The Mailman: 3 Days of the Condor

From "Three Days of the Condor" (1975). While hiding out in the apartment of Kathy Hale (Faye Dunaway) CIA bookworm Joe Turner/Condor (Robert Redford) encounters a mailman who's got more than just a package for both of them.

[@crisguia]

I love the simplicity of this action scene. No over-the-top stunts, no special effects. Presentday action movies should learn from this so they can do things this well and also at minimal cost. Thanks for uploading!

[@TheRealCaptainFreedom]

This has got to be one of the most well-choreographed fight scenes ever.

[@McRocket]

Ever is a long time. ☮

[@TheRealCaptainFreedom]

@@McRocket Well since like 1973.

[@justpassingby2358]

I recall watching this movie back in the 80th and how fascinated I was about that moment when the 2 guys are watching each other without moving, understanding that there will be only 1 of them surviving this fight.

[@schizoidboy]

One of my favorite fight scenes because it is one of the most inventive.

[@stuartevans1398]

Garret was just perfect in this scene.I think that is what sets this film apart;every performance is outstanding.Von sydow as Joubert ! magnefique !!

[@huntstoddard9322]

This takes "going postal" to a new level.

[@rayogden4158]

😆

[@gerry-p9x]

Uhh this is where the act to describe this in public. Aka. Going. Postal

[@vernshein5430]

You can see the karate background of Mr. Garrett in his crescent kick into lead leg, side thrust kick and his hand positioning. Very 70s.

[@randomizertotal5113]

Great movies are all about subtlety. Scenes that stand by themselves as well as as the test of time. I watched this movie as a kid and I've never forgotten it. Wish they could make films like this still but I doubt they'll try.

[@hungbulldaddy]

that machine gun with silencer was neat huh ! I remember the mailman from TV and Commercials so when he played The Mailman I wasn't expecting him to be a bad guy with the gun and judo. I think this also was pre "Going Postal" as well when there seemed to be an epidemic of Postal workers shooting people.

[@adamfitzgerald911]

The mailman, Hank Garrett, broke Redford's nose in this scene.

[@TheEllsworth8]

Love at 0:38 how he says, "Look, I don't have another pen." Great delivery.

[@Ronbo710]

That mailman is 83 this year :) GREAT Actor !!

[@DAngelo136]

Hank Garrett. Was in "Car 54, Where Are You?" with Fred Gwynne and Joe E.Ross. Bodybuilder, wrestler and stand up comedian. classicshowbiz.blogspot.com/2010/05/talk-with-hank-garrett-may-17-2010.html

[@hungbulldaddy]

I just commented how he was a familiar face in TV and Commercials but till this movie I never saw him as a bad guy type so it worked perfectly because it was unexpected when I saw it the first time as a kid.

[@ernestkovach3305]

90.

[@stevehughes2133]

Don't care, still won't open the door for him!!

[@daleholmgren6078]

Hank Garrett said Robert Redford told him that he broke Redford's nose during this scene.I don't see it, so it may have been on an unused take. He also said Redford saved his eyesight - Redford was concerned about the chemicals that were in the "coffee" that caused it to elicit fake steam despite the director's assurance, so he told Garrett he would throw the coffee towards his stomach, and just pretend that it went towards the face. Later they found out the chemicals would have blinded Garrett if the coffee had been thrown in his face.

[@amina-pr8xt]

Source?

[@rnash999]

You can break your nose without it bleeding. I did twice.

[@SpiritMQ]

The most realistic fight scene in a movie ever

[@MajorCaliber]

Actually, NOT. But then, you've never been in a real fight. Keep paying for movies. 😉

[@ernestkovach3305]

Shane on line one.

[@hillsane9262]

@@MajorCaliber For a regular fight not, but for a fight where there are 2 guns involved just out of reach, pretty good. Each is weighing the risk of more hand to hand vs. going for a firearm.

[@jimred5700]

@@MajorCaliber I`m guessing you enjoy "Rocky" films.

[@darrylwiggins4799]

Ever seen the original Manchurian Candidate? Please do so.

[@NYRM1974]

You got to love Robert Redford's mod 70 karate technique where he kicked the mailman to the fireplace. Then finished him off with the left hand Gun-Fu technique pumping the double tap 2 inches above his flak jacket. Sweet....

[@jfq7223]

A "magnificent shot" as Professor Kingsfield would say.

[@chrislapp9468]

Same when Sam got shot in the neck in the alley.

[@crisguia]

I love this movie so much, esp. this scene which is one of my favorites, that when a mailman knocks on our door, I always check on his shoes.

[@econecoff1725]

I don't get it. I never checked what kind of shoes postal workers actually wear. They could wear Crocs and I wouldn't know the diff.

[@crisguia]

@@econecoff1725 Me too before I saw this movie, but Redford here was a CIA reader-analyst so he knew what mailmen wore, down to the shoes.

[@gkroll8467]

@@crisguiabullshit

[@eqlzr2]

I forgot that he shot the mailman twice with the .45 auto. I remembered it as being only once. A good lesson. Thanks for this clip.

[@jackjones298]

Back when _Going Postal_ used to mean something. =) "You want Sunday delivery?! I'll give you Sunday delivery!"

[@tlibber]

😆😆😆

[@ITILII]

@tlibber funny, how....like a clown ?:-) Redford is a great actor, Max von Sydow is a legend, and this is a underappreciated masterpiece of a movie

[@matthewdunham1689]

Great movie

[@irishdude2006]

So what happens to her apartment does the CIA come and clean up while shes on her ski trip

[@rapsman930]

Lovely to see one of my all time favourite films here. Perfectly captured the paranoia of the times. What a treat

[@ernestkovach3305]

Excellent casting. The fake " postal carrier" who was a government assassin had that absolute vicious, determined, violent , savage , psychopathic look on his face that such a hitter under contract to sanction another human being in cold blood would have after being hired for such an undertaking. Great scene.

[@billhicks2001]

all good until you started banging on about A.H

[@philippeters9831]

One of my top 5. Although the camera flash was stolen from Rear Window!

[@Jayplaysgitar]

Top class film

[@roquefortfiles]

@schizoidboy That is why i love this film. It is intelligent. It is not stupid Hollywood action. It shows each character thinking and reacting. I not only is a fight scene but it is also character development in that you see each characters thoughts through their actions. Redfords reaction at 0:58 is great. The light goes on!!

[@roquefortfiles]

@jeff nomad Dude?? It was 1975.

[@jeffreyb8770]

Spectacular movie, but just like Roger Moore in the Bond films, Redford's HAIR stays neatly-combed, he's not sweating, and there's no blood trickling from one nostril. His shirt's still tucked-in, too.

[@TheRealCaptainFreedom]

Cuz he’s a boss, yo.

[@rommelstar1]

A little known fact is that Redford's hair could stand up to hurricane winds, tornado's and small caliber bullets. It was an innate rare ability, similar to all of Chuck Norris's extraordinary lists of impossibilities, but on a much smaller scale, of course. Roger Moore, on the other hand, had the 1980's magic in a can, Aqua Net.

[@eddy6892]

I always wondered what they did with the mailman’s body, or how nobody in the building heard the shots. It may be explained in the original story. I still love the movie, I just suspend disbelief for that point 😊

[@lbowsk]

Fantastic movie!

[@Catch22699]

Faye as the drafted rookie…welcome to the CIA world and you’re gonna love our on the job training program.

[@rogerkincaid931]

That was intense.

[@glennbond8266]

Love this movie! Always have. Great in all ways. Had to buy it on ITunes.

[@BMW7series251]

Brilliant! Another is the train carriage fight in from Russia with love.

[@coreyzimmerman9782]

"Old man"......Sean Connery...RIP..

[@indrannjeganathan3268]

True!

[@kevinobrien9271]

This scene is excellent but I still think the train fight in From Russia with Love is the best.

[@lincbond442]

Things are getting really crazy in the 53rd Precinct.

[@CaminoAir]

The only issue with this scene is the missing shots just before Redford reaches the handgun. It's a very abrupt way to conclude the fight and there needed to be a moment where the audience realise that Redford is going for it.

[@garyspence2128]

Oh no, you want to surprise the audience with that. Just like the postman got surprised. Never underestimate your opponent. That can be fatal...

[@rosenkranz007]

Great movie. Miles away from the today's money making shit.

[@Bart-rn1dp]

12 Years later, now 2024 - boy you would have had no idea how bad it would get

[@LoneTinaja]

My mailman frequently delivers mail to the wrong address. But at least he has never tried to machine gun me

[@shumyinghon]

this is a terrific scene for 1975

[@ChristopherTrott]

Redford was south paw

[@tlibber]

No problem SAiNtE. I had a request for it. I don't normally take requests, but this one was worth it. Enjoy.

[@JoelGrant-ie4ly]

The ending of this scene reminds me of the first Jason Bourne movie. After the would be assassin jumps out of the window Jason comforts Marie , telling het not to freak out.

[@sonnysantana5454]

this was 1' of the most realistic and best fight scenes ever , right up there with the fight scenes in the manchurian candidate with frank Sinatra and harry desilva and the fight scenes in the bond classic from Russia with love Connery and shaw fighting in the train suite and the other good fight scenes of the elevator in diamonds are forever , in the movie FX the fight scenes with byron brown and the unknown killer were inspired by 3'days of the condor

[@rufuspipemos]

You can see the fight between Beatrix and Elle Driver in Kill Bill 2 was inspired by this fight.

[@valaudae1809]

Earlier in the movie Redford is seen handling the automatic and does so in a way that conveys to the viewer that guns are not his thing. He’s an office pogue and out of his depth. Therefore it is likely that when he needed it, that 45 would have been uncocked, with the safety on. Under duress and with seconds counting Redford would have fumbled it and the professional hitman would have cooked his goose. That’s one advantage a revolver has; it’s always ready to go.

[@nathancode6447]

0:59 It was at this moment he knew he effd up

[@TheMerryPup]

Pumping your arm toward your target as you fire makes the bullets go faster. FACT!

[@nelsonsack2694]

Great scene but I always wondered what she did with the dead mailman in her apartment?

[@tlibber]

Probably shipped him back via FedEx 🤣

[@smacwhinnie]

They left town, the “cleaners” found him

[@patrickkraemer8905]

This was before going Postal.

[@seanisbell1716]

He gave a Jeremiah johnson look and I knew it was on... mailman didn't have a chance

[@sAiNtEvO1]

thanks for posting

[@gerry-p9x]

The postal guy played an officer in sitcom. CAR 54. WHERE ARE YOU

[@johnnolan4003]

Do you put the corpse outside the front door and write “ return to sender “ on his forehead?

[@ropeburnsrussell]

Faye pitched right in, my kind of woman!

[@tomvoigt]

Mr. Death is at the door! (Let's see if anyone gets this reference.)

[@Retroscoop]

Real postmen always ring twice...

[@indrannjeganathan3268]

😂

[@KellyGreen5555]

This is why I never open the door for my mail carrier. Great film...is it possible for you to upload more clips? Thanks!

[@BurkeDevlin66]

so much for priority mail

[@fleurafricaine5740]

I think Redford wearing glasses makes him look exactly like an undernourished pasty research geek who just reads books for a living

[@helekin2000]

Counted over 60 'cuts' during the fight scene.....

[@Retroscoop]

While there aren't even any knives involved

[@Falconlibrary]

This is why I always ship UPS.

[@billguenette7281]

Awesome scene

[@coreyagraph]

as relevant now as then.......

[@jfq7223]

If Turner had more time to think he might have reasoned that the only way the ALHS house could have been hit was by someone being allowed in. Mailman might have occurred to him then.

[@roquefortfiles]

Geez the poor neighbors!!

[@roquefortfiles]

@@risseldyrosseldy910 New York was a different deal in 75

[@davidwaxman2285]

Damn government pens

[@terencewinters2154]

Errand boy had the wrong shoes .

[@BradiKal61]

You don't see this kind of personal service from the US Postal Service any more

[@tatata1543]

All he had to was sign for goodness sake.

[@gulfrelay2249]

IS that a Le Creuset ceramic French press?

[@EphemeralProductions]

Probably

[@roquefortfiles]

0:58 The light goes on.

[@yw1971]

he got to use every single thing in the studio

[@yw1971]

@Barrett Haynes Redford was trying to use anything he could find in the apartment against the attacker...

[@gabrielatienza4029]

Did that killer also appear in another conspiracy movie, The Parallax View which starred Warren Beatty???

[@tlibber]

Gabriel, that's a pretty good call, but not quite; the Mailman was played by Hank Garrett. I love "The Parallax View" and I know the guy you're thinking of. The assassin seen on the Space Needle in Seattle and other places. That's actually actor Bill McKinney, who played the terrifying Mountain Man in "Deliverance." But there's definitely a resemblance between Bill and Hank in the film.

[@singalongwrudy8690]

Not the lamp !!!

[@narosser]

This may have been peak Faye Dunaway. This, or Network. Rrrroowwrrr….

[@JoelGrant-ie4ly]

Because of this movie I've always checked peoples shoes and clothing to see if the wearer is legit.

[@biffjohnson34]

Lucky that 1911 was ready to go

[@iliafigueroa4820]

The typical .45 sound

[@irish89055]

hey, skilcraft pens were pretty good actually, lol.... going postal was earlier in the movie ...

[@kellywright540]

That'll learn ya!!

[@bullyvard898]

no he wasn't pumping his arm he was bump firing the Mac.....click! click! click! click! click!

[@roseymalino9855]

This is one of the more egregious scenes of plot devices which makes no sense in this movie. Condor is supposedly in concealment; leery of everyone. But he's sitting there with the curtains wide open making himself visible to passersby. Then he foolishly opens the door to a complete stranger and turns his back on him.

[@jimred5700]

Rosey,.......you`re missing one of the most fundamental themes of this film: the constant back and forth dynamic of "trust" and "suspicion". When the door bell rings Condor recoils (suspicion). Then the mailman explains he has a package for Katherine Hale...(trust). Condor knows that if he had refused entry for the mailman that would have made his position worse...( more suspicious).

[@roseymalino9855]

@@jimred5700 You are this director's ideal audience. Every scene is its own stand alone saga totally disconnected from anything which happens prior or later.

[@jimred5700]

@@roseymalino9855 Rosey, you are making the mistake of thinking that Joe Turner is some kind of elite agent. Turner makes it clear earlier in the film.."I`m not a field agent,...I just read books." Turner is scared, lost. He is NOT perfect, he makes mistakes. He`s finding his way as he goes along. Someone who is afraid, scared isn`t going to logically think that someone (Joubert) has an optic to read his number plate and trace the vehicle to this address. He makes mistakes as anyone would, it`s just that Turner is better than most at rectifying them.

[@roseymalino9855]

@@jimred5700 I'm not making any mistakes. My assertions are not suppositions; they are supported with facts. Condor is knowledgeable, resourceful, but inexperienced. He is not an elite field agent and doesn't even consider himself to be an agent. He scoffs at the need for security by covering his face and also improperly sneaking out the downstairs exit. He is knowledgeable; he knows meteorology: he announces the rain will cease at 10:30. He knows horticulture: he tells the office manager a problem with his plants. He tells the upstairs staff that the solution to a crime involved an ice bullet. He's no James Bond in that he lacks experience. So in that sense he is more like you and I. James Bond would go into an obscure alley in an unfamiliar area but you and I would not go into that alley for all the tea in China. Condor could use his resourcefulness to arrange a meeting on his terms on familiar ground which by its nature, would still be fraught with risk but not so blatantly obviously foolish.

[@jimred5700]

@@roseymalino9855 You ARE making mistakes Rosey; but sadly/magically,....that is one of the whole points of this film/work of art. This film holds a mirror up to our weaknesses. It shows us that we are all flawed like Turner. Remember Rosey......Bond doesn`t exist;................however people like Turner exist on every street corner,...every town.

[@roquefortfiles]

0:59 the light goes on!!

[@rayogden4158]

Are you referring to Condor noticing his shoes?

[@roquefortfiles]

@@rayogden4158 yup

[@meadbook999]

What’s the significance of the assassin’s shoes?

[@puckthebear]

They look dry, yet the mail man was supposed to have been in the rain for some hours on his tour.

[@alrocky]

0:51 Mailmen receive clothing allowance with which they purchase approved *black* shoes as part of their uniform.

[@Fauwkes]

@@alrockyand you think the mailman just bought those shoes right on his run?

[@alrocky]

@@Fauwkes Made no such supposition, just that shoes were the wrong color.

[@Fauwkes]

@@alrocky are you retarded or something?

[@tlibber]

@UberSecret now THAT is funny! LMAO.

[@fredloeper8579]

Best fight scene between two white guys.

[@martinmoore7279]

I know Kung Fu.......

[@brandonshaw7619]

Very Bourne Inspired

[@EphemeralProductions]

Or more like it inspired Bourne. lol

[@jfq7223]

@@EphemeralProductions Exactly. Right down to the dialog. Women are always being told to "get dressed" or "get your shoes" every time a home invading assasin is defeated.

[@deguimerautube]

@BurkeDevlin66 HAHAHAHAHA