The Thief Who Came to Dinner (1973)

A computer programmer decides to become a thief. And when he starts making waves an insurance investigator hounds him. He also meets a woman who becomes his accomplice.

Director:

Bud Yorkin

Writers:

Walter Hill (screenplay by), Terrence Lore Smith (based on the novel by)

Stars:

Ryan O'Neal, Jacqueline Bisset, Warren Oates

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Ryan O'Neal	...	Webster
Jacqueline Bisset	...	Laura
Warren Oates	...	Dave Reilly
Jill Clayburgh	...	Jackie
Charles Cioffi	...	Henderling
Ned Beatty	...	Deams
Austin Pendleton	...	Zukovsky
Gregory Sierra	...	Dynamite
Michael Murphy	...	Ted
John Hillerman	...	Lasker
Alan Oppenheimer	...	Insurance Man
Margaret Fairchild	...	Mrs. Donner
Jack Manning	...	Tom Preston
Richard O'Brien	...	Sgt. Del Conte
George Morfogen	...	Rivera

Storyline

Bored and somewhat fed up with the open corruption around him, Webster McGee decides to quit his job as a computer engineer at Houston-based Control Data Corporation. What he doesn't tell his friends and now former associates is that he does have a plan for his future: to become a jewel thief. His initial primary motivation is not the money, but rather be what he considers an honest thief. His first successful theft against corrupt businessman Gene Henderling leads to several things. Out of circumstance, Webster is able to have a long list of potential future targets. Webster begins a relationship with poor but beautiful socialite Laura Keaton, to who he is open about what he now does as a living. Because he leaves at his thefts a calling card in the form a chess piece and a slip of paper with a chess move, Webster, being coined the Chess Burglar by the media, begins a very public chess match with the Houston Post's elitist chess columnist Zukovsky, who dismisses the Chess Burglar as ...

---

Plot Keywords:

poker game | emerald | blue diamond | champagne | cigar smoking | 

---

Taglines:

Webster and Laura took everything they wanted ... each other ... and a diamond worth $6.000.000.

---

Genres:

Comedy | Romance

---

Certificate:

PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

During the Premiere in the Children Mental Health Service of Houston, which Ryan O'Neal attended, Warren Oates was met with roaring laughter.

---

Goofs

When Webster meets Deams and Hector by the ship channel, the wake from a passing ship is clearly seen over their shoulders in the close up shot of the end of their conversation. The camera then cuts to a far shot of the same conversational moment and the water behind them is smooth.

---

Quotes

Webster: Don't forget, you walked out on me!
Jackie: I walked out on a computerized man, not a chess burglar!

User Reviews

Clever and seductive

Ryan O'Neal was so clever and seductive in this movie, I wanted to go to bet with him too. The focal point of the movie is the fascinating love story -- not between O'Neal and Bisset or between O'Neal and Jill Clayburgh -- both of which were quite entertaining, but the cerebral symbiotic linkage between Warren Oates and O'Neal. This has to be Oates' best performance of all time. Young Ned Beatty and Charles Cioffi are very good --leading a quite capable supporting cast. Very enjoyable movie.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 March 1973 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Thief Who Came to Dinner

Filming Locations:

Houston, Texas, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Bud Yorkin Productions, Warner Bros.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

104 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1