Such a frustrating disappointment

Best movie ever!

This story has more twists and turns than a second-rate soap opera.

A film with more than the usual spoiler issues. Talking about it in any detail feels akin to handing you a gift-wrapped present and saying, "I hope you like it -- It's a thriller about a diabolical secret experiment."

A light as air but undeniably entertaining heist film. Diamond broker Charles Grodin and wealthy girlfriend Candice Bergen are hired by billionaire madman Trevor Howard to rob a diamond clearing house (address is 11 Harrowhouse). Extremely clever and a lot of fun with great chemistry between Grodin & Bergen. Grodin's narration is hysterical and Bergen, looking stunning, shows early comic promise. Howard, not usually seen in anything approaching a comedy, is very funny. Director Aram Avakian brings a lot of style and moves things along at a lightening pace. Michael Lewis contributes a first rate score and the supporting cast includes James Mason, John Geilgud and Helen Cherry (in a most unlikely role). It's unlikely you'll see a movie make such good use of cockroaches.

I'm a movie buff in my mid 50's, and though I own many hundreds of movies, this is among my top 10 most enjoyable films to watch and I hate that it is not available on DVD, not to mention BluRay. I own the LaserDisc version in widescreen with the Grodin narration. I re-watch this movie every few years, and enjoy it just as much every time. Grodin and Bergen are extremely charming, and the British supporting cast is world class. Some incorrectly describe this as a spoof, which gives the entirely wrong impression, though it is certainly witty and self-deprecating. It certainly isn't entirely realistic, but the tone, mood and wit of the film are extremely engaging.

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 could have been a fairly entertaining caper movie, but it never comes to life. It has a promising cast, but most of the performers are given nothing to do; James Mason brings the only traces of humanity to an otherwise very mechanical movie. In the last 15 minutes, the filmmakers even throw in some car chases and shoot-outs, probably hoping that the movie would gain some tension (since there are no laughs), but it remains strangely indifferent and uninvolving throughout. (**)