The Bank Shot

"The Bank Shot" is a pleasant enough little film with a decent cast that you've seen in many other movies and television episodes. George C. Scott is a terrific actor. Three distinct movies that show his broad acting range (in my opinion) are "Anatomy Of A Murder", "Patton", and "The Bank Shot." I felt he handled the comedy in this movie very well. The novel that this was taken from (by Donald Westlake) is quite funny as are most of his books. Two other films based on Westlake's novels, "The Hot Rock" & "Cops And Robbers" were filmed in the same era and are equally funny. Joanna Cassidy was bubbly and bright and very attractive (still is, too!). Sorrell Booke was a treat and got to ham it up the most as Ballentine's "lawyer", Al G. Karp. By the way, speaking of ham, did anyone else catch that the character name Hermann X (portrayed by Frank McRae) sounds an awful lot like "ham & eggs?" Clifton James narration was quite humorous especially during the opening scenes. G. Wood was very good in M.A.S.H (and M*A*S*H--television) and plays Streiger's assistant quite ably. Overall, an innocuous flick with humor, slapstick and hardly any cursing so watch it with the family. Most enjoyable and worth viewing for all the actors you know and love.

The music and the script both show that this will be a silly heist caper. George Scott had won the oscar for Patton a couple years earlier, so this was pretty lightweight fun compared to that. Sorrell Booke was the Boss on Dukes of Hazzard for YEARS in the 1980s. and Bob Balaban was so serious in so many Christopher Guest films, years after this. G. Scott is "Ballantine".. still in jail, but already planning his next heist with his "lawyer" Al Karp, played by Booke. fun, older, character actor Liam Dunn is in here as "Painter". Mel Brooks used Dunn in his films for YEARS... was the judge in "Whats up Doc?". supporting Don Calfa was in Foul Play. Joanna Cassidy co-stars, but I don't know much about her. this was one of her early credited roles. lots of laughing. she hits it off with Ballentine. Lots of planning, riding on motorcycles, driving around. we're half-way through, and not much progress has been made on the heist. Then, things start to happen...Can they hide a bank, that was housed in a mobile home, and then dragged away ? Mr. Carlin, from the Bob Newhart Show ( Jack Riley) is in here as the FBI agent, looking for the missing mobile bank. it's kinda slow, by today's standards, but fun for back in the day. some fun twists near the end. Directed by Gower Champion. didn't direct much. acted. directed, some crew credits. not the best, biggest ending. ah well. sadly, Champion died quite young at 59.

Scott cringes when this film is brought up and rightly so; it's one of those capers that start all stops out, but then have nowhere else to go. Gags that have potential and a cast that could have worked a little harder, but the biggest problem was the amatuerish script and the obvious look of boredom on the face of star Scott. If you didn't want to do the film...why did you sign on for it?

I'd like to know.

THE BANK SHOT is a lightheart comedy from 1974 which stars George C. Scott in a rare appearance for the genre. It begins as a prison drama before moving into an oddball heist movie packed with some top character actors, including Frank McRae and Don Calfa, although it's Scott's slightly smug performance that leads the way. The escape scene with the bulldozers is a highlight here, but the inventive heist that happens later on in the film is handled very well. The suspense doesn't let up afterwards either, and I doubt I'm the only person who gets a kick out of a Clifton James appearance. The ending is a bit abrupt, but otherwise this works.

This movie was lots of fun from start to finish with Scott in an unusual comic role. The madcap hijinxs that ensue are outrageous and the excellent cast of characters do a fine job. I'm not sure why the very low rating- were people looking for masterpiece theatre? Sit back and enjoy this 70s romp that's much better than most "great" movies I've seen lately.