Customer Reviews

Seven Thieves [VHS]

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE REVIEWER WILLIAM HARE WAS THINKING WHILE WRITING HIS REVIEW. HE HAS REVEALED ALMOST ALL THE PLOT TWISTS OF THIS GEM OF A FILM IN HIS REVIEW.
I DO HOPE PEOPLE USE SOME RESTRAINT OR POST A SPOILER WARNING IN CASE THEY ARE REVEALING SENSITIVE PORTIONS OF A FILM THEY ARE WRITING ABOUT.
MR. HARE, IT IS ENTIRELY POSSIBLE TO REVIEW A FILM WITHOUT RESORTING TO EMOTIONALLY CHARGED REVELATIONS. SHAME ON YOU!!!
BY THE WAY I LOVE THE FILM AND I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT. HEY... IT'S GOT EDWARD G.ROBINSON.. YOU CAN'T GO WRONG!!!

The same year Frank & Co. took down Vegas in Ocean's Eleven, Edward G. Robinson's crew tried this lesser-known, European caper. Henry Hathaway directed, and it's a very widescreen picture - not easily enjoyed on DVD. But when the heist goes live you'll tax the edge of your seat as you ponder the picture's ingenious hook: "Who will bitch out?" (Not as successful is the de rigueur convention that "crime doesn't pay," and the too neat wrap-up)

With his roughhewn street smarts, Rod Steiger is an odd choice to don a tuxedo and mingle with royalty, but he has a terrific rapport with Robinson, and their scenes are superb. Set aside your preconceptions about Joan Collins, she gives a good no-nonsense performance here. And her beatnik basement, be-bop interpretive dance is actually, pretty sexy and not as nearly as ridiculous as it should be.

What's with the meager commentary track here? Did someone forget to press both "Play" and "record"?

one of the most under rated actors ever, edward g. robinson. he proves once again in this movie, as he did in "the cincinnati kid", he just got better with age.
an excellent caper movie and also a delight to see those two method actors, rod stieger and eli wallach share there scenes. and of course joan collins in her pre, pre dynasty days. quite a sexy lady.
i only suggest the purchase of the dvd when available. the movie was shot in cinemascope and loses a lot in the full frame vhs version. letter box would do it wonders.

This title I would consider as being a prelude to "Ocean's Eleven" excitement an tension do abound an Joan Collin fans will not be disappointed worth a look-see.

When "Professor" Edward G. Robinson asks long-time friend Rod Steiger to join him in a Casino caper and Steiger says "NO!", you know you are in for a nice ride of a movie... Sexier-than-ever Joan Collins only adds to the fun. The plot is great, the characters are fun to watch, and the final movie is one of the best I've seen. Don't miss it!

I first saw this movie when I was a little kid, and they played it on TV. I loved it then, and I love it now. Reluctant Rod Steiger accepts to participate on a heist at a casino, on an old friend's request, which happens to be the glorious Edward G. Robinson. They enroll the rest of the band, including the sexy Joan Collins, in the best part I've seen her. The plot is terrific, and leaves us with a very nice and touching feeling, common of the idealistic movies of the 40's and 50's. A superb movie.

I rented "Seven Thieves" because Edward G. Robinson was in the cast. He gave his usual professional delivery and he had some backing as well although Rod Steiger's "angry young man" act was a bit much. The plot had an extra twist or two which kept my interest. The problem I had with this film was Joan Collins. Mind you, I normally don't have a problem with Joan Collins but in "Seven Thieves" she plays the role of a nightclub dancer and it is downright embarassing to watch. She gets up and skips around on her tip-toes to the music of her boy friend's saxaphone. It's bad enough we see her twice at the nightclub but the producers actually super-imposed her twinkle-toes act on the opening cast and credits. This could be written off as a casting credit but the fault, in my book, goes to the director who should have had Miss Collins dubbed in the act of a torch singer instead. Enjoy the rest of the film but, if you like her cabaret routine, you're focussed on the wrong things.

Mr . Hare is a social misfit. Next he'll tell the plot twists to every movie ever made.....just to show his superior ....what???....just so he can.
Reading his review will spoil the film, yes, as regards the story. But..........do not miss the ensemble cast of this film no matter what you do......it is like a mini-Group Theatre.....Rod Steiger, Edward G. Robinson, Eli Wallach, Berry Kroeger, Alexander Scourby.....et.al....alll leading stars during the 40's, 50's and 60's.....as their time was due.
5 Great Big Stars.

Stars Edward G. Robinson as a professor who teams up with a professional thief to rob the Casino at Monte Carlo. Great character study with plot twists and an unusual and unexpected ending. Don't miss this unusual and entertaining movie. In B&W.

This is a shrewd and classy caper film. It is set amid the beauties of Nice and Monte Carlo in the glorious French Riviera. Some other extraordinary scenery is also present, Joan Collins at her loveliest, demonstrating her skills in doing the bumps and grinds as a local stripper. Her expertise was enhanced by instructions prior to shooting by Candy Barr, noted stripper and girlfriend of L.A. mobster Mickey Cohen, who was a subject of James Ellroy's "L.A. Confidential."

The acting is superb. Edward G. Robinson and Rod Steiger perform with consummate skill as father and son, although it is a long time before we learn about that relationship. The elder Robinson tells Steiger he wants one more triumph before ending a highly controversial career as a scientist who ultimately goes wrong and is sent to prison. Steiger is summoned to take physical charge of the operation, which mastermind Robinson has meticulously planned. Steiger has just finished what he terms as a "three year rest," meaning a prison stretch. Collins and her mentor, saxophonist Eli Wallach, who provides musical accompaniment to her strip act, are also members of the seven person team.

The Robinson master plan calls for the Grand Casino of Monte Carlo to be robbed the night of the Governor's Ball, when he theorizes it will be easier to pull off the caper due to the extra attention devoted to all the wealthy international celebrities who will be present. The major distraction results when Wallach, playing the role of a sick but wealthy royalist, collapses from an alleged heart attack with Robinson, as his presumed traveling doctor, then assisting him.

When the caper moves into full swing there are all kinds of obstacles to overcome, such as a visit from a London doctor who swears he can smell cyanide after Wallach's collapse and a casino employee who wants to step on the balcony for a breath of fresh air at the very time that the robbery is being staged, but detection is ultimately avoided. An interesting twist occurs when Robinson, as the gang is driving away, collapses from a heart attack and dies after expressing great satisfaction that his masterminded robbery has apparently succeeded.

Eventually the shrewd Steiger, intelligent in matters of crime, realizes that casino operatives have trumped himself and his group in one important area. They have used recently printed bills that are easily traceable, meaning that not one franc in the potential payoff amounting to $4 million in U.S. monetary terms can be spent.

It is Collins who makes the suggestion that Steiger quickly recognizes is his only realistic way out of the terrible dilemma that has ensued. The response to the situation provides the final twist to an excellent caper film that keeps viewers guessing at every plot twist.