Harry in Your Pocket
Encyclopedia
Harry in Your Pocket is a 1973 film, written by James Buchanan and Ronald Austin and directed by Bruce Geller
, starring James Coburn
, Michael Sarrazin
, Trish Van Devere
and Walter Pidgeon
.
The movie was filmed in Victoria, BC, Salt Lake City, Utah
and Seattle, Washington
with the then-mayor of Seattle, Wes Uhlman contributing a cameo appearance.
), pickpocketing a deaf man of his wallet. Casey then meets his old friend Harry (James Coburn
) at his arrival gate. Later, the action moves to Ray (Michael Sarrazin
) who is seen making various obviously-inept attempts to steal watches and wallets in Seattle's King Street Station
. Sandy (Trish Van Devere
), waiting for a train to Chicago, watches him with amusement, securing her own possessions when Ray sits close by. He does, however manage to get away with her watch, though she chases him down to get him to confess. While talking with Ray, however, her purse and suitcase, both unwatched, are spirited away by an unseen thief.
Bereft of all her possessions and money, she's stranded in Seattle. Ray promises to help her get back on the road, but his way of raising funds is to sell his inventory of stolen watches – watches so poor that the fence is only willing to pay a fraction of the money Ray promised Sandy.
As a favor, the fence tips Ray off to the presence of a recruiter for a "wire mob" – a travelling professional pickpocketing band – in town, who will be hanging out at a restaurant in the Pioneer Square district. Ray decides to try it out; Sandy, who's formed an emotional bond with Ray, decides to tag along. At the restaurant they meet Casey, who introduces them to Harry, Casey's protege and "cannon" – the term for a known and skilled professional pickpocket.
After discussion and doubts on Harry's part, (Sandy proves something of a natural as she was able to lift Casey's cigarette case undetected) Sandy and Ray are given money to buy better clothes and Harry and Casey begin to train them in the parts they're to play – principally that of the "stall", or the members of the team who will provide distraction in order for Harry to get into the mark and make the "dip".
Harry also inculcates them into the group's modus operandi and operations. The team travels "first-class – everything the best … the best food, the best clothes, the best hotels". In this way they are able to blend into and appear as the classes they are trying to pickpocket. Sandy, being physically attractive, gives the team added advantages in that male marks can presumably mostly have their attention diverted by an attractive young lady in revealing fashions.
During the course of the movie the mob travels from Seattle to Victoria BC to Salt Lake City, Sandy and Ray becoming progressively more adept in their roles. Along the way, Ray's ambition to become more than a mere "stall" and the tension between Ray and Harry brought on by the presence of Sandy produce stresses on the group but, by the time the team arrives in Salt Lake City the wire mob have merged into a more-or-less cohesive and successful unit. In the meantime, though, Ray's ambition has gotten him, through ingratiation, to convince Casey to take him on as a student. Casey's training turns Ray into am much more accomplished pickpocket and, when in Salt Lake City, Ray and Sandy begin working on their own time and keeping the take. Moreover, Ray keeps the id and effects of the people he lifts from, wanting to study them, two things that threaten the survival of the group and makes Harry furious with Ray.
Events come to a head in Salt Lake City when Casey is arrested when a botched handoff from Ray allows the victim to see his wallet in plain sight protruding from Casey's jacket pocket. Casey's case turns complicated when cocaine is found on him and becomes more than just a case of springing him from jail on a pickpocketing charge. Harry decides to raise extra funds quickly by hitting a regional horse show at the Salt Palace arena (admitting that the take could be high – but also the risk), and Ray, who had decided to split from the group, agrees to go in for Casey's sake. Working over the Salt Palace crowd goes rather smoothly, but building security have been alerted that Harry is in town and it's only a matter of time before they catch him – attempting to dispose of the evidence in a wastebasket rather than handing off to Ray.
The film closes as Sandy and Ray, above suspicion, watch as Harry is led away by SLC police and building security to an uncertain future.
The movie is notable for giving a presumably-fictionalized but matter-of-fact way of how a wire mob operates and its jargon
. In fact, it's said that the actors portraying the "cannon squad" in Seattle that tell Harry it's time to leave town were former pickpockets themselves and served as technical advisors to the movie.
Early on in the movie, when being introduced, Harry bluntly and directly describes the lifestyle and image they want to project. Everything, the best – the best food, the best clothes, the best hotels. By adopting an air of sophistication and style, the team appears a member of the class they're trying to victimize – thus avoiding suspicion. Additionally, Sandy's natural attractiveness, accented by fashions designed to highlight sex-appeal, make her a highly attractive distraction.
The movie makes extensive reference to a system of cant – pickpockets jargon
. Some examples:
In the case of Harry's wire mob, Casey spots the mark and communicates to Harry where he'll find the poke via gestures; e.g. if the poke is in the mark's back pocket he'll wipe his brow with a handkerchief and put the handkerchief in that pocket. Sandy and Ray then set up an appropriate stall situation, opening the way for Harry, who dips the poke and secretes it in a folded magazine or newspaper. Harry, as immediately as possible, hands the prize off to Ray, who carries it in a similar way, and Ray relays it to Casey, who retrieves money and valuables and disposes of the rest.
In return for working as stalls, Ray and Sandy get 20% of the group's take. Harry also supervises all transportation arrangements, hotel reservations, and provides "fall money" – bail money to get out of jail on pickpocketing charges and lawyers fees as needed.
Bruce Geller
Bruce Israel Geller was an American composer, screenwriter, and television producer.-Biography:Born in New York City, New York, Geller graduated from Yale University. He pursued a career writing scripts for shows on the DuMont Television Network including Jimmy Hughes, Rookie Cop and others...
, starring James Coburn
James Coburn
James Harrison Coburn III was an American film and television actor. Coburn appeared in nearly 70 films and made over 100 television appearances during his 45-year career, and played a wide range of roles and won an Academy Award for his supporting role as Glen Whitehouse in Affliction.A capable,...
, Michael Sarrazin
Michael Sarrazin
Michael Sarrazin was a Canadian film and television actor who found fame opposite Jane Fonda in the drama film They Shoot Horses, Don't They? .- Early life :...
, Trish Van Devere
Trish Van Devere
Trish Van Devere is an American actress.-Early life:Van Devere was born as Patricia Louise Dressel in Tenafly, New Jersey. She was married to the actor George C...
and Walter Pidgeon
Walter Pidgeon
Walter Davis Pidgeon was a Canadian actor, who starred in many motion pictures, including Mrs...
.
The movie was filmed in Victoria, BC, Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Utah. The name of the city is often shortened to Salt Lake or SLC. With a population of 186,440 as of the 2010 Census, the city lies in the Salt Lake City metropolitan area, which has a total population of 1,124,197...
and Seattle, Washington
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
with the then-mayor of Seattle, Wes Uhlman contributing a cameo appearance.
Plot
The movie opens at an airport with a distinguished looking man, Casey (Walter PidgeonWalter Pidgeon
Walter Davis Pidgeon was a Canadian actor, who starred in many motion pictures, including Mrs...
), pickpocketing a deaf man of his wallet. Casey then meets his old friend Harry (James Coburn
James Coburn
James Harrison Coburn III was an American film and television actor. Coburn appeared in nearly 70 films and made over 100 television appearances during his 45-year career, and played a wide range of roles and won an Academy Award for his supporting role as Glen Whitehouse in Affliction.A capable,...
) at his arrival gate. Later, the action moves to Ray (Michael Sarrazin
Michael Sarrazin
Michael Sarrazin was a Canadian film and television actor who found fame opposite Jane Fonda in the drama film They Shoot Horses, Don't They? .- Early life :...
) who is seen making various obviously-inept attempts to steal watches and wallets in Seattle's King Street Station
King Street Station (Seattle)
King Street Station is a train station in Seattle, Washington. Located between South King and South Jackson streets and Second and Fourth Avenue South in the Pioneer Square neighborhood of Seattle, the station is just south of downtown...
. Sandy (Trish Van Devere
Trish Van Devere
Trish Van Devere is an American actress.-Early life:Van Devere was born as Patricia Louise Dressel in Tenafly, New Jersey. She was married to the actor George C...
), waiting for a train to Chicago, watches him with amusement, securing her own possessions when Ray sits close by. He does, however manage to get away with her watch, though she chases him down to get him to confess. While talking with Ray, however, her purse and suitcase, both unwatched, are spirited away by an unseen thief.
Bereft of all her possessions and money, she's stranded in Seattle. Ray promises to help her get back on the road, but his way of raising funds is to sell his inventory of stolen watches – watches so poor that the fence is only willing to pay a fraction of the money Ray promised Sandy.
As a favor, the fence tips Ray off to the presence of a recruiter for a "wire mob" – a travelling professional pickpocketing band – in town, who will be hanging out at a restaurant in the Pioneer Square district. Ray decides to try it out; Sandy, who's formed an emotional bond with Ray, decides to tag along. At the restaurant they meet Casey, who introduces them to Harry, Casey's protege and "cannon" – the term for a known and skilled professional pickpocket.
After discussion and doubts on Harry's part, (Sandy proves something of a natural as she was able to lift Casey's cigarette case undetected) Sandy and Ray are given money to buy better clothes and Harry and Casey begin to train them in the parts they're to play – principally that of the "stall", or the members of the team who will provide distraction in order for Harry to get into the mark and make the "dip".
Harry also inculcates them into the group's modus operandi and operations. The team travels "first-class – everything the best … the best food, the best clothes, the best hotels". In this way they are able to blend into and appear as the classes they are trying to pickpocket. Sandy, being physically attractive, gives the team added advantages in that male marks can presumably mostly have their attention diverted by an attractive young lady in revealing fashions.
During the course of the movie the mob travels from Seattle to Victoria BC to Salt Lake City, Sandy and Ray becoming progressively more adept in their roles. Along the way, Ray's ambition to become more than a mere "stall" and the tension between Ray and Harry brought on by the presence of Sandy produce stresses on the group but, by the time the team arrives in Salt Lake City the wire mob have merged into a more-or-less cohesive and successful unit. In the meantime, though, Ray's ambition has gotten him, through ingratiation, to convince Casey to take him on as a student. Casey's training turns Ray into am much more accomplished pickpocket and, when in Salt Lake City, Ray and Sandy begin working on their own time and keeping the take. Moreover, Ray keeps the id and effects of the people he lifts from, wanting to study them, two things that threaten the survival of the group and makes Harry furious with Ray.
Events come to a head in Salt Lake City when Casey is arrested when a botched handoff from Ray allows the victim to see his wallet in plain sight protruding from Casey's jacket pocket. Casey's case turns complicated when cocaine is found on him and becomes more than just a case of springing him from jail on a pickpocketing charge. Harry decides to raise extra funds quickly by hitting a regional horse show at the Salt Palace arena (admitting that the take could be high – but also the risk), and Ray, who had decided to split from the group, agrees to go in for Casey's sake. Working over the Salt Palace crowd goes rather smoothly, but building security have been alerted that Harry is in town and it's only a matter of time before they catch him – attempting to dispose of the evidence in a wastebasket rather than handing off to Ray.
The film closes as Sandy and Ray, above suspicion, watch as Harry is led away by SLC police and building security to an uncertain future.
The Ways Of The "Wire Mob"
-
- "Harry never holds. Not for a minute, not for thirty seconds. Harry never holds."
-
- -"Harry's Law"
-
- "Harry never holds. Not for a minute, not for thirty seconds. Harry never holds."
The movie is notable for giving a presumably-fictionalized but matter-of-fact way of how a wire mob operates and its jargon
Jargon
Jargon is terminology which is especially defined in relationship to a specific activity, profession, group, or event. The philosophe Condillac observed in 1782 that "Every science requires a special language because every science has its own ideas." As a rationalist member of the Enlightenment he...
. In fact, it's said that the actors portraying the "cannon squad" in Seattle that tell Harry it's time to leave town were former pickpockets themselves and served as technical advisors to the movie.
Early on in the movie, when being introduced, Harry bluntly and directly describes the lifestyle and image they want to project. Everything, the best – the best food, the best clothes, the best hotels. By adopting an air of sophistication and style, the team appears a member of the class they're trying to victimize – thus avoiding suspicion. Additionally, Sandy's natural attractiveness, accented by fashions designed to highlight sex-appeal, make her a highly attractive distraction.
The movie makes extensive reference to a system of cant – pickpockets jargon
Jargon
Jargon is terminology which is especially defined in relationship to a specific activity, profession, group, or event. The philosophe Condillac observed in 1782 that "Every science requires a special language because every science has its own ideas." As a rationalist member of the Enlightenment he...
. Some examples:
- Poke - The wallet, the object of the theft.
- Kick - any area on a person where a poke commonly resides. For instance, a prat kick is the mark's back pocket; the patch kick is the outside pocket in a suit jacket.
- Mark - The intended victim.
- Stall - Members of the team, working under the cannon who distract or "artfully stumble" into people giving the chance for the dip to occur.
- Cannon - The actual pickpocket, the leader of the group in this case. Also, apparently, the police slang term for same.
- Dip - The act of taking the poke.
- Steer - The member of the team who selects marks and telegraphs to the stalls and cannon where the poke will be found.
In the case of Harry's wire mob, Casey spots the mark and communicates to Harry where he'll find the poke via gestures; e.g. if the poke is in the mark's back pocket he'll wipe his brow with a handkerchief and put the handkerchief in that pocket. Sandy and Ray then set up an appropriate stall situation, opening the way for Harry, who dips the poke and secretes it in a folded magazine or newspaper. Harry, as immediately as possible, hands the prize off to Ray, who carries it in a similar way, and Ray relays it to Casey, who retrieves money and valuables and disposes of the rest.
In return for working as stalls, Ray and Sandy get 20% of the group's take. Harry also supervises all transportation arrangements, hotel reservations, and provides "fall money" – bail money to get out of jail on pickpocketing charges and lawyers fees as needed.