Going in Style (1979)

User Rating:

7.1/10   

Director:

Martin Brest

Writers:

Edward Cannon (story)
Martin Brest (writer)

Release Date:

December 1979 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

Meet three guys with an outrageous plan to beat the system ...

Plot:

Three friends who are living on the dole decide to organize a bank robbery.

Plot Keywords:

Friend | Robbery | Bank Robbery | Unlikely Criminal | Caper

Awards:

1 win

Cast

George Burns	...	Joe
Art Carney	...	Al
Lee Strasberg	...	Willie
Charles Hallahan	...	Pete
Pamela Payton-Wright	...	Kathy
Siobhan Keegan	...	Colleen
Brian Neville	...	Kevin
Constantine Hartofolis	...	Boy in Park
Mary Testa	...	Teller
Jean Shevlin	...	Mrs. Fein
James Manis	...	Hot Dog Vendor
Tito Goya	...	Gypsy Cab Driver
William Pabst	...	Bank Guard
Christopher Wynkoop	...	Bank Manager
John McComb	...	Businessman in Bank

Runtime:

97 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:L | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Australia:PG | USA:PG | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Kaufman Astoria Studios - 3412 36th Street, Astoria, Queens, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

In the scene where Joe (George Burns) is looking through his old photos and other memorabilia, he looks at a photo of a young couple - presumably Joe and his wife - and it makes him start to cry. The photo is actually a picture of George Burns and his real (late) wife Gracie Allen. They were a famous show business team from vaudeville through early television. She died in 1964.

Goofs:

Factual errors: After Joe and Al win over $60,000 at the craps table, the cashier cashes chips in for cash. In reality, a win of that magnitude would require that a more high-ranking casino employee step in and have them sign tax forms before payout was made.

Quotes:

Willie: What if we get shot?
[silence]
Joe: What's the difference?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Remington Steele: Steele Blue Yonder (#4.15)" (1986)

A masterpiece

This is #2 on my all time favorite movies list. It's a real hidden gem. It stars George Burns (in the performance of his career), the always brilliant Art Carney, and the excellent Lee Strasberg as three old senior citizens who decide to rob a bank out of boredom. Martin Brest who later went on to direct such fine films as MIDNIGHT RUN, SCENT OF A WOMAN, and BEVERLY HILLS COP has his debut film here and without a doubt it's still his best. The story is so original and the performances are so outstanding that this film is really a masterpiece in my eyes. It's funny, exciting, surprising, and extremely touching. The screen writer Tony Bill takes a unrealistic situation and makes it extremely realistic. The Queens backround is perfect. A great, hidden masterpiece of a movie.