MovieChat Forums > Harry in Your Pocket (1973) Discussion > Why Salt Lake City and British Columbia?

Why Salt Lake City and British Columbia?

posted 17 years ago by clogan8307
8 replies | jump to latest

I just saw this movie on cable a couple of hours ago and I loved it. James Coburn proved that he always gets the girl, even if it's just a one-night stand and she happens to be half his age! He has a knack of being the dominant presence onscreen without grandstanding. I hope that I'm that smooth with the ladies when I get old.

The only question I have about the movie is why did they choose such places as Salt Lake City and British Columbia to go pickpocketing? I understood why they were in Seattle for awhile because it's a major city with lots of wealthy businessmen walking around. But Salt Lake City, even though it's a city doesn't have the large crowds walking around close together like a New York, LA, Philadelphia, or Chicago would. Even though people are more trusting in Salt Lake and BC, I would imagine that it's hard to just walk up to someone and reach in their pockets without them noticing. In New York you can quickly pick a pocket and blend in with the crowd.

I'm not criticizing the movie, though. I had never heard about "Harry in Your Pocket" until today and now I consider it to be a hidden gem. I'm just wondering about their choices of cities.

Peace.

The mind is like a parachute; it works best when it is open." - Rickson Gracie
http://www.myspace.com/mosiahatl

[–] den_quixote 17 years ago

I got the impression watching the movie that Harry thought the citizens in NYC were a little too wary, at least that is how I thought he responded to Sandy's suggestion. He also said, tongue in cheek, that he was afraid of being mugged.

[–] lostwriter2001 17 years ago

I saw this movie at the theater when it first came out and thought the locations made for a good change. At that time not much was filmed outside of L.A. and it really had to the film.

Along with Trish Van Devere's outfits.

[–] amd8404 12 years ago

Actually I believe he said that there are too many amateurs in New York. Probably doesn't want to work alongside people who are untalented and draw attention to pickpocketing.

My theory was that Harry found it easier to work in these smaller cities in the West with lower violent crime because the police and residents are less aware of pickpockets. However, the police in Utah seem to get on him pretty quickly in the final scene.

[–] Miles-10 17 years ago

That's a good question. Crowds are useful to pickpockets, but mainly as a hiding place. The "stall" (accomplice) who "frames" (encumbers or distracts) the "mark" usually provides enough of a crowd from the perspective of the victim. That said, there are pickpockets who are fairly attached to the place where they live and feel safe, usually a good-sized city, and they would never go touring. On the other hand there are pickpockets who travel around, hitting tourist traps and sporting events as James Coburn's mob does at the climax of this movie. I live in a small city where pickpockets would soon run out of people they haven't hit yet, but we also have a couple of good-sized sporting facilities where I would not be surprized to find them.

[–] CJ-Diggs 15 years ago

I only caught this movie halfway through so I may have missed some reasoning behind it. I did catch near the end where they're discussing where to go next or some jazz, and Coburn mentions something about not wanting to get mugged in NYC.

That said, it's nice to see a movie that goes to smaller, less traveled places (by Hollywood). I get tired of seeing the same old New York/LA-centric stuff, a lot of films gotta step off the lot and see the world. As far as location goes, movies like this are a breath of fresh air.

[–] et18 13 years ago

I live in Victoria BC where this movie was filmed and think it's cool it was filmed here but actually kind of funny because considering how small it is here.

[–] zkpip 12 years ago

I'm glad Salt Lake City, Utah was chosen, because I lived in Utah, and I was an extra in this film, and it was great fun!

[–] KobiyashiMauru 11 years ago

In a lot of films, the location becomes another actor. In other words it gives you another visual element to look at. In this film the locations were just like Sandy, pleasant eye candy and something different.