You’ve probably heard film nerds go on about the flinty, economical power of Don Siegel as a filmmaker, seen a few Clint Eastwood flicks, and shrugged. This is Siegel at his brawny best. Walter Matthau is a revelation as a low-rent crop duster-turned-bank robber who inadvertently makes off with a pile of mob money. With both cops and thugs on his tail, Matthau’s Charley has to stay cool and think fast. ‘Seventies crime at its finest. -LG

1973 Don Siegel 1.33:1 B&W DCP 92 min.