Charley Varrick

Charley Varrick
Film poster
Directed by	Don Siegel
Produced by	Don Siegel
Written by	John H. Reese (novel) Dean Riesner Howard Rodman
Based on	The Looters (novel) by John H. Reese
Starring	Walter Matthau Andrew Robinson Joe Don Baker John Vernon Felicia Farr
Music by	Lalo Schifrin
Cinematography	Michael C. Butler
Edited by	Frank Morriss
Production company	Universal Pictures
Distributed by	Universal Pictures
Release date	October 19, 1973 (1973-10-19)
Running time	111 min.
Language	English

Charley Varrick (aka The Last of the Independents and Kill Charley Varrick) is a 1973 crime film directed by Don Siegel and starring Walter Matthau, Andrew Robinson, Joe Don Baker and John Vernon. The film was based on the novel The Looters by John H. Reese.

Charley Varrick (Walter Matthau) is a crop-duster and former stunt pilot. With his wife Nadine (Jacqueline Scott), Al Dutcher (Fred Scheiwiller) and Harman Sullivan (Andrew Robinson), Charley robs a bank in the rural community of Tres Cruces, New Mexico. While Nadine waits outside in the getaway car, the heavily disguised Charley and his two accomplices draw their guns and the robbery begins. Outside, however, the license plate of their car is recognized as stolen by one of the officers in a passing police car. When they approach Nadine, she shoots, killing one instantly and seriously wounding the other, but the second officer returns fire, wounding her. The melee outside distracts the robbers, enabling the bank guard to kill Dutcher. Sensing that the bank manager is concealing something, Charley forces him to reveal what he is trying to hide - two large satchels of cash. Charley, Harman and Nadine flee, but Nadine dies soon after. Charley and Harman swap vehicles and prepare to blow up the getaway car, with Nadine's body inside. They are stopped by another policeman, but before he can search their van, the timed explosion goes off and the officer races away to investigate.

When they count the money, it is much more than they expected: $765,118. After a local television news broadcast reports that only $2,000 was stolen, Charley realizes the bank must be involved in a mob money laundering operation. He warns Harman that the Mafia will pursue them relentlessly and that their only chance is lying low and not spending the money for three or four years, but the young, headstrong Harman will not listen. Meanwhile, Maynard Boyle (John Vernon), president of the bank, dispatches hitman Molly (Joe Don Baker) to recover the money.