON TAPES a bad write up . Seriously this was a very well regarded heist movie when it was released but for some reason when it was broadcast very late on Channel 4 the other night all the TV guides said Sean Connery was wasting his time appearing in this turkey . I know Connery has appeared in more turkeys than reusuable stuffing but THE ANDERSON TAPES isn't one of them . It might not be classic Connery like THE HILL but as entertainment it more than succeeds

I can't help thinking that the TV guide critics are somewhat underwhelmed by certain stereotypical aspects of the movie . Take for example the getaway driver who is black . There seems to have been an attitude in the early 70s that white men can't drive , see also DIRTY HARRY . But I think it's homosexuality rather than race that upsets some TV guide critics . Oh come on chaps , it's a fun thriller not some Derek Jarman art house ego trip and lines like :

" Describe him ? Fifty . Slightly podgy . Fag "

and

" Do as your told and my man will keep his weapon in his pants "

" I'll be the judge of that "

are actually amusing in a mainstream way . It might be politically correct to laugh at these things nowadays but at the time of the original caused a wry smile .

And we get to see a very early performance by Christopher Walken before he became known as " Dead Career Ham Walken "

Details

Official Sites:

Sony Movie Channel [United States]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 September 1971 (France)

Also Known As:

The Anderson Tapes

Filming Locations:

7 East 91st Street, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$3,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures, Robert M. Weitman Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

99 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1