Breaking In (1989)

Professional thief Ernie takes Mike on as an apprentice, but while Mike clearly has "larceny in his heart", it will take him a long time to get as good as Ernie.

Director:

Bill Forsyth

Writer:

John Sayles

Stars:

Burt Reynolds, Casey Siemaszko, Sheila Kelley

2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Burt Reynolds	...	Ernie Mullins
Casey Siemaszko	...	Mike Lafebb
Sheila Kelley	...	Carrie aka Fontaine
Lorraine Toussaint	...	Delphine the Hooker
Albert Salmi	...	Johnny Scot, Poker Player
Harry Carey Jr.	...	Shoes, Poker Player (as Harry Carey)
Maury Chaykin	...	Vincent Tucci, Attorney
Stephen Tobolowsky	...	District Attorney
Richard Key Jones	...	Lou, Bob's Tire & Body
Tom Lasswell	...	Bud, Bob's Tire & Body
Walter Shane	...	Bob's Tire & Body Manager
Frank A. Damiani	...	Waiter
David Frishberg	...	Nighclub Singer
John Baldwin	...	Sam the Apostle
Eddie Driscoll	...	Paul the Apostle

Storyline

Professional thief Ernie takes Mike on as an apprentice, but while Mike clearly has "larceny in his heart", it will take him a long time to get as good as Ernie.

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Plot Keywords:

mentor protege relationship | portland oregon | safecracker | prostitute | prison visit | 

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Taglines:

An amateur thief and a professional robber team up for an outrageous comic heist.

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Genres:

Adventure | Comedy

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Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

Final film of Albert Salmi.

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Quotes

Carrie aka Fontaine: What would I do with your balls, were they mine? Would I hang them by their shorthairs from my long painted nails? And crack a grin as they dropped, splat splat, on the floor? No, I wouldn't do that with your balls, were they mine. But I'd put them instead in some sort of shrine. I'd fondle them daily, and keep them in line, and give them a licking from time to time. Yes, that's what I'd do with your balls, were they mine.

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Connections

Featured in At the Movies: The Fabulous Baker Boys/Breaking In/Crimes and Misdemeanors/Look Who's Talking (1989)

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Soundtracks

Dat Dere
Music by Bobby Timmons
Words by Oscar Brown Jr.
Published by UPAM Music Co.

User Reviews

Crime Comedy Charmer

What makes this buddy crime comedy work rests essentially on it's sympathetic characters. Delivered here in traditional veteran/rookie fashion,the story paces along steadily as young and endearingly misguided Mike (Siemaszko) is given life lessons in the art of safe cracking by world-weary professional Earl (Reynolds). The chemistry between the two leads allows for cleverly-conceived comedic scenes to shine forth beautifully. From the moment of their initial accidental meet-up, you are instantly hooked. The film's best quality though is it's ironic approach to burglary, for Earl talks of "The Job" as though it were a viable career option! This is Sayles' savvy screenplay technique undoubtedly shining through. Guided by Forsyth's refined direction, this comedy never veers into slapstick, distinguishing it from the later inferior 'Safe Men'. It never strives to be what it isn't, and so it rarely disappoints. A similarly-styled, yet darker film worthy of viewing is Saul Rubinek's 'Jerry and Tom'.

Rating: 3 1/2 out of 5 stars

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

13 October 1989 (USA)

Also Known As:

Breaking In

Filming Locations:

Oaks Amusement Park - 7805 SE Oaks Park Way, Portland, Oregon, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$6,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$679,200, 15 October 1989

Gross USA:

$1,877,618

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$1,877,618

Company Credits

Production Co:

Act III Communications, The Samuel Goldwyn Company, Breaking In Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

94 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1