Harry in Your Pocket
Harry in Your Pocket
PG | 23 September 1973 (USA)
Harry in Your Pocket Trailers

A master thief and his drug-addicted partner teach two aspiring crooks how to steal wallets.

Reviews
Scott LeBrun

Michael Sarrazin plays Ray Haulihan, a hard working but not typically efficient pickpocket, who lifts the watch of Sandy Coletto (Trish Van Devere) one day in a train station. This act sort of binds them together, and since they're both now in need of some finances (in going to confront him, she left her other valuables vulnerable), they go to meet with Casey (Walter Pidgeon), who's recruiting members for a team of thieves that will be masterminded by Harry (James Coburn, smooth as always). Casey and Harry are veterans of the pocket picking game, and therefore experts, who teach the young couple everything there is to know about it.Much of the joy here lies in learning the lingo and watching the Harry / Casey / Sandy / Ray team in action as they finally start to gel. Tony Giorgio, who has a small role as a detective, served as the technical adviser, and the whole premise is fascinating enough to reel viewers in, with the presentation by writers James David Buchanan & Ronald Austin and producer / director Bruce Geller remaining largely matter-of-fact and fairly low key for the duration. Although this was marketed as a comedy, "Harry in Your Pocket" is actually pretty serious most of the time, although it's not without laughs. It benefits greatly from location shooting on a few American and Canadian locations (Seattle, Salt Lake City, Victoria) and good, straightforward storytelling, not to mention a wonderful music score by the ever dependable Lalo Schifrin. Hairstyles and fashions may help to date the film, but this is never a big distraction.The quartet of principal actors all shines. Van Devere is very, very sexy, and Coburn is compulsively watchable as usual. But Pidgeon is a special treat as the endearing old timer who unfortunately happens to have a cocaine habit. (He also played a pickpocket in his penultimate film, "Two-Minute Warning".) Top character actor Michael C. Gwynne ("Payday", "The Terminal Man") has a one scene role as a fence.A very fine film, overall, that deserves to be better known. It was the only theatrical filmmaking effort for Geller, better known as a TV veteran who'd created the classic series 'Mission: Impossible' and 'Mannix'.Eight out of 10.

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Bladerunner101

Bruce Geller made a huge impact with Mission Impossible but this film lacks that show's drive and innovation. Painstakingly plotted and performed it nevertheless drags in places and it's no surprise it was his only feature film.Pigeon looks out of his depth throughout and fails to spark any rapport; Coburn brings his usual cool reserve and magnetism, Sarazzin improves as the film goes on. The revelation is Trish Van Devere who plays the love interest and conscience of the film with real style. As well as looking like a cross between Debbie Reynolds and one of Charlie's Angels (both these things being magic) Devere brings an engaging lightness of touch that overshadows Coburn's own, and keeps the viewer just about caring how things turn out.

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moonspinner55

Original, offbeat character study with bracing dramatic moments stars Michael Sarrazin as an unskilled young thief in Seattle who gets himself and his new girlfriend (the appealing Trish Van Devere) hired on by a wily old pickpocket and his partner, a no-nonsense type with a big ego and a calculating manner. After some training, the foursome move on to Salt Lake City, where they become a finely-tuned team of cons. The smooth direction by Bruce Geller, the occasionally clever script from writers James David Buchanan and Ron Austin, and a superb cast including James Coburn and Walter Pidgeon promise a sure-fire movie. Unfortunately, the disappointing third act doesn't so much unravel as it does dry up, with the writing smacking of moralistic pandering ("Don't let this happen to you!"). Still, two-thirds of a great picture, one with a jazzy look, some amusing interplay and memorable characters. **1/2 from ****

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highlander3412

This Movie is Fantastic, the acting is great . It was shot in Victoria B.C. and Seattle.It shows our city Victoria how it use to look in 1973 and has a very to real story line. IF any one should be thinking on traveling to different cities this movie is the one to watch on how people are taken back to the fact of people being the victim of theft.This movie is a great way on how to protect yourself from these people before they get to you.

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