James Coburn stars in another film from a first time director, Bruce Geller - who worked on Mission Impossible and I think the writers worked on that show. It has a TV movie feel, lots of brown, Lalo Schifrin music. Coburn is a pickpocket working with veteran Walter Pigeon, they hook up with two newbies Michael Sarrazin and Trish Van Dere.
Sarrazin should have been Coburn's brother or son - would've given it more emotional kick. The slang about pick pocketing is interesting but not that interesting.
It's nice that Pigeon had a juicy role - old thief who snorts coke - but watching it I couldn't help think "a lot of other old stars would've been better in this like Bette Davis or someone".
the film doesn't work. It doesn't lean into its love triangle until too late. There's no enough history between Coburn and Sarrazin. More needed to be made of their rivalry.
Or else the film could've been a three girls movie.
Pickpockets arent that interesting. A lot of bumping into people.
2 comments:
Ever review "Topkapi" ('64) or "The Ipcress File" ('65)? Those were two of the movies that directly inspired Geller to create Mission: Impossible.
I've seen Ipcress File - haven't reviewed it - though I might rewatch it as I've just ordered that biography on Sidney Furie. Have never, to my shame, seen Topkapi - a big gap in my filmography since it kicked off the 60s heist cycle (which included Mission Impossible)
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