Contains spoilers.
This stunning thriller has it all. A stellar English cast (James Mason, John Gielgud, Trevor Howard, among others), a laconic American (Grodin), a beautiful heiress (Bergin), a mess of diamonds, a car chase with a difference, and one of the most inventive and nicely handled heists in cinematic history.
Diamond dealer Grodin is commissioned by criminal millionaire Howard to buy a diamond from merchants 11 Harrowhouse. The diamond, of course, disappears. Grodin decides to heist 11 Harrowhouse, with the help of disgruntled clerk James Mason...
The script is fine and funny, the voice over by Grodin being a soft-boiled version of a Black Mask magazine narrative. The heist never lets up in favour of the love interest - the beautiful Ms Bergin is actually used for once - in fact, she wears the trousers in this film. I haven't seen the version reported to be lacking Grodin's voice-over - in fact, I think it may be more interesting as the lack of information may just up the tension.
The acting honours belong to James Mason. As the terminally ill bank clerk who turns on his employers, he is morbidly mannered and introspective. In fact, he carries off the heist almost single-handed, without much credit and no fuss. The scene where he is discovered in the vault by his employer, Geilgud, is most satisfying and contains the classic line - 'I've eaten the inventory'. And the manner of the heist? You'd have to see it to believe it!!!
I think this film is on every action director's secret wish list, each hoping the other doesn't know about it so they can have sole access to its ideas. Textbook stuff.
This stunning thriller has it all. A stellar English cast (James Mason, John Gielgud, Trevor Howard, among others), a laconic American (Grodin), a beautiful heiress (Bergin), a mess of diamonds, a car chase with a difference, and one of the most inventive and nicely handled heists in cinematic history.
Diamond dealer Grodin is commissioned by criminal millionaire Howard to buy a diamond from merchants 11 Harrowhouse. The diamond, of course, disappears. Grodin decides to heist 11 Harrowhouse, with the help of disgruntled clerk James Mason...
The script is fine and funny, the voice over by Grodin being a soft-boiled version of a Black Mask magazine narrative. The heist never lets up in favour of the love interest - the beautiful Ms Bergin is actually used for once - in fact, she wears the trousers in this film. I haven't seen the version reported to be lacking Grodin's voice-over - in fact, I think it may be more interesting as the lack of information may just up the tension.
The acting honours belong to James Mason. As the terminally ill bank clerk who turns on his employers, he is morbidly mannered and introspective. In fact, he carries off the heist almost single-handed, without much credit and no fuss. The scene where he is discovered in the vault by his employer, Geilgud, is most satisfying and contains the classic line - 'I've eaten the inventory'. And the manner of the heist? You'd have to see it to believe it!!!
I think this film is on every action director's secret wish list, each hoping the other doesn't know about it so they can have sole access to its ideas. Textbook stuff.