20th Century-Fox Dynamo (February 1960)

EDWARD G. ROBINSON ROD STEIGER . . . .the “professor" ...the mastermind JOAN COLLINS ...the Casino star ELI WALLACH . . .the "beatnik" BERRY KROEGER ii it* . . muscle man* ALEXANDER SCOURBY . . . “inside" man MICHAEL DANTE . . . “safecracker" JOAN COLLINS & ROD STEIGER, IN LOVE, ARE THREATENED BY REBELLIOUS THIEVES 16 SEVEN THIEVES IN THE MOST FABULOUS ROBBERY THAT EVER ROCKED MONTE CARLO! Veteran showmen have time and again contended that since the earliest days of movie-making when “The Great Train Robbery” flickered its way onto the silent screens, nothing has seemingly held as much fascination for audiences everywhere .as an exciting robbery. But, Sydney Boehm’s “Seven Thieves”, based on Max Catto’s novel, “Lions At The Kill”, unquestionably dramatizes the most fabulous theft detailed in fiction, either in books, on screen or stage. Directed by Henry Hathaway and photographed in CinemaScope by Academy Award winner, Sam Leavitt, this suspense-packed, melo- dramatic story exposes a virtually “scientific” plot that seven profes- sional thieves carried out: robbing the vault beneath a plush gambling casino in Monte Carlo. Actually, most of the picture was filmed in Monte Carlo and other places along the beautiful French Riviera. The seven thieves are Edward G. Robinson, internationally known as “the professor” who master-minds the fantastic, yet beautifully pre- cise scheme; Rod Steiger who was summoned to superintend the plot of its consummation; Joan Collins as the strip-tease dancer who serves as the decoy; Eli Wallach as the shrewd robber with a “beatnik” com- plex; Alexander Scourby as the “inside man”, secretary to the casino’s managing director; Michael Dante as Louis, the expert safecracker, and Berry Kroeger as Baumer, the “strong-arm” member, a stolid German and driver for the group. Others in the cast are Sebastian Cabot as the casino director, Marcel Hillaire as the Duke, John Bernardino as the chief of detectives, Alphonse Martell as the Governor, Jonathan Kidd and Marga Ann Deighton. The screenplay opens with the “professor” (Robinson) greeting Paul Mason (Steiger) whom he informs he has concocted a fool-proof plan to rob the Monte Carlo casino. At first unwilling to go along with the project, Mason finally agrees to meet the six others who will be involved and to listen to all details. At a night-club Mason meets a beautiful strip-tease dancer, Melanie (Joan Collins), who is to serve as foil and whom he lets know he thinks she is cheap. Agreeing to lead the gang, Mason changes the date of the robbery to the night of the Governor’s ball. Baumer (Kroeger) violently resents the change, but is subdued. By now Mason views Melanie with friend- lier eyes. All the timing, rehearsing and planning comes to focus and so does the night for the robbery attempt. Mason and Louis (Dante) cling to the preciptious wall high above the ground to reach the casino director’s office. Meanwhile, in the casino, the professor has rendered unconscious Pancho (Wallach) pos- ing as a rich gambler who is unable to walk. Supposedly very ill, Pancho is wheeled into the director’s office in a wheelchair constructed specially for the crime. The vault is opened. Louis and Mason take out $4,000,000, they place it in a large pocket in the wheelchair and Pancho, supposedly dead, is wheeled out in it. On their way back the excitement is so great that the professor dies of a heart attack. Mason’s grief is so great that Melanie, who has come to love him, realizes he and the professor are son and father. Back at the hotel, the remaining six thieves find the $4,000,000 is in brand new, recorded, large bills whose spenders can be easily traced and arrested. Mason and Melanie decide to return the money, and do so, but not until after a show of superior strength and violence. Newspaper reviews in cities where “Seven Thieves” had opened by press-time were unanimous endorsements of the production, its performances and particularly its direction by Henry Hathaway whose second 1960 assignment is “The Alaskans” with John Wayne. Reviewers recalled that Hathaway has enjoyed extraordinary success in melo- dramatic and suspenseful screenplays.