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 | safe deposit box key | prison escape | planning | 

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Taglines:

They're out to steal the hottest diamond in town with the funniest schemes in history !

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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:

How to Steal a Diamond in Four Uneasy Lessons

Filming Locations:

Brooklyn Museum - 200 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Landers-Roberts Productions, Twentieth Century Fox

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 E. 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

Kelp: You take failure too hard. I don't mind it so much anymore.

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Crazy Credits

The 20th Century Fox logo is erased away via a "snake effect".

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Alternate Versions

The version of the film shown on AMC (American Movie Classics) features an extra scene after Robert Redford has already left the bank with the Sahara diamond with his partners, where Zero Mostel and Moses Gunn arrive at the bank not knowing that Redford had taken the diamond from the safety deposit box. The newly released DVD by Fox omits this scene and the film ends as they getaway in the station wagon driving along Park Avenue and the End Credits shown instantly afterwards.

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Connections

Referenced in Sliders: To Catch a Slider (1999)

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Soundtracks

Listen To The Melody
Music and arrangement: Quincy Jones
Performed by: Tata with The Ian Smith Singers

User Reviews

" I've heard of the habitual criminal, but never the habitual crime "

From the moment our hero Dortmunder (Robert Redford) is released from prison, that's good. But immediately he comes under attack and that's bad. Fortunately it's his Brother-in-law (George Segal) and that's good, who then offers him a job in a new crime caper and that's bad. However the man who hires them is called Dr. Amusa (Moses Gunn, superb character acting) is rich, and that's good, but he wants them to break into a top security Museum to steal an extremely valuable diamond worth millions and that's bad. However, since the doctor is willing to front all materials necessary to facilitate the theft, that's good, but once they enter the museum and get the precious stone, the thieves cannot seem to hang onto it and that's bad. Still, they are determined to retrieve the elusive gem and that's good. Throughout the movie, one cannot help rooting for the hapless thieves as their simple crime seems to take on a life of it's own and the hilarity of it all makes for a superb film which is destined to become a Classic. The cast of this film is exceptional as we have Ron Leibman playing Murch, Paul Sand as Greenberg and the incomparable Zero Mostel as Abe Greenburg. Altogether this movie is highly recommended to anyone in search of great entertainment. ****