Walter Matthau plays Charley Varrick, a bank robber who has just pulled off a big job, only to find out the money was the mafia's. Now he has a mob hit man, played by Joe Don Baker, chasing him in a 1967 Imperial 4-door hardtop. The climax of the film is an excellent chase scene between the '67 Imperial and Matthau's bi-plane.
Below are several still pictures from the movie. In order to play, just click any of the pictures below--click on a small picture for a small (12 Meg) movie, or a large picture to view a larger, high quality clip suitable for viewing in "full-screen" mode; file size is 86 Meg. Left click to view the movie directly, or save to your hard drive by right-clicking and selecting "Save Target As". If you need help viewing, go to our "How To Play Imperial Movies" page. Enjoy!
| Joe Don Baker (mob leg breaker) has just repossessed this 1967 Imperial Crown 4-door hardtop, and is on the hunt for Walter Matthau (Charley Varrick). | |
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| 12 Meg | 86 Meg |
| Here Baker is greeted by an adoring '67 Imp fan, who practices a profession legal only in Nevada and coastal Oregon. | |
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| 12 Meg | 86 Meg |
| Joe Don Baker uses the Imp's spotlight (was this still a factory or dealer option?) as he tries to locate the trailer in which Matthau and his partner are staying during the days following the robbery. | |
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| 12 Meg | 86 Meg |
| Having beaten Matthau's partner to death in the trailer, Baker and his fabulous '67 taillights leave the mobile home park.... | |
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| 12 Meg | 86 Meg |
| ...allowing Matthau to come out from his temporary hiding place. | |
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| 12 Meg | 86 Meg |
| Once Matthau realizes that the stolen money belongs to the mob, he decides to contact the boss and offer to give it back in exchange for his life. Knowing that Baker will be waiting at the rendezvous point despite an agreement from the mob boss, Matthau pretends to be joyful upon seeing him, in order to make Joe Don Baker think he has been double-crossed. | |
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| 12 Meg | 86 Meg |
| The plan works: Joe Don Baker launches the '67 out of his junkyard hiding place in a rage, squealing the tires (how does one do that on dirt?) and smashing and dragging an old wagon in the process. (Can anyone identify the wagon?) | |
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| 12 Meg | 86 Meg |
| A side shot of the gorgeous Turbine Bronze Metallic 1967 Imperial Crown coming out of the junkyard that adjoins the rendezvous point airport. Notice the front end appears to rise as the car powers towards Matthau and the mob boss. | |
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| 12 Meg | 86 Meg |
| Portrait of a beautiful killer, the 1967 Imperial has its sights set on.... | |
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| ...the mob boss, who doesn't stand a chance. | |
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| Next, Baker and his '67 Imp take after Walter Matthau, who has reboarded his plane and is frantically trying to take off. | |
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| 12 Meg | 86 Meg |
| (Standard hubcap-losing interlude...at least this one doesn't show back up on the car later!) | |
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| 12 Meg | 86 Meg |
| The Imperial chases the bi-plane up and down the airfield area. | |
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| 12 Meg | 86 Meg |
| At one point they even play a good game of "chicken". | |
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| 12 Meg | 86 Meg |
| Next it's "peek-a-boo", as the '67 Crown comes flying towards the plane from out of nowhere. | |
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| 12 Meg | 86 Meg |
| The impact from landing has sprung open the Imperial's decklid. | |
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| 12 Meg | 86 Meg |
| Finally, Matthau intentionally flips his plane right in front of Baker, and pretends to be hurt. He has a plan to sucker the hit man into a booby trap. | |
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| 12 Meg | 86 Meg |
| Here's the unorthodox view of the 1967 Imperial Crown 4-door hardtop as Walter Matthau lies dangling upside down from his safety belt. | |
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| 12 Meg | 86 Meg |
