The Hot Rock (1972)
Genre: Comedy / Crime
Duration: 101 minuten
Country:
United States
Directed by: Peter Yates
Stars: Robert Redford, George Segal and Moses Gunn
IMDb score:
6,8 (7.132)
Releasedate: 26 January 1972
This movie is not available on US streaming services.
The Hot Rock plot
"How many times does it take to steal the same diamond?"
The master thief Dortmunder (Robert Redford) is barely outside the prison gates when he is again approached by his brother-in-law Kelp (George Segal) for a new job. He takes him to Dr. Amusa (Moses Gunn), who wants to have a valuable diamond that is in a museum stolen back on behalf of his African people. He pays the expenses and if the robbery succeeds he will pay them a good amount of money. Dortmunder comes up with a complicated plan, but it all doesn't go as planned...
Actors and actresses
John Dortmunder
Andrew Kelp
Stanley Murch
Alan Greenburg
Dr. Amusa
Lt. Hoover
"Sis" Clara Kelp
Ma Murch
Frank, the Prison Warden
Policeman
Reviews & comments
mrklm
-
- 9601 messages
- 8936 votes
One of the most fun heist movies ever made, where it's not so much about the ingenious plan as about the incompetence of the bandits. Dortmunder [Robert Redford] is approached by his brother-in-law right after serving a prison sentence, who puts him in touch with Dr Amusa [Moses Gunn], who is prepared to throw a lot of money at it to get his hands on a valuable diamond. It's up to Dortmunder and his henchmen to make it happen and they succeed... only they have to hide the diamond when the alarm goes off. Which means they have to steal the diamond all over again!
Redford plays his role with complete seriousness, which enhances the many comic elements in this occasionally hilarious crime comedy, in which each new plan becomes more complex, more insane and, not to mention, much more expensive. Zero Mostel is sublime as a third party trying to cash in, and Gunn plays his increasing impatience and frustration with the insane material demands of the thieves sublimely. The editing by Frank P. Keller and Fred W. Berger earned the duo an Oscar nomination (rightly so), and Quincy Jones provides a wonderful soundtrack.
Translated from Dutch · View original
Collins
-
- 6712 messages
- 3998 votes
A fun and dry crime comedy by Peter Yates. Based on the book of the same name by Donald Westlake, who wrote more comedy crime stories about the character that plays the lead role in this film, John Dortmunder.
Donald Westlake has written quite a few scripts for films. His stories have also often been filmed. I had never heard of Donald Westlake. Nor of John Dortmunder, for that matter. In my defense, I can say that I am not often in the pure crime corner in books or in films. Nevertheless, I took a look at the list of films with the name Westlake on them. And it is true. They hardly mean anything to me.
John Dortmunder, then. He is a planner. Someone who meticulously plans a robbery. This film is about the theft of a diamond from a museum. The film has an original approach. Instead of spending a lot of time on planning and executing the theft, the film concerns itself with failure. The running gag and common thread of the film is that the diamond has to be stolen multiple times and Dortmunder is challenged multiple times to unleash his creativity on ever-changing circumstances under which the diamond has to be obtained. And that is very entertaining.
The complications are funny. The characters are brash, shouty, impulsive and somewhat silly. In fact, they are pleasantly meaningless. Excellent material to entertain you as a viewer. John Dortmunder is played by Robert Redford. He does it a bit cooler than his mates. But then again, he is the mastermind behind the theft. Redford plays him seriously but at the same time gives him a roguish layer. Also fun.
The Hot Rock is fine entertainment. Easy to digest fare that is never heavy on the stomach and is therefore also easily digested.
Translated from Dutch · View original
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