Harry and Walter Go to New York

Harry and Walter Go to New York

Year: 1976

Runtime: 115 mins

Language: English

Director: Mark Rydell

ComedyCrime

The Digby‑Hill‑Chestnut gang’s only wishes are a daring escape from jail and a safe‑cracking score. Two hopelessly incompetent con men devise the biggest bank robbery of the 19th century, deliberately drawing the fury of the world’s most infamous robber while trying to win the heart of a crusading newspaperwoman determined to expose their plot.

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Timeline & Setting – Harry and Walter Go to New York (1976)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Harry and Walter Go to New York (1976). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Late 1970s

Set in the late 1970s, the film channels the era’s vaudeville revival energy and urban crime-comedy vibe. The period mood blends street-smart improvisation with public cynicism and a sense of spectacle. Characters navigate a city where show business and crime intersect in playful, high-stakes antics.

Location

New York City, Prison

The story unfolds primarily in New York City, with the action moving from a prison to the bustling streets and theatres of the metropolis. The Lowell Bank and Trust heist is framed by Broadway-style spectacle near a theatre, highlighting the city’s mix of glamour and grit.

🗽 New York City 🔒 Prison

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 14:29

Main Characters – Harry and Walter Go to New York (1976)

Meet the key characters of Harry and Walter Go to New York (1976), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Harry Digby (James Caan)

A wry, quick-witted vaudevillian who leans on charm and improvisation. He drives the plan and keeps the mood light even as danger mounts, illustrating a hunger for excitement and a talent for turning trouble into theater.

🕶️ Charismatic 🎭 Entertainer 🧠 Quick-thinking

Walter Hill (Elliott Gould)

A loyal, pragmatic partner whose street-smarts balance Harry’s flamboyance. He photographs the bank plans, provides level-headed planning, and offers the steady hand needed for the team to improvise under pressure.

🕺 Entertainer 🤝 Loyal 🧠 Clever

Lissa Chestnut (Diane Keaton)

A reform-minded newspaperwoman who becomes an accidental ally. Her presence links journalism and social causes to the gang’s caper, and her camera captures crucial bank plans that drive the plot.

📰 Journalist 🤝 Ally 🎭 Charm

Adam Worth (Michael Caine)

A cultured, wealthy bank robber who plans the heist with meticulous detail. His ego fuels the challenge, and his ability to manipulate people and systems makes him the primary adversary for the duo.

🧠 Mastermind 💰 Wealthy 🎭 Charmer

Warden Durgom (Burt Young)

The corrupt prison official who enables Worth’s escape through bribery and privilege. His control of the prison environment contrasts with the outlaws’ ingenuity, highlighting themes of power and corruption.

💼 Corrupt Official 🗝️ Bribe Enabler

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 14:29

Major Themes – Harry and Walter Go to New York (1976)

Explore the central themes of Harry and Walter Go to New York (1976), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🤝 Friendship

Two former rivals form an unlikely alliance, relying on their bond to outwit a polished criminal. The dynamic blends contrasting styles—one improvisational, one cautious—yet shared goals keep them together. The friendship provides both humor and heart as the plan unfolds.

🧠 Clever Heist

The caper hinges on meticulous planning and clever misdirection, from studying security diagrams to manipulating a bribed warden. Success comes from timing, problem-solving, and a keen understanding of people and systems. The crew’s ingenuity turns a high-risk robbery into a theatrical performance.

🎭 Showmanship

Performance and theater drive the action, with the crew leveraging stagecraft to distract guards and buy time. The finale blends improvisation and spectacle, culminating in a bold, crowd-pleasing moment that doubles as a victory lap. Even after the heist, the city’s streets feel like a stage where they play to the audience.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 14:29

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Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Bumbling Heist Movies like Harry and Walter Go to New York

Incompetent criminals band together to pull off an impossibly complicated score.If you enjoyed the whimsical antics of Harry and Walter, you'll love these movies featuring farcical capers and endearingly incompetent crews. Discover similar comedies where the joy is in the chaotic journey, not the perfect crime.

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Narrative Summary

Stories in this thread typically follow a group of underdog characters who devise an ambitious, often theatrical, plan for a heist or con. The narrative is driven by their series of comical failures and narrow escapes, building to a climax where their unique, unorthodox talents somehow come together for a surprising, often bittersweet, success.

Why These Movies?

Movies are grouped here for their shared focus on character-driven comedy over tense crime thrills. They possess a whimsical tone, light emotional weight, and a central theme of triumph through chaotic collaboration rather than cold efficiency.

Movies with Theatrical Con Artists like Harry and Walter Go to New York

Characters who treat life itself as a stage, blurring the lines between performance and reality.Find more films where the charm lies in performative characters, just like the vaudeville performers in Harry and Walter. Explore stories of con artists and rogues who approach their schemes with the flair of a stage play.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern revolves around characters using performance arts—acting, mimicry, sleight of hand—to execute their plans. The conflict often arises from a rival who is a more serious, genuine threat, creating a contrast between playful artifice and grim reality. The journey celebrates creativity and showmanship over brute force.

Why These Movies?

These movies share a specific aesthetic where the crime or plot is executed with theatrical flair. The grouping is defined by a nostalgic, playful mood, a focus on unlikely partnerships, and a tone that finds joy in the performance itself.

Unlock the Full Story of Harry and Walter Go to New York

Don't stop at just watching — explore Harry and Walter Go to New York in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Harry and Walter Go to New York is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Harry and Walter Go to New York Summary

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Harry and Walter Go to New York Summary

Harry and Walter Go to New York Timeline

Track the full timeline of Harry and Walter Go to New York with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Harry and Walter Go to New York Timeline

Harry and Walter Go to New York Spoiler-Free Summary

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Harry and Walter Go to New York Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Harry and Walter Go to New York

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Harry and Walter Go to New York: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

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