Charley Varrick

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Charley Varrick

PG

1973

1h 51m

Crime

Drama

Action

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

82%

Tomatometer

28 Reviews

83%

Popcornmeter

2,500+ Ratings

When small-time criminal Charley Varrick (Walter Matthau) leads a crew to rob a bank, things don't exactly go according to plan. Not only are there casualties, but also, he and his surviving cohort, Harman Sullivan (Andy Robinson), discover that they've snagged far more cash than they were expecting --and it's money that belongs to the mob. Hunted by both the police and a ruthless killer named Molly (Joe Don Baker), Charley and Harman may not live long enough to enjoy their small fortune.

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Critics Consensus

With Walter Matthau adding hangdog soul to Don Siegel's propulsive direction, Charley Varrick is a crime thriller that really scores.

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Pauline Kael

The New Yorker

09/19/2023

Charley Varrick doesn't even look good; the color is blah and runny, the compositions are squat and no more than functional, and the director, Don Siegel, slogs along from scene to scene.

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Kevin Thomas

Los Angeles Times

06/11/2021

Thanks to Siegel's impeccable direction and to the imaginative script Howard Rodman and Dean Riesner fashioned from John Reese's novel "The Looters," this... becomes a compelling struggle between brains and brawn.

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George McKinnon

Boston Globe

06/11/2021

As in all Siegel films, there is constant violence, but a sharp, clear focus and quick action prevents you from dwelling on plot inconsistencies.

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Robert Roten

Laramie Movie Scope

Oct 5

B

This appears to be a low-budget movie, where dead people can be seen breathing and actors sometimes trip and stumble. Such scenes would usually be re-shot or otherwise fixed, but somehow this ends up making the movie look more realistic for the most part.

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Sean Burns

Crooked Marquee

01/15/2024

Siegel's cutting is as ruthless as his characters, and it’s easy to see an autobiographical aspect to Charley Varrick’s no-nonsense pragmatism.

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David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

07/04/2023

3/4

...entertaining and thoroughly satisfying...

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Rick R

@RT01654519 May 28

Very entertaining! Held my attention. I am a fan of Walter Matthau.

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Kevin L

@Lakeman May 20

Very Don Siegel- little rough around the edges, but enough realism, down-to-earth characters & storyline, & some fine performances. There's some terrific character actors- Vernon, Fell, North, Schallert, Parfrey, Baker. But Matthau drives the engine here. A decent enough crime flick led by a very schrewd character in Varrick. Not too many car vs. cropduster chase scenes. Good ending. 3.2 stars

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Bruce B.

@bruce1945 May 6

Held together for a 60 year old crime story so Worth watching.

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MC B

@RT23450091 Feb 26

Just watched some 70's movie- The Long Goodbye, Nightmoves, The Conversation, and Charley Varrick. Thw first 3 I highly recommend. But Charley Varrick isn't even close to those films. 2 stars and an incredibly annoying soundtrack. Skip Charley Varrick.

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Russ G

@RT78760655 Feb 24

Some interesting plot twists, but some you just can't square. Charley uses his pursuers to bump off his loose-cannon partner, but how did he know everyone would cooperate in his little scheme? He needs the passports, but knows the woman will double-cross him? The action is good and the pacing OK, but the whole thing is just too clever by half. Joe Don Baker is good as the sadistic hit man, but who would'a thunk that Oscar Madison could be a stone killer?

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GotRizz237

@RT94619608 Feb 12

I really enjoyed Charley Varrick! Really great story and characters.

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Don Siegel

Director

Walter Matthau

Charley Varrick

Joe Don Baker

Molly

Felicia Farr

Sybil Fort

Andrew Robinson

Harman Sullivan

John Vernon

Maynard Boyle

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Synopsis

When small-time criminal Charley Varrick (Walter Matthau) leads a crew to rob a bank, things don't exactly go according to plan. Not only are there casualties, but also, he and his surviving cohort, Harman Sullivan (Andy Robinson), discover that they've snagged far more cash than they were expecting --and it's money that belongs to the mob. Hunted by both the police and a ruthless killer named Molly (Joe Don Baker), Charley and Harman may not live long enough to enjoy their small fortune.

Director: Don Siegel
Producer: Don Siegel
Screenwriter: Dean Riesner, Howard Rodman
Production Co: Universal Pictures
Rating: PG
Genre: Crime, Drama, Action
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 11, 2015
Runtime: 1h 51m

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