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:

A New Kind of Movie. No Sex. No Blood. No Perversion. Just Good Honest Crime.

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Genres:

Action | Comedy | Crime

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Certificate:

PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

Composer Quincy Jones was so impressed by the performance of his musicians for the soundtrack of the film that he asked Twentieth Century-Fox and the producers of the film to give them on-screen credit. The featured performers given credit on screen were (among others): Gerry Mulligan, Grady Tate, Jerome Richardson, Frank Rosolino, Clark Terry and The Don Elliott Voices, who were all popular jazz musicians at the time.

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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

Abe Greenberg: While you're practicing up on your penmanship, you might leave a little time for a refresher course in plastic surgery. I've been tipping people at that bank for years. Everybody knows Abe Greenberg. That key won't get you anything. Even if you forge my name, you'll never forge this amiable countenance.

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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

Followed by The Bank Shot (1974)

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Soundtracks

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

User Reviews

A nice comedy in a sad era for fashion

Robert Redford plays an ex-convict named "Dortmunder" who, with the help of Kelp (George Segal), Merch (Ron Leibman) and Greenberg (Peter Sands), undertake a goofy and delightful heist of a valuable diamond. This diamond, named the Sahara Stone, was stolen by both the United States and Africa for many generations, and Dr. Amusa (Moses Gunn) hires this unwieldy bunch to steal it back from the U.S. They steal it from a museum (using a huge car explosion), then from the prison, then from a police station before finally getting fired. However, all is not lost, for then Dortmunder actually gets the thing (with the help of a hypnotist and a gullible guard) from a maximum security bank. This is a great movie for those who like eating pizza in front of the TV!

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 January 1972 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Hot Rock

Filming Locations:

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

Box Office

Budget:

$4,895,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Landers-Roberts Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

101 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1