Going in Style (1979)

64% of users liked it
(1,157 ratings)

Joe (George Burns), Al (Art Carney), and Willie (Lee Strasberg) are three senior citizens who share a small apartment in New York City. They live off social security checks and spend their days sitting on a park bench, reading newspapers, feeding pigeons, and fending off obnoxious children. It's a… More Joe (George Burns), Al (Art Carney), and Willie (Lee Strasberg) are three senior citizens who share a small apartment in New York City. They live off social security checks and spend their days sitting on a park bench, reading newspapers, feeding pigeons, and fending off obnoxious children. It's a dull life, and finally Joe is driven to suggest something radical to break the monotony; why not go on a stick up? None of them have a criminal history (though Joe claims he "did some stealing during the war"), but just planning the bank robbery puts a new spring in their step. Al surreptitiously borrows some pistols from the collection of his nephew, Pete (Charles Hallahan), and the trio, disguised with novelty Groucho Marx-style glasses, pulls off their heist to the tune of 35,000 dollars. Unfortunately, the excitement is too much for Willie, who suffers a fatal heart attack the same day. At his funeral, Joe and Al decide to give the bulk of the dough to Pete and his family, and attempt to blow the rest of it on a whirlwind excursion to Las Vegas. Meanwhile, the eccentric robbery has become a colorful news story for the media and the police are closing in on the amateur criminals. ~ Fred Beldin, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: PG, 1 hr. 37 min.
Directed By: Martin Brest
Genres: Drama, Comedy

In Theaters: Jan 1, 1979 Wide
On DVD: Mar 30, 2004

Critic Reviews

Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Two things about the film are frankly remarkable, however: the richness of its imagery and George Burns' understated performance.
Michael A. Smith, Nolan's Pop Culture Review
Three veterans in a spotlight performance.

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Cast

            George Burns as Joe

            Art Carney as Al

            Lee Strasberg as Willie

            Charles Hallahan as Pete

            Reathel Bean as FBI Agent

            Anthony Call
            
            Tony di Benedetto as Prison Guard

            Tito Goya as Gypsy Cab Driver

            Constantine Hartofolis as Boy in Park

            Siobhan Keegan as Colleen

            James Manis as Hot Dog Vendor

            Mark Margolis as Prison Guard

            Bob Maroff as Cab Driver

            Brian Neville as Kevin

            William Pabst as Bank Guard

            Pamela Payton-Wright as Kathy

            Jean Shevlin as Mrs. Fein

            Margot Stevenson as Store Cashier

            Joseph Sullivan as Moon

            Mary Testa as Teller

            Paul L. Smith as Radio Announcer

            Karen Montgomery as Hooker

            Betty Bunch as Cashier

            Christopher Wynkoop as Bank Manager

            Alan Brooks as FBI Agent
See full cast

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