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I Like to Watch (Instantly): 11 Harrowhouse

Notable titles from the Netflix Watch Instantly world

Nick Brown [ Tue Jan 11 2011 3:22 PM ]

“This will stop anything.”

“From what?”

“Living.”

11 Harrowhouse (1974)

Directed by Aram Avakian

Cast: Charles Grodin, Candice Bergen, James Mason, Trevor Howard, John Gielgud, Helen Cherry, Peter Vaughan, Clive Morton, Leon Greene

Set the time machine for 1974 and make like a jewel thief in Aram Avakian’s 11 Harrowhouse. Charles Grodin plays Howard Chesser, a likable everyman who, along with his thrill-seeking girlfriend Maren (Candice Bergen), conspires to pull off the largest diamond heist in history. The story is silly but the pacing is fast, so the whole thing goes down like a box of Junior Mints. One of the things that makes it work is Grodin’s wisecracking narration popping up here and there throughout the film. His wry observations, while never gut-busting, are amusing, comfortable and seemingly ad-libbed, like a distant cousin of MST 3000. The voice-overs fall just short of distracting at times, but also take the edge off some overly long car chases and whatnot. Our all-star cast includes James Mason, John Gielgud and Trevor Howard.

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Public Comments (6)

- TopCat
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- The Alley
- Posts: 25
TopCat [ Tue Jan 11 2011 4:11 PM ]

is watching this tonight.
- mbear
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- Since 2006-06-07
- Posts: 41
Just watched this las week! [ Tue Jan 11 2011 9:04 PM ]

I watched this on DVD years ago and gave it another go. Amazing cast. Bergen and Grodin are a hoot. Yes, it is silly. But I like this early diamond theft caper. And the ending is unexpected!
- Nick Brown
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- Since 2007-01-10
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I had dim memories of liking this movie [ Wed Jan 12 2011 2:35 AM ]

from late night tv decades ago, but I couldn't remember the name of it. Internet to the rescue. I think it popped up on IW because I searched for it a few times. I hear they pay attention to stuff like that.
It's nice when you remember something's cool and it's actually cool when you look at it again. I mean, I remember thinking the Six Million Dollar Man pilot was amazing. And it's crap. The Kung Fu pilot, on the other hand, is still great.
- TopCat
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- The Alley
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wierdly similiar [ Wed Jan 12 2011 7:32 AM ]

to another Netflix Instant: "Flawless," a 2007 Michael Caine/Demi Moore London diamond heist flick. Harrowhouse is more entertaining due to overkill explosions and non-sequiter Grodin voice-overs like "that truck looks sad."
- fluffy hairdo
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- Since 2006-07-03
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Watching movies instantly on Netflix is overrated! [ Wed Jan 12 2011 10:49 AM ]

The sublime experience this media provides for the inner/outer couch potato is not watching movies, but adding them to one's instant queue for watching later, when one is in the perfect mood for the movie being added. The satisfaction of imagining one's self in the perfect mood to watch any given movie is pure bliss, only takes seconds, and trumps any 90-minute jaunt into suspension of disbelief. Believe me.
- pencil
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I agree. [ Wed Jan 12 2011 11:38 AM ]

Shopping is more fun than buying.