Bank Shot

Plot

This crime-caper film from director Gower Champion stars George C. Scott as a visionary thief. He doesn't merely intend to rob a bank; his plan is to steal the whole bank. This is accomplished by lifting the structure with house-moving machinery in the dead of night, then painting it pink and squirreling it away in a trailer park. The Bank Shot was based on a novel by Donald E. Westlake who also wrote the book that became 1972's The Hot Rock. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Review

This charming little sleeper is worth the hunt for fans of offbeat comedies. The script, adapted from a Donald Westlake novel, takes the heist thriller and sets that genre on its ear by using a novel plot hook (the idea of stealing an entire bank) and replacing its usual tough-guy character archetypes with a bunch of zanies right out of the slapstick-comedy playbook. George C. Scott has a ball playing against type as the reluctant mastermind hero, using his natural gift for the slow-burn to comedic ends and showing a nice flair for deadpan comic wit. Elsewhere, there are nice turns by Joanna Cassidy, who manages to be silly and sexy all at once, and Bob Balaban, who is talented enough to go toe to toe with Scott in the deadpan-comedy arena. However, the big scene-stealer turns out to be Sorrell Booke: his frantic reactions to the goings-on prompt many a knee-jerk laugh throughout the film. Behind the camera, director Gower Champion keeps the plot rolling at a breakneck pace and makes nice use of a jaunty musical score by John Morris to enhance the film's breezy, madcap mood. In short, Bank Shot brings a uniquely witty style to a familiar genre and is thus worth a look to cult film aficionados. ~ Donald Guarisco, Rovi

Cast

Sorrell Booke - Al G. Karp; Don Calfa - Stosh Gornik; Joanna Cassidy - Eleonora; Liam Dunn - Painter; Clifton James - Streiger; Frank McRae - Herman X; Bibi Osterwald - Mums Gornik; Jack Riley - Jackson; Gary Wood; Bob Balaban - Victor Karp; George C. Scott - Walter Upjohn Ballentine; G. Wood - Andrew Constable; Harvey J. Goldenberg - 1st policeman; Harvey Adams - Irving

Credit

Albert Brenner - Art Director, Tom Shaw - First Assistant Director, Gower Champion - Director, David Bretherton - Editor, John Morris - Composer (Music Score), Harry Stradling, Jr. - Cinematographer, Hal Landers - Producer, Bobby Roberts - Producer, George P. Gaines - Set Designer, Robert Knudson - Sound/Sound Designer, Barry Thomas - Sound/Sound Designer, Wendell Mayes - Screenwriter, Donald E. Westlake - Book Author

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