11 Harrowhouse (1974)

Independent diamond broker and his girlfriend attempt a heist at a major Diamond Exchange house in London.

Director:

Aram Avakian

Writers:

Gerald A. Browne (based on the novel by), Jeffrey Bloom (screenplay)

Stars:

Candice Bergen, Charles Grodin, James Mason

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Charles Grodin	...	Howard R. Chesser
Candice Bergen	...	Maren Shirell
James Mason	...	Charles D. Watts
Trevor Howard	...	Clyde Massey
John Gielgud	...	Meecham
Helen Cherry	...	Lady Anne Bolding
Peter Vaughan	...	Coglin
Cyril Shaps	...	Wildenstein - the Diamond Cutter
Leon Greene	...	Max Toland
Jack Watson	...	Miller
Jack Watling	...	Fitzmaurice
Clive Morton	...	Sir Harold
Larry Cross	...	Whitman
Glynn Edwards	...	First Guard (as Glyn Edwards)
John Bindon	...	Second Guard

Storyline

A small time diamond merchant jumps at the chance to supervise the purchase and cutting of a large first class diamond. But when the diamond is stolen from him, he is blackmailed into pulling off a major heist at the Diamond Exchange, located at 11 Harrowhouse.

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Plot Keywords:

rough diamond | creme de menthe | champagne | city | killed in an explosion | 

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Taglines:

"I owed him $1,000,000. I figured I could clear it up if I did my own laundry and didn't eat again until I was 417 years old" or COMMIT THE MOST DARING ROBBERY EVER IMAGINED.

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime | Thriller

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Certificate:

PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

Final theatrical movie of Clive Morton (Sir Harold).

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Goofs

When Maren (Candace Bergen) and Howard (Charles Grodin) take the diamonds to Massey's (Trevor Howard) house after the theft, they zoom around the parking area outside the house while a couple of Massey's goons hang on the sides of the truck. The parking area is gravel, yet the truck tires squeal as if they were on a paved surface.

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Quotes

Maren Shirell: [talking about her gun] I'm telling you, a PPK can stop just about anything...
Howard R. Chesser: From what?
Maren Shirell: ...living.

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Connections

Referenced in The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson: Charles Grodin/Calvin Trillin/J.J. Wall (1989)

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Soundtracks

Prelude
(uncredited)
Music by Johann Sebastian Bach
Arranged by Michael J. Lewis

User Reviews

Incredibly Ingenious

Apparently someone had a really good idea to save 11 Harrowhouse. They added a voice-over narration by star Charles Grodin, sharp and laconical that really lifts the film from the mediocre to the good. There seems to be another version of the film without it, but I can't imagine it being as good as this.

11 Harrowhouse is the name of the address where a few people headed by John Gielgud control the diamond market of the world. They have billions of dollars or English pounds if you will of gems in their vaults and manipulate the world market value like a yo-yo. Gielgud is a cold and forbidding man and he's one who delights in screwing the little people in his employ. One of them is diamond cutter James Mason who is as reliable as Alec Guinness was in The Lavendar Hill Mob. He's also got a plan. When Grodin and Candice Bergen come up short with 'the System' as Gielgud's consortium is called, Mason has them as allies.

The three of them have the backing of billionaire Trevor Howard who also likes messing with people. He messes with Grodin and Grodin has no choice but to aid in the robbery.

The best part of the film is the robbery itself. Someone has to be sacrificed, but the idea is incredibly ingenious and bloody simple.

Mason comes off best in this, a little man who just wants to get even with those who have treated him like a doormat all his working life.

An enjoyable caper film, diamond exchange in Amsterdam, take note.

Details

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

2 October 1974 (Sweden)

Also Known As:

Anything for Love

Filming Locations:

Ragley Hall, Alcester, Warwickshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Elliott Kastner Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

94 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1