Home Alone Wiki

Due to persistent anonymous vandalism, all users must be logged in to edit this Wiki. If you do not have a Fandom account, register for one here.

READ MORE

Home Alone Wiki
Register
Advertisement

Harry Lyme was a burglar who, along with Marv Murchins, forming the "Wet Bandits" (later the Sticky Bandits"), twice had their plans foiled by Kevin McCallister. Harry later attempted to break into the McCallister home again years later, but Kevin deterred him with the Google Assistant.

Biography

Early life

Harry was apparently a school dropout, mentioning he never made it to the 6th grade.[1] At some point, he would partner up with Marv and became known as the Wet Bandits.[2]

Chicago robberies

Pizza tip

Harry posing as a cop

While staking out various houses to rob, Harry disguised himself as a police officer bearing the name tag "Birniasz" and went into the McCallister home. Whenever he tried to get someone's attention, he was generally ignored as the family hustled to get everything packed.[2]

When a pizza boy came to deliver some pizza to the family, Harry opened the door for him and the pizza boy tried to give him the pizzas, but Harry said that it was not for him. The pizza boy then asked if he was just around for the holidays, to which Harry responded, "I guess you could say that."[2]

Harry finally manages to get Peter McCallister's attention and informed him that the police were checking houses around the neighborhood to make sure that everyone was taking the proper precautions against burglaries. Peter told Harry that they had locks on their doors and automatic timers for their lights. Harry started to ask Peter when his family would be leaving, but before he could, Peter was pulled into the kitchen by his oldest son, Buzz, to eat pizza.[2]

Harry soon managed to get Kate McCallister's attention after she paid the pizza boy. Kate told Harry that her brother-in-law, Rob, transferred to Paris the previous summer and that he was giving the entire family a free trip to Paris to spend time together on Christmas and that they planned to leave first thing in the morning, to which Harry replied, "Excellent." Kate then asked him to excuse her so that she could take her problematic son, Kevin upstairs, but Harry said not to worry because he spoke with her husband earlier and that her home was in good hands, then left.[2]

Later on, after the McCallisters left for their trip, Harry got in his van in at with Marv in hat and scarf on the street adjacent to the McCallister house and told Marv that he managed to trick the people in the neighborhood into thinking that he was a police officer and that they told him that they were leaving.[2]

Marv and harrys van

The side view of the van

They attempted to make their first move on breaking into the McCallister house, but Kevin, having been left behind, observed their shadows walking alongside the house from the inside, and turned on the lights. A confused Marv acknowledged that he thought Harry said the McCallisters had already left, to which Harry responded positively, saying that they were supposed to leave earlier that morning. Not wanting to take any chances, both burglars flee from the house.[2]

The next morning, they decided to rob the Murphys' house, the neighbors across the street from the McCallister house, instead. When Peter McCallister kept calling the Murphys on their home phone in an attempt to reach out to his son, Kevin, both burglars realized that Harry was right about the McCallisters being gone, and planned to rob the house later that night.[2]

As they left the Murphy home, Marv left their "calling card" by plugging up the kitchen sink and turning it on, leaving it running, much to Harry's disapproval, calling it "a sick thing to do." During a brief argument over the topic, Kevin walked past the driveway as they pulled out, almost hitting him before Marv noticed and stopped Harry just in time. Harry rudely told Kevin to watch where he was going. In an attempt to brighten things up, Harry then wished Kevin a Merry Christmas and smiled at him. Kevin recognized the flash of Harry's gold tooth, as he had seen it flash the same way, the night before, and ran off. Discomforted at how Kevin looked at him, Harry pursued him, knowing that Kevin knew something about them. As they drove up past a church, Marv assumed Kevin went in, but not wanting to go into the church themselves, gave up the search. Kevin turned out to be hiding in a nativity scene as a hooded shepherd, and he returned home, afterward.[2]

Later that night, the burglars arrived as planned, but Kevin, knowing that they would return, animated and dressed up mannequins and played loud Christmas music to make it look as if the house was occupied. The burglars were confused once again and abandoned the plan.[2]

Coming back the next morning, Harry sent Marv to investigate the house, knowing something was up since the house seemed completely vacant, despite the uproaring event the night before. As he returned to Harry, a shaken Marv (due to Kevin having played a scene from a film featuring an argument between two gangsters that ended with a shootout, made more realistic by Kevin lighting real fireworks towards the end) told Harry of the situation, and Harry saw it as an opportunity to turn in a murderer and avoid sentencing for their own crimes.[2]

The two later observed Kevin walking out of his house to saw down a pine tree in the backyard for a Christmas tree, and realized the whole thing was a scam. Recognizing Kevin, he realized that he and Marv had been fooled the entire time. Despite Marv's protests of a child being alone at the house, Harry persisted on proceeding with the burglary anyway, commenting that the house was "the only reason they started working on the block in the first place and ever since he had laid eyes on it, he had wanted it."[2]

Tumblr mq2b5qb8uU1rhmne4o1 500

Harry getting his head burned with a blowtorch

After going through their plans with Marv, Harry concluded with them returning around 9:00 p.m. Going through the back door, Harry and Marv tried to ease their way in by attempting to fool Kevin by pretending to be Santa Claus "and his elf" with presents for him. However, Kevin then shot Harry in the groin with a BB gun through the doggy door (causing him to squeal like a pig), followed by Marv getting shot in the forehead. Both enraged, the two realized what kind of kid they were dealing with, and Harry sent Marv to the basement door while he went to the front. As he entered the home, Harry fell victim to various booby traps, such as slipping on the icy steps, getting his hand burnt on a heated doorknob, getting his head burned with a blow torch, getting glue and feathers on him, slipping on Micro Machines, getting hit with paint cans, and tripping over a wire.[2]

After Kevin put a tarantula named Axl, who belongs to Buzz, on Marv's face in an attempt to escape, a hysterical Marv threw it on Harry and it crawled onto Harry's upper chest. Harry did not notice the tarantula and was only intimidated by Marv insanely attempting to hit him with a crowbar, but the tarantula escapes, only enraging Harry and he briefly started whacking Marv with the crowbar before tossing it down the stairway.[2]

As they continued to pursue Kevin, Kevin fled to the Murphys' house. However, Harry outsmarted Kevin, ambushing and catching him. Harry and Marv then planned to put Kevin through the same torturous injuries that he put them through, but Harry would bite off all of Kevin's fingers, one at a time. However, just as he was about to do so, he and Marv were knocked out by Kevin's neighbor, Marley. As the police drove the bandits away, Harry glared at Kevin through his window.[2]

Escape to New York

A year later after spending nine months in prison, Harry and Marv escaped during a riot and soon arrived in New York while stowed away on a fish truck. They also acquired a revolver and street clothes, possibly by stealing them from the truck driver. The duo planned on getting a hold of false passports and hiding out in "some foreign country".[1]

Marv decided to change their nickname to the "Sticky Bandits" after taping his hand to stick some change to his hand. Unknowingly, Kevin bumped into Harry passing through a large group of pedestrians. Harry looked and thought he recognized Kevin, but Kevin had disappeared into the crowd before Harry could get a second glance.[1]

At an ice rink, Harry called Marv forth and acknowledged to him that they had to change their game, as they were not getting anywhere with stealing goods, deciding to steal cash instead. Marv suggested robbing hotels, but Harry knew that tourists were not guaranteed to have much cash. Harry then suggested robbing a toy store, since they made the most money around Christmas time. Making it to Duncan's Toy Chest, they planned on staying there overnight, stealing the money, and then leaving the next morning.[1]

Harry and Marv finally realize that Kevin was also in New York after seeing the McCallister name on the back of the bag Kevin wore after leaving Duncan's Toy Chest. They chased him down the street, but were tripped up when Kevin broke some necklaces, stripping the pearls off.[1]

Marv and Harry later caught Kevin when he fled the Plaza Hotel after being exposed for having his dad's stolen credit card by the staff. After ripping Kevin's plane ticket, Marv revealed their entire robbery plan to Kevin and their plan to kill him, much to Harry's annoyance. Kevin managed to flee their grasps once again when he

Screen shot 2010-12-30 at 3.49

Harry after slipping on the stairs, leading to the front door

caused Marv and Harry to be punched by the same woman that Marv had previously been slapped for hitting on earlier and escaped in the back of a horse-drawn carriage. Harry was initially discomforted knowing that Kevin is around, but Marv eased his worries, as Kevin had no home to booby trap them with, and on top of that, was now alone in Central Park, where grown men were known to enter and not leave alive.[1]

On Christmas Eve, while Harry and Marv robbed Duncan's Toy Chest, Kevin knocked on the window, took a photo, and threw a brick through the window, setting off an alarm. Marv and Harry both unknowingly jumped onto a plank and trash can set up as a makeshift see-saw which sent Harry flying through the air and landing on top of a car.[1]

Harry and Marv pursued Kevin to the roof of his uncle Rob McCallister's house as Harry attempted to trick Kevin into throwing down his camera by promising to leave Kevin alone if he agreed. Kevin did not go through and tricked him by throwing down bricks that missed Harry each time and hit Marv four times. Harry vengefully went around the back and warily glanced at an open window and a fire escape ladder, choosing to jump onto the ladder, thinking the window might be a trap. Harry then slipped and hurt his back due to the ladder's bottom rung being soaked in green soap as he mumbled angrily.[1]

After going through more deadly booby traps, such as tools falling on his head, his head getting burned with a blow torch and dipped in lighter fluid, falling from a sawed ladder, getting hit by an iron pipe two times, getting crushed with a tool chest, falling from a burning rope, and getting splattered with varnish, Harry and Marv pursued him. Kevin slipped on an icy surface along the way and they caught him and took him to Central Park.[1]

In the park, Harry, finally having had enough of Kevin, attempted to shoot him and get rid of him once and for all. However, he and Marv were distracted when a pigeon lady threw birdseed at them, attracting an entire flock of pigeons to pick them off, allowing Kevin to escape and leave behind the evidence of their crimes. As the police arrived to re-arrest Harry and Marv, Harry continuously kicked Marv for rambling to the police about their schemes.[1]

Later life

The following information comes from Home Alone 4, which has continuity problems with the first two films in the series.

Marv grew tired of always being locked up and severed ties with Harry, who was the boss and always made the decisions. Marv would later partner up and marry a woman named Vera, who would become his new accomplice.[3]

As Marv and Vera watched the residence of Natalie Kalban, Vera pondered if Marv would be able to cope without Harry making the plans. However, Marv pointed out that Harry's plans always resulted in them being imprisoned. At this point; Marv moved away from burglaries and instead plotted to kidnap the Crown Prince of the Royal Family who would be visiting. Marv felt happy that he was now finally the "boss", although in fact he was working under his mother Molly.[3]

Home Alone 4 information ends here.

Whilst robbing the Baxter house, Sinclair told Hughes and Jessica that they weren't "a bunch of two-bit bandits".[4]

The following information comes from outside the main Home Alone franchise and therefore may not be reliable and/or officially acknowledged.

Even as an adult, Kevin McCallister continued to have nightmares about Harry.[5]

Home_Alone_Wet_Bandit_Resurfaces_and_Responds_to_Kevin_MacCalister’s_Threatening_Video-2

Home Alone Wet Bandit Resurfaces and Responds to Kevin MacCalister’s Threatening Video-2

Marv Murchins' distress message to Harry.

Sometime in the mid-2010s, Harry's old friend Marv Murchins sent Harry a distress message from a darkened room, as Marv was terrified of the return of Kevin McCallister, who had recently taken a bloodthirsty vendetta against all home invaders.[6]

Potentially unofficial information ends here.

After finding Marv, Harry drove his van to the McCallister home to attempt to break in again, but was deterred away when grown-up Kevin set up defenses using his Google Assistant.[7]

Personality

Although both bandits are dimwitted, Harry is often the brains of their team. He plans out the schemes and is very good at infiltration. As shown in the first movie, when he gets security intel from the McCallister family disguised as a policeman. While he can be calm when the situation calls for it, he is shown to have a short temper. When said temper flairs too much or he gets hurt in a painful way imaginable, he's often reduced to swearing under his breath and speaking in gibberish. While he prefers to talk his way out of situations, he has no trouble resorting to violence should he find it necessary or if he gets angry enough. As shown in the second movie, when he threatens Kevin with a gun. While he gets along with Marv, he is shown to be violently abusive to him, stemming from not caring for Marv's stupidity or when Marv blurts out information to the police.

As a burglar, Harry is shown to be more professional than Marv, arranging the thefts, casing the joints and having the say on what actions to take. Since he is 'the brains' he often does little of the thieving himself and let's Marv do the leg work, but will get his hands dirty when needed, like during the toy store heist. While he tries to keep more of a low profile and subtle style than Marv, he's not much more subtle than him, happy to cause destruction and ham-fistedly grabbing swag or money as quickly as he can.

Trivia

  • His name may be a reference to Orson Welles's con-man character from the radio show "The Adventures of Harry Lime", who also appears in the film The Third Man (1949).
  • According to the Internet Movie Firearm Database, Harry is carrying what appears to be a Smith & Wesson Model 10 Revolver - .38 Special while disguised as a cop, which is also believed to be carried by the cop who chases Kevin.[8] In the second film, he carries what appears to be a Colt Police Positive.
  • Harry is an unseen character in Home Alone 4 (which shares a loose continuity with the original two films), having been ditched by Marv and replaced by Marv's wife Vera.
  • His portrayal, speech pattern, and mannerisms, suggest that he is perhaps Italian American (or possibly more specifically Sicilian American). Joe Pesci, in real life, is of Italian descent (with origins in Turin and Aquilonia in the province of Avellino, both located in Italy) and has played Italian and or Italian-American mobster roles many times.
  • After burning his right hand on the heated doorknob the letter "M" is visible on the hand and in New York also.
  • He got his head burned with a blowtorch in both films. It's also unknown how he got a hat in the second film especially since in the first film, he had a similar kind of hat burned by a blowtorch. However, he gets his hat burned in this film as well.
  • He has lost a tooth and used to wear a golden replacement until it was knocked out by one of Kevin's booby traps. In the second film, he gets a silver tooth.
  • Harry's possible height is 5'4", being only a foot shorter than the much taller Marv.
  • The reason why he mutters is that Joe Pesci can't stop himself from swearing behind the scenes. The director even had a swear jar and he filled it up in one day.
  • Harry is a little similar to T.J. Buzby from Scooby-Doo Meets the Boo Brothers. Both characters are criminals that pretend to be cops.

Gallery

References

Advertisement