This highly-rated Don Siegel-directed thriller pulled off the rare double of pleasing critics and public alike. Walter Matthau - how good to see him break away from comedy for a change - brings his own laconic brand of charm to Charley Varrick, a small-time bank robber who suddenly and, to him, unexpectedly hits it big to the tune of more than $750,000. The drawback is it's Mafia money, and Charley and his young partner soon have a syndicate hit-man on their trail. Matthau's gift with throw-away lines is too good to be wasted altogether and Siegel (who makes a cameo appearance himself) ensures that humour isn't completely neglected. And the minor characters are all fully-rounded people, from Joe Don Baker's fastidious killer (faintly reminiscent of Richard Widmark in Kiss of Death) called Molly, through Marjorie Bennnett's eccentric old dear ('that's mine: an obscene call, I expect') to Sheree North's blackmailing nymphomaniac photographer.

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