opinion: “The Asphalt Jungle (1950)“, “Rififi (1955)“, “Bob Le Flambeur (1956)“, “Seven Thieves (Mar 1960)” and “Ocean´s 11 (Aug 1960)”… Heist is the main theme that they have in common. The reason why “Seven Thieves” still an unknown movie for the big “crime audience”, probably because “Ocean´s 11” was released 6 months later! Frank Sinatra was 45 years old and a popular rising star and Edward G. Robinson 67 years old and a star from an older generation! You don´t find this movie in any “best heist list” or recommendations. I found my self it by curiosity…
When the movie starts and the initial music plays, you get a feeling that Lalo Schifrin his behind the score and “Mission Impossible (1966-1973)” the TV Show is in front of you. Later you discovered the plan includes accurate detail steps timed by the second and you want to confirm your suspicions, but while the later show “Mission Impossible” always goes according to the manual, our heroes here does not have the same luck (skill they have enough)… the final result it´s not according to the strict plan.
The target is the Monte Carlo Casino. The assignment is to clean up the equivalent of 4 million dollars inside the bunker! An easy piece of cake…
Of the seven anti-heroes, five needs to be mentioned here:
Theo Wilkins (Robinson) the Professor is the brilliant mastermind, the timing controller and the quick thinker prompt to act.
Paul Mason (Steiger) the Operations Manager, the tough and focused leader controlling and holding the team operational mood.
Melanie (Collins, aka “The British Open”) the Striper, a prostitute that also dances and delivers all needs to the clan and any other around.
Poncho (Wallach) the Musician, the guy who will do anything for money if the odds are good enough or not!
Raymond Le May (Scourby) the Casino General Manager, an unstable guy in love and lover (one more…) to Melanie.
There is no perfect crime and the censors should never be allowed it either… the heist it self-goes according to the manual and they got out from the Casino with lots of money, but, there is always a but..
… before the caravan reaches their final destination The Professor dies from a heart attack but with a smile on his face. Reaching the final destination they found out that the all these millions are marked bills and very easy traced 😦 To save their asses from the judicial and legal authorities the decision imposed by the minority is to return back the heist before the Casino discovered the sting and inform the cops.
Like Bob the Flambeur, Mason and Melanie scored some good money on the roulette after the restitution of the millions! A question that is not 100% answered is the relationship between Theo and Mason: lovers or father and son? Mason never confirmed the question/answer from Melanie!
Robinson (the Thinker) is the biggest one and Steiger (the Leader) is the second good on the screen. Collins (the Seducer) has never been a prima donna but Wallach (the Suicider Voluntary) acts very convinced as he always did!
“Seven Thieves (1960)” in black and white Cinemascope is a very good entertaining movie with a presentable storyline. The plot has more similarities, including the end, with the brilliant “Bob Le Flambeur (1956)” then with the average “Ocean´s 11 (1960)”!
rating: 3,5 of 5;
when latest: 30 October 2016;
where: S. Paulo, Brazil;
quotes: “… If you are a thief you get a bad reputation, in truth you are not always bad yourself …”;
director: Henry Hathaway;
starring: Edward G. Robinson, Rod Steiger, Joan Collins, Eli Wallach;
country: USA;
release date: March 11th 1960;
run time: 102 min;
genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller;
storyline: In Monte Carlo, Theo Wilkins recruits his young protégé Paul Mason – just released from prison – to help him rob the famous casino of $4 million. The plan is straightforward. On the night of the Governor’s Ball, Theo will create a distraction in the casino by having one of the team collapse requiring urgent medical attention. During that time Paul and another member of the crew will get the money from the vault. When the ambulance arrives, the money will leave with the sick man. The plan is a good one but not everyone will survive the robbery and no one will get rich from it;
The Movies I have seen! 