Harry in Your Pocket

Director: Bruce Geller Bruce Geller

Overview

In this engaging crime drama with an undercurrent of subtle humor, James Coburn stars as Harry, a "cannon" (a top-flight pickpocket), who works in association with Casey (Walter Pidgeon), an older career criminal with a fondness for cocaine. Ray (Michael Sarrazin) and Sandy (Trish Van Devere) are two aspiring thieves who meet when he tries to steal her watch; eventually, they both come under Harry's tutelage, as he teaches them both the finer points of lifting people's wallets. Harry in Your Pocket was the sole theatrical film for television director and producer Bruce Geller, who died in a plane crash five years after this film was released.

Product Details

Release Date:	03/05/2011
UPC:	0883904243274
Original Release:	1973
Source:	MGM
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Sound:	[monaural]
Language:	English
Time:	1:43:00
Sales rank:	26,956

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

James Coburn	Harry
Michael Sarrazin	Ray
Trish Van Devere	Sandy
Walter Pidgeon	Casey
Michael C. Gwynne	Fence
Sue Mullen	Francine
Duane Bennett	Salesman
Stanley Bolt	Mr. Bates
Barry Grimshaw	Bellboy
Tony Giorgio	First Detective
Michael Stearns	Second Detective
Lalo Schifrin	Composer

Technical Credits

Ronald Austin

James Buchanan

Bruce Geller	Director,Producer
Ronald Austin	Screenwriter
James Buchanan	Screenwriter
Les Fresholtz	Sound/Sound Designer

Editorial Reviews

Harry in Your Pocket is a great crash course in the art and lingo (at least the lingo circa 1973) of picking pockets, and considering that most of us have very little exposure to this area, that's saying something. Unfortunately, Harry is simply not very involving as drama. Oh, it's mildly diverting and offers modest entertainment value, but it except when the viewer's attention is piqued by learning what "cannon" is or how and when to "hold," it just doesn't engage him. It does have a certain professionalism, a following of the rules of the traditional caper comedy, and this does mean that the film is never less than efficient. But neither is it ever much more. And this is in spite of a mostly quite good cast. After all, who better than James Coburn, always the kind of untrustworthy cad that one wants to spend time with, to lead what could have been a very merry chase? And isn't Walter Pidgeon an unexpected bonus, adding his august and austere presence in an amusing manner? True, Michael Sarrazin offers little more than his (considerable) good looks, but Trish VanDevere's way with a line and a look more than makes up for him. Still, even with Bruce Geller's competent direction taking these players through their paces, Harry ends up only watchable, nothing more.

All Movie Guide - Craig Butler