Product Details

• Actors: Sean Connery, Dyan Cannon, Martin Balsam, Ralph Meeker, Alan King
• Directors: Sidney Lumet
• Format: Color, NTSC
• Language: English
• Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Sony Pictures
• VHS Release Date: September 10, 1996
• Run Time: 98 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 0800133005
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #16,332 in Video (See Bestsellers in Video)

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  Video > Mystery & Suspense > Crime > Con Artists

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
An early example of the techno-thriller, The Anderson Tapes--sharply directed by Sidney Lumet from the novel by Lawrence Sanders--follows just-out-of-jail Duke Anderson (a balding Sean Connery) as he plots the heist of an entire New York apartment building, enlisting a crew that includes Martin Balsam as a vintage 1971 gay stereotype and a very young Christoper Walken in perhaps the first of his jittery crook roles. The gimmick is that Anderson has been out of circulation so long that he doesn't realizse his mafia backers are only supporting him because they feel nostalgic for the days before they were boring businessmen and that the whole set-up is monitored by a criss-crossing selection of government and private agencies who don't care enough to thwart the robbery, which instead becomes unglued thanks to a spunky handicapped kid-cum-radio ham. With a cool Quincy Jones score, very tight editing, a lot of spot-on cameo performances from the likes of Ralph Meeker as a patient cop, The Anderson Tapes hasn't dated a bit: it's wry without being jokey and suspenseful without feeling contrived. --Kim Newman

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Tape Measure, February 16, 2001

By	hille2000 "hille2000" (USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

The Anderson Tapes conspicuously mentioned in this film's title are very peripheral to the film's plot. Instead we have a brilliant `caper film' set in a New York City townhouse in early 1971. The images are still memorable of a balding Sean Connery as the leader and brains behind the heist. And who can forget that stoic and peculiar looking member of Connery's team, Christopher Walken in his first film. What an impression he made. This film still looks current even today. This is a real suspenseful film full of great characterizations. A good one!

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Tape Worm, October 3, 2000

By	gobirds2 (New England) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

Sean Connery turns in an excellent and memorable performance in this excellent thriller competently acted, well scripted and neatly directed about a heist where everything is not what it appears to be. This film is full of great characters and suspense. Quincy Jones composed a great score. Look for Christopher Walken's distinctive face in his film debut. It will keep you on the edge of your seat.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sean Connery's Best, June 6, 2005

By	khense "khense" (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews

As thriller,"Anderson Tapes"is average. However as theater - an ensemble piece - it's an American classic. Sean's best role: a likeable guy out of jail after staying quiet for ten years on behalf of the mob. They owe him a favor (small potatoes)which is the problem (they now prefer big business - linen service, construction, etc.). Ultimately they stake Connery and his magnificent raggedy crew to pull a major burglary (Sean's retirement). Meanwhile the FBI (in search of bigger fish) monitors Connery's ensuing bad luck like an indifferent god.