Charley Varrick (1973) Reviews

Charley Varrick (1973)
Member Rating:  
Don Siegel directed this offbeat crime thriller which stars Walter Matthau as the titular Charley Varrick. Varrick is a small-time stick-up man who, in tandem with his partner Harman Sullivan (Andrew Robinson), makes plans to rob a small bank in New Mexico. Varrick and Sullivan are expecting a modest payday for a simple heist, but to their surprise they walk away with $750,000 in cash. But it turns out this isn't entirely good news; the bank was flush with cash because a number of well-connected Mafia chieftains have been using the bank to launder their ill-gotten gains, and they're determined to get their money back. Before Varrick can figure out a way to return the money, sadistic hired killer Molly (Joe Don Baker) is on his trail, forcing Varrick to outwit both the cops and the robbers if he is to stay alive.

~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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Starring:
Walter Matthau, Joe Don Baker, (more)
Director(s):
Don Siegel
Theatrical MPAA Rating:
PG
Format(s):
DVD  | Digital SD & HD
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Average Ratings

(14 member reviews)  

Member Reviews

John O.

Note: This is a "full screen" version that has parts of the image lobbed off.

Yes   |   No


LORRIE E T.

Excellent movie. Well done. Asusal Walter Matthau at his best. For a crime thriller it a good movie to watch. Almost anyone would like this movie

Yes   |   No


LEANNE D.

Great film. The scene with the bankers talking in the cow pasture is immense. Lalo Schifrin score is understated and complements the film. Overall the tightly-plotted storyline with the neat twists that Charlie undertakes really works, and the actors all work as well. I agree with the poster who called this film the "anti Dirty Harry".

Yes   |   No


Gavin K.

I wonder how many packs of gum they went through on this movie...this is almost like a Richard Stark "Parker" novel but with a slight more humor/humanity to the main character. In fact this film may be truer to the Parker character than the films based on Starks' writing.

Yes   |   No


Marc F.

Jon Don is one of the best Bad Guys! Matthaw played a great role. Interesting story line.

Yes   |   No


James Doug J.

VERRY GOOD

Yes   |   No


David M.

Charley Varrick is an unexpected side of Matthau. A shady hood who loses his wife in a bank heist that nets far more money and trouble than expected, he spends the rest of the film brilliantly plotting and executing his escape from police and mob pursuit. John Vernon is a little wooden as the bank executive who's tied into the mob money. Joe Don Baker is hammily vicious as the hitman hired to retrieve the missing $750,000. A really solid film and fun to watch.

Yes   |   No


John H.

This is Walter Matthau's best work ever. The part seemed to be written for him, however, the director, Don Siegel, originally wanted his old friend Clint Eastwood to be in the lead role. Over the years people asked Walter Matthau whether he would reprise his role as Charley Varrick in a sequel, but that unfortunately never came about.

Yes   |   No


Jimmy J.

You would never expect Walter Matthau to be in an action movie but it worked. Joe Don Baker was a bit disappointing this was around his Walking Tall years and he was playing a hit man, I guess I expected him to be a bit tougher. All in all it was a good movie and I recommend it to any Matthau fan. Oh Yeah, the squealing tires in the dirt is a sound effect, don't try that at home...

Yes   |   No


Don L.

One of Walter Matthau's best in my opinion. The best part is when Charlie's wife gets shot in their big yellow Lincoln after the bank robbery. Another great scene is when the Chrysler get repossessed by the guy who is after Charlie. I paid $35. to get this movie on a tape, that's how much I liked it.

Yes   |   No


 
 
 

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    Member Reviews
    Read all (14)
     
    John O.

    Note: This is a "full screen" version that has parts of the image lobbed off.

    Yes   |   No

     
    LORRIE E T.

    Excellent movie. Well done. Asusal Walter Matthau at his best. For a crime thriller it a good movie to watch. Almost anyone would like this movie

    Yes   |   No

     
    LEANNE D.

    Great film. The scene with the bankers talking in the cow pasture is immense. Lalo Schifrin score is understated and complements the film. Overall the tightly-plotted storyline with the neat twists that Charlie undertakes really works, and the actors all work as well. I agree with the poster who called this film the "anti Dirty Harry".

    Yes   |   No

     
    Read All 14 Reviews
       

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