Product Details

• Actors: George Burns, Art Carney, Lee Strasberg, Charles Hallahan, Pamela Payton-Wright
• Directors: Martin Brest
• Writers: Martin Brest, Edward Cannon
• Producers: Fred T. Gallo, Leonard Gaines, Tony Bill
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, HiFi Sound, NTSC
• Rated: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Warner Home Video
• VHS Release Date: January 26, 1993
• Run Time: 97 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6300268098
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #84,305 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Item Name: Going in Style; Studio: Warner Home Video

Product Description

Three senior citizens in their 70s who live together are slowly decaying in endless days with nothing to do but feed the birds. One of them comes up with an idea - rob a bank. They certainly could use the money if they get away with it and if they are caught, what could happen to three old men?

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An underappreciated heist comedy-drama., September 13, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Going in Style [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Pretty much overlooked when it came out in 1979, this film is a rare gem. George Burns, Art Carney and Lee Strasberg play three retirees sharing a house in Queens. Bored and bitter, Joe (Burns) talks Al and Willie (Carney and Strasberg) into going in on a bank robbery. The three get a real buzz out of pulling off the job, the only excitement they've had in years. But what seems to have been the perfect crime soon begins to have tragic consequences. When Willie dies from a heart attack, Joe and Al take off for Vegas where they wind up getting into a once in a lifetime crap game. This excursion then takes on tragic consequences of its own, leading up to a bittersweet ending. While all three of the leads are terrific, it is really Burns who carries the film. I believe this to be his best film work. For those who have always felt that a little bit of George goes a long way, you should check this film out to see what a truly remarkable acting talent he could be when given the material. His work here is totally devoid of the "cuteness" that marked a lot of the films he was in such as "Oh, God!" A truly Oscar-worthy performance. One wonders what the atmosphere on the set must have been like with Burns and Carney, two masters of schtick, and Strasberg, the father of modern method acting. Whatever the chemistry, it definitely shows up on screen.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent comedy-drama, July 27, 2004

By 

David Bonesteel (Fresno, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Going in Style (DVD)

A trio of elderly retirees (George Burns, Art Carney, and Lee Strasberg), who live together in a New York apartment, decide to escape the deadly tedium of their waning years by robbing a bank. They complete the job successfully, but find that life goes on and a little bit of cash doesn't change everything. Director/writer Martin Brest and his talented cast avoid the easy road of aiming for a riotous comedy about some cute old men who break the law. These are fully developed characters, and there are some moments of powerful acting as the story takes these men to some very dark places. Those who think of Burns and Carney as the epitome of old-time jokey vaudeville-style humor may be surprised by their understated and effective performances. Of course, Strasberg, the father of method acting, is reliably superb. There is real joy in this film as well. The scenes in which the three old friends seem to come alive again during a day spent in the city preparing for their bank job and a later one in Las Vegas are wonderful and feature very good acting. Recommended./

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Touching, March 4, 2005

By 

James P. Nance (Midland, TX USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Going in Style (DVD)

A very touching comedy/drama with three men looking to find some excitement in their idle twilight years. Just wish a soundtrack would have been put out as the music is fabulous.