This film was a joy to watch. On the surface it seems like a comedic heist film with Sean Connery at his scornful and provocative best. He compares picking safe's to rape and pulls women's hairs. His monologue at the beginning of the film was very entertaining. Martin Balsam sexes it up in an intense performance as a homosexual. A young Christopher Walken struts around in his film debut. I am not a big fan of Dyan Cannon. So the film could have used a sexier heroine. The film is also about the increasing use of surveillance in American society during the 60s and the 70s. Though the dark ending which seems to emphasize surveillance as one of the film's major themes was not that convincing. Quincy Jones catchy title score gets the film off to a great start. The editing deserves special mention - the way they cut from the heist scenes to the hostages talking to the police was special. I think Spike Lee might have been inspired by The Anderson Tapes when he edited The Inside Man. This film is cruelly underrated at 6.4. My 9 rating should help it on its way up.

A top-notch cast under superb direction and slickly made by Sidney Lumet who makes this movie enjoyable in every aspect . Amusing caper with magnificent acting by all-star-cast , acceptable production design and masterfully realized by the always original and great Sidney Lumet . After Duke Anderson (Sean Connery , being the first film in which he stopped wearing a toupee) is released from prison after ten years for taking the rap for a scion of a Mafia family , he cashes in a debt of honor with the mob chief (Alan King who also worked in ¨Just Tell Me What You Want¨ by Lumet) to bankroll a caper . Upon visiting his old girlfriend , Ingrid (Dyan Cannon married to Gary Grant) at her upscale apartment in New York City , he plans to rob the entire building . As the ex-convict , under strange electronic surveillance that have tracked him since he abandoned prison , wishes to pull off a big robbing . Agreeable as well as interesting picture with tight editing , magnificent acting , fast-paced , thrills , plot twists , emotion and entertainment . It was originally conceived as a tense as well as thrilling flick about a spectacular hold-up . Though the most movie is set in a luxurious building it never lacks for taut , suspense , intrigue , inspired direction and a climax particularly thrilling . The tension behind closed doors is tense , charged and riveting . Sean Connery is very good as ex-inmate decided to carry out a big heist , being accompanied by a beauty Dyan Cannon . Support cast is pretty good , such as a young Christopher Walken -film debut- is perfectly cast as an ex-con , Alan King as mobster , Ralph Meeker as Police officer , Martin Balsam as gay man , Garrett Morris , Val Avery , and final feature film by Margaret Hamilton of Wizard of Oz , among others . Fine Quince Jones soundtrack . Atmospheric and appropriate cinematography by Arthur Ornitz . Frank Pierson's brilliant script was left virtually intact on this adaptation upon the novel titled "The Anderson Tapes" by Lawrence Sanders . This thriller was professionally directed by Sidney Lumet with an extraordinary plethora of actors who give awesome interpretations . It keeps the spectator utterly involved , it holds up extremely well on television . Sidney Lumet was a master of cinema , best known for his technical knowledge and his skill at getting first-rate performances from his actors and for shooting most of his films in his beloved New York . In ¨ The Anderson tapes¨ Lumet had a strong comeback with this box-office hit . He made over 40 movies , often complex and emotional , but seldom overly sentimental . He achieved great successes such as ¨Serpico¨, ¨The Veredict¨, ¨Fail safe¨ , ¨ Morning after¨, ¨The hill¨ , ¨Dog day afternoon¨, ¨Murder on the Orient Express¨ , ¨Network¨ and his best considered one : ¨12 angry men¨ . In 2005 , Sidney Lumet received a well-deserved honorary Academy Award for his outstanding contribution to filmmaking.

I can't understand the lack of enthusiasm for this wonderful crime meller by "ensemble" director Sidney Lumet. Crime mellers or thrillers always have the genre inherit problem of plot holes and plausibility factors, even the best of them. It seems this is what most of the detractors are complaining about (Laura with an 8.1 rating has far bigger plot holes and plausibility factors). For me this has less than most which is only one of the bounty of pluses in this sharply executed excursion. A Quincy Jones score, perfectly interwoven acerbic humor (my favorite flavor), Howard Hawks like timing and a cast to die for are some of the other pluses. About the rich cast, there Alan King, Norman Rose, Margaret Hamilton, Christopher Walken's fabulous debut, Dyan Cannon's best role (small as it was), Richard B Schull, Max Showalter, Conrad Bain, Janet Ward, Meg Myles, Paula Truman, Reid Cruickshanks, Val Avery, Martin Balsam (having the time of his life), Ralph Meeker, Dick Williams, Stan Gottlieb, Paul Benjamin, Scott Jacoby, Tom Signorelli and even Garrett Morris all do marvelous turns. This for me is Connery's best role. This is a movie rich in characters. The plot is just enough to support the performances and action and that's all that's required to get this ball rolling. Connery and a few of his jail mates are released from prison, Connery after ten years. He's a thief and has a job in mind as soon as he gets out. It seems that in the ten years since he went in the world has been wired for surveillance and everybody is listening to and looking at everybody. Sean goes to see his old girlfriend Dyan and we're off to the races. Another plus is perfect pacing. As it has in all crime mellers through the ages this helps plug those plot holes and bridge those plausibility gaps. For me this movie is a lot of fun.

This film is for those over 16 but would probably appeal most to the over 40. The movie does move slowly and is predictable. However, for those of us who love and remember Sean Connery as 007 will enjoy this film. Dyan Cannon's appearance in this film is also an added plus. I also say Kudos to the actors/actresses appearing in the film for their performance. The movie provides light entertaining. It also makes you wonder just how intrusive "Bib Brother" really could be in our own lives. It is difficult to imagine all this governmental surveillance without governmental action. In any case, grab your popcorn and enjoy Sean Connery as a professional burglar.Four thumbs up.