Themes: Cons and Scams, Bumbling Cops, Witnessing a Crime
Main Cast: Whoopi Goldberg, Bobcat Goldthwait, G.W. Bailey, Lesley Ann Warren, James Handy
Release Year: 1987
Country: US
Run Time: 103 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Plot
Director of the first Police Academy movie, Hugh Wilson is also responsible for the action comedy-caper Burglar. Bernice Rhodenbarr (Whoopi Goldberg) is a retired cat burglar who works at a bookstore. Bad cop Ray Kirschman (G.W. Bailey) blackmails her, so she agrees to do a job for Dr. Cynthia Sheldrake (Lesley Ann Warren) in order to get the money. While she is doing the robbery, she accidentally stumbles onto the scene of a murder. Since she is the prime suspect, Bernice is forced into many chase scenes as she plays detective to find out who the real murderer is in order to clear her name. She is aided by her only two friends: the hapless dog groomer Carl Hefler (Bob Goldthwait) and the drunken floozy Frankie (Elizabeth Ruscio). Along the way, she almost gets killed by numerous tough guys while being closely followed by two stupid cops (Anne DeSalvo and John Goodman). ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
Review
Released right after Jumpin' Jack Flash, Burglar came out at a high time in Whoopi Goldberg's popular success. It's ultimately an unfortunate entry along side Fatal Beauty that tried to cash in on her bankable personality and the concurrent success of Eddie Murphy action comedies. It has all the trappings of a highly derivative, formulaic caper film, earning it terrible reviews and marking a downturn for Goldberg's career that lasted until Ghost. However, it's mindlessly dumb entertainment with a few choice comedic moments and a relatively enjoyable stupid plot. Particularly interesting is Bobcat Goldthwait, who gives it his all with his signature performance style and will please fans with some of the film's funniest bits. There is nothing new to be said about the standard murder story, zany comedy, or the '80s soundtrack, which comes complete with a cheesy synthesized song featuring inane lyrics that just repeat the title of the movie ad nauseum. Although it could be seen as novel in retrospect, very little has been written about Whoopi Goldberg's presence as a black female action star who never resorts to exploiting her sexuality -- nor does she even address it. In any case, Burglar is a largely forgettable comedy that remains harmless enough as a vehicle for Bobcat Goldthwait during his heyday and Whoopi Goldberg on her way out. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
Anne de Salvo - Detective Todras; John Goodman - Detective Nyswander; Elizabeth Ruscio - Frankie; Vyto Ruginis - Graybow; Larry Mintz - Knobby; Jack Andreozzi - Knobby's Apartment Manager; Raye Birk - The Jogger; Thom Bray - Shoplifter in Bookstore; Elaine Corral - TV Anchorwoman; Nathan Davis - Mr. Paggif; Gary Hershberger - Young Officer; John LeFan - Customer at Parker's on Fifth; Margaret Lenzey - Waitress at Parker's on Fifth; Jack O'Leary - Ray's Friend; Vincent Pantone - IBM Man; Ethan Phillips - Bartender at Parker's on Fifth; Michael Pniewski - Man in Gray Uniform #1; Eric Poppick - Deliveryman; Al Pugliese - IBM Man; Stephen Shellen - Christopher Marshall; James Terry - Bartender at The Art Bar; Justin Derosa - IBM Man; Robert Ernst - Officer with Warrant; Michael Nesmith - Cabbie; Hugh Wilson - Customer at Mayday; Rick Hamilton - Man in Hallway; Scott Lincoln - Man in Cadillac; Amy Michelson - Waitress at The Art Bar; Spike Sorrentino - Chief of Detectives; Bill Jelliffe - Officer with Searchlight; David J. Partington - Ray's Friend
Credit
Michael Corenblith - Art Director, Michael Green - Associate Producer, Marsha Kleinman - Casting, Joseph Loeb III - Co-producer, Matthew Weisman - Co-producer, Susan Becker - Costume Designer, Michael Green - First Assistant Director, Hugh Wilson - Director, Franz Steininger - Editor, Frederic Steinkamp - Editor, William Steinkamp - Editor, Tom Jacobson - Executive Producer, Sylvester Levay - Composer (Music Score), Michael Germain - Makeup, Todd Hallowell - Production Designer, William A. Fraker - Cinematographer, Michael Hirsh - Producer, Tom Jacobson - Producer, Kevin McCormick - Producer, Daniel May - Set Designer, Darin Knight - Sound/Sound Designer, Joseph Loeb III - Screenwriter, Matthew Weisman - Screenwriter, Hugh Wilson - Screenwriter, Al Laverde - Key Grip, Lawrence Block - Book Author
Burglar is a 1987Americancomedyfilm directed by Hugh Wilson and distributed by Warner Bros. The film stars Whoopi Goldberg and Bobcat Goldthwait. Goldberg plays Bernice "Bernie" Rhodenbarr, a former burglar who resumes when a corrupt police officer (G. W. Bailey) blackmails her. Things take a turn for the worse when the house Bernice burgles has a dead body in it, and she's the only suspect. The film was adapted from the 1978 novel The Burglar in The Closet by Lawrence Block; in Block's book, Bernie Rhodenbarr is a white man. It was also the first live-action production from the Canadian animation company, Nelvana.
