Harry in Your Pocket

Hollywood in the oughties could never make a film like Harry In Your Pocket. With its 'glorification' of pickpocketing, its characters who are utterly charming and utterly without remorse, and its downbeat ending, this film would end up on the trash heap or go straight to cable. It's a reminder of how glorious American film was in the late 60s and early 70s, and how straitjacketed it is at present. Not quite a classic, but still worth catching for James Coburn and Walter Pidgeon.

Harry in your pocket is not a lost masterpiece but more of a lost movie of the decade that was famous for it's crime genre cinema. It's one of the better Coburn films of the 70's and pretty decent all around. All four principal characters take the equal burden of the story, which never becomes boring, predictable or tedious. There are some great scenes that show us the tricks of the trade, but every bit of it remains interesting to the end. Walter Pigeon and James Coburn lead the way in a story of life on a day to day basis, never looking beyond tomorrow, and doing a job that might just take you down in flames, so enjoy it while you can. And they do, best clothes, best hotels, best food and coke, but never in one place for more than a week. Michael Sarrazin and lovely Trish Van Devere are great as well as a no future lovers who immerse themselves in Harry's combustible world of fast money and quick pleasures. The job is risky and takes it's toll, that's how it goes and the ending serves the story. I don't know why this movie wasn't released on DVD but it surely deserves the attention of all fans of 70's cinema. Find and enjoy.

Michael Sarrazin plays Ray Haulihan, a hard working but not typically efficient pickpocket, who lifts the watch of Sandy Coletto (Trish Van Devere) one day in a train station. This act sort of binds them together, and since they're both now in need of some finances (in going to confront him, she left her other valuables vulnerable), they go to meet with Casey (Walter Pidgeon), who's recruiting members for a team of thieves that will be masterminded by Harry (James Coburn, smooth as always). Casey and Harry are veterans of the pocket picking game, and therefore experts, who teach the young couple everything there is to know about it.

Much of the joy here lies in learning the lingo and watching the Harry / Casey / Sandy / Ray team in action as they finally start to gel. Tony Giorgio, who has a small role as a detective, served as the technical adviser, and the whole premise is fascinating enough to reel viewers in, with the presentation by writers James David Buchanan & Ronald Austin and producer / director Bruce Geller remaining largely matter-of-fact and fairly low key for the duration. Although this was marketed as a comedy, "Harry in Your Pocket" is actually pretty serious most of the time, although it's not without laughs. It benefits greatly from location shooting on a few American and Canadian locations (Seattle, Salt Lake City, Victoria) and good, straightforward storytelling, not to mention a wonderful music score by the ever dependable Lalo Schifrin. Hairstyles and fashions may help to date the film, but this is never a big distraction.

The quartet of principal actors all shines. Van Devere is very, very sexy, and Coburn is compulsively watchable as usual. But Pidgeon is a special treat as the endearing old timer who unfortunately happens to have a cocaine habit. (He also played a pickpocket in his penultimate film, "Two-Minute Warning".) Top character actor Michael C. Gwynne ("Payday", "The Terminal Man") has a one scene role as a fence.

A very fine film, overall, that deserves to be better known. It was the only theatrical filmmaking effort for Geller, better known as a TV veteran who'd created the classic series 'Mission: Impossible' and 'Mannix'.

Eight out of 10.

The only other film that I saw where a pickpocket is a hero is Pickup On South Street and the stylish James Coburn of Harry In Your Pocket would look down on Richard Widmark. Widmark worked alone and lived hand to mouth until he happened to dip on a Communist spy and got some atomic secrets in that film.

We're dealing with something totally different here. James Coburn in the title role will dip into your's and everyone else's pocket. After watching this film I'm glad I carry my wallet in my front pocket where a strange movement there will set off definite alarms. You watch Harry In Your Pocket and NO ONE will ever carry a wallet in a back pocket again.

Coburn and an old associate Walter Pidgeon take in a pair of young trainees, Michael Sarrazin and Trish Van Devere, and things work out for a bit. But soon Van Devere becomes an object of rivalry for the team. Coburn also is known far and wide by law enforcement, but they can never catch him with the goods.

Some nice scenic cinematography in Seattle, Salt Lake City, and Victoria, British Columbia is in this film as three of the places where the team plys it's trade. Coburn is a man getting on himself and jealous of young Sarrazin. His only real attachment is to the elderly Pidgeon who now just serves as a lookout for marks and a steerer. Pidgeon is rather touching as the old crook for whom there really is no retirement due to the life he's chosen to lead.

For a look at an elegant yet also seamy side of a crooked business you can't go wrong with Harry In Your Pocket.

Original, offbeat character study with bracing dramatic moments stars Michael Sarrazin as an unskilled young thief in Seattle who gets himself and his new girlfriend (the appealing Trish Van Devere) hired on by a wily old pickpocket and his partner, a no-nonsense type with a big ego and a calculating manner. After some training, the foursome move on to Salt Lake City, where they become a finely-tuned team of cons. The smooth direction by Bruce Geller, the occasionally clever script from writers James David Buchanan and Ron Austin, and a superb cast including James Coburn and Walter Pidgeon promise a sure-fire movie. Unfortunately, the disappointing third act doesn't so much unravel as it does dry up, with the writing smacking of moralistic pandering ("Don't let this happen to you!"). Still, two-thirds of a great picture, one with a jazzy look, some amusing interplay and memorable characters. **1/2 from ****