Customer Reviews

Bank Shot [VHS]

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BANK SHOT (1974) is an unamusing comedy that features George C. Scott as a lisping prison escapee who heads a cast of zany (but again unamusing) cohorts. Among these are Bob Balaban, reprising his elfin-smiled pilot Orr persona from CATCH-22 (1970) and former NFLer Frank McRae as a bumbling, bomb-happy safecracker. McRae is best known to modern audiences as fast double-talking Lt. Dekker in Arnold Schwarzenegger's LAST ACTION HERO (1993).

The only distinguishing characteristic of Sorrell Booke's heist arranger is a collection of eccentric mustaches. Booke looks about 100 lbs. heavier than he did a only decade earlier while playing a congressman in FAIL-SAFE. Speaking of facial hair, Mr. Scott's massively overgrown eyebrows were in bad need of mowing here.

Joanna Cassidy as the theft's bankroller and Scott's love interest (if it weren't for saltpeter) is a cipher in a horrid red plaid pantsuit. And that's another issue: fashions in this picture are '70s GROSS.

It was pleasant seeing BOB NEWHART SHOW vet Jack Riley as an FBI agent, but he has little to do and his high-strung neurotic Elliott Carlin is nowhere to be found. Porky Clifton James as the gang's pursuer is his usual blustery, abrasive self but he's just NOT FUNNY.

For the record, this movie's plot is simple: steal a single-wide mobile home that temporarily houses an under-construction bank's assets. A burglar-proof safe, water soluble paint used to disguise the trailer and a lousy script all conspire to make this sequel to THE HOT ROCK (1972) a cold stone drag. Caveat emptor!

Don't let the "Professional Reviewer's" comments dissuade you, this is a classic! If you like a light hearted comedy, you'll like this.

This is the umpteenth heist movie I have seen. Bank Shot has an original story but somehow it failed to convince me. The comedy aspect falls pretty flat, the performance of George C. Scott is very laid back - it is hard to believe the same man played General Patton and other energetic characters. His exaggerated eyebrows must be one of the weirdest make ups in movie history. Curiously only a year before someone released a similar comedy misfire based on a Donald Westlake novel - The Hot Rock, with Robert Redford in a similar role like George C. Scott and with a similarly unconvincing performance. Anybody who liked The Hot Rock will like Bank Shot, one might deduce.

I've always been a fan of George C. Scott's, but this movie is a major stinker. George isn't really too bad here, but the rest of the cast is horrible. This isn't even "made for tv" quality. It is hokey, corny and just plain dumb. I sat watching it with my mouth hanging open in disbelief! I bought it, watched it once, and threw it out. There, now you have been warned.