caper films

Lisa’s Home Bijou: “Ocean’s 11”

October 12, 2015 by Lisa Grable 2 Comments

Film Festival: Caper Films

DANNY OCEAN (Frank Sinatra) and ten of his war buddies each find themselves bored with the pedestrian civilian life after World War II in Ocean’s 11. Pulling off a caper might just provide the thrill they need.

“Ocean’s 11” (1960) is the ultimate movie for fans of the Rat Pack — that well-known group of swank entertainers who hung out and worked together in Hollywood and the Las Vegas strip in the early 1960s. This movie, their first as a definitive group, provides a period view of Las Vegas — a landscape that, sadly, has been blown up or knocked down since this original version of “Ocean’s 11” was filmed.

As the film gets underway, fifteen years have gone by since the end of World War II. Danny Ocean (Frank Sinatra), hungry for action, determines that the expertise of his buddies from the 82nd Airborne Division should be used to get rich quick by performing criminal acts. During the Christmas season, Danny starts reuniting the men with the help of Spyros Acebos (Akim Tamiroff), the man behind the plan. Spyros meets Mushy O’Connors (Joey Bishop) in Beverly Hills. He is a nervous wreck, worrying that all the division members won’t be found and assembled.

“See, the whole point of having money is so that other people know that you got it. I’m gonna get me a big 50-foot Chris Craft and not even put it in the water. Just gonna leave it in the driveway. Maybe give it to the mailman or something like that.” — Peter Breimer (Norman Fell)

Danny Ocean and Jimmy Foster (Peter Lawford) are lounging around together, seemingly unconcerned about Spyros and his worries. Danny is separated from his wife and Jimmy is trying to keep away from his mother, a rich woman with a relentless parade of husbands. Her latest husband-to-be (the sixth) is Duke Santos (Cesar Romero), a real financial wheeler-dealer.

Danny and Jimmy take a road trip to look up their old buddy Vince (Buddy Lester). Vince works introducing strippers at the Burlesque Theater in Phoenix. His wife is “Honey Face,” the headliner. Danny and Jimmy can’t convince Vince to join the old gang in the scheme, since Vince can’t bear to spend any time away from his wife. But after a brawl with some very enthusiastic theater patrons, Vince suddenly finds himself free to join the meeting in Beverly Hills.

“What’s the word, Vince? We gotta catch a plane. –Danny, I never figured you’d go this route. –Vince, the plan is foolproof, take my word for it. You know I only lie to girls. –But, Jim, if it’s so foolproof, why hasn’t somebody done it yet? –Same reason nobody’s gone to the moon yet, no equipment. –And we’re equipped. It’s gonna be a military operation, executed by trained men. –Why waste all those cute little tricks that the army taught us, just because it’s sort of peaceful now?” Danny, Jimmy, and Vince

Another ex-GI, Roger Corneil (Henry Silva) pokes around an appliance shop in San Francisco looking for Tony Bergdof (Richard Conte), an electronics wizard. Roger finds out that Tony has been in San Quentin, doing one-to-five years, but he’s just been sprung due to some mysterious amnesty. Tony’s wife, Gracie, left him after he went to jail and placed their little boy Timmy in military school. Tony visits Timmy right after he leaves prison. Roger intercepts him there and signs him up for the reunion in Beverly Hills.

Vince finds Josh Howard (Sammy Davis, Jr.) working as garbage collector for the Las Vegas Sanitation Department. Josh’s dream was once to be a major league outfielder. But after the war, the only baseball job he could find was in Mobile, Alabama and that place just wasn’t very simpatico to black men. Once Josh hooks up with Vince, he happily joins the caper and his garbage truck becomes the linchpin for the entire scheme.

Danny’s closest friend is Sam Harmon (Dean Martin), a lounge singer who lives in Hawaii. While he’s on the mainland to participate in the big plan, Sam hopes to help patch up Danny’s marriage. The problem is that Danny’s wife, Bea (Angie Dickinson) would like to live an average married life, but Danny needs constant excitement and challenge.

“I want a life that doesn’t depend on the color of a card or the length of a horse’s nose.”–Bea Ocean

Once Danny and his ten Army buddies assemble at Spyros’ house in Beverly Hills, the plan becomes clear. Their objective is to liberate millions of dollars from five Las Vegas casinos on New Year’s Eve. Five of the guys work in the casinos that are the targets: the Sands, the Riviera, the Flamingo, the Desert Inn, and the Sahara.

As the gang schemes, rehearses, and commits their crime, we see Red Skelton, George Raft and a hilarious Shirley MacLaine in cameo appearances. Sammy Davis, Jr. sings the film’s catchy theme song, “Ee-o-eleven,” and Nelson Riddle provides the music.

Will Bea and Danny get back together? Why did the authorities let Tony out of prison? Why is he so anxious for his share of the profits? How many times will Sam sing his lounge song, “Ain’t that a kick in the head?” How can the gang control all the electric power for the Las Vegas Strip at once? Will Jimmy be able to hide from his mother? Is Duke Santos smarter than Ocean’s Eleven and all the casino owners put together?

Swing-a-ding-ding into “Ocean’s 11” and find out — and enjoy the lounge scene of yesterday’s Las Vegas at the same time.

Let’s talk story

When I visited Las Vegas I was disappointed because it was hard to find history there. It’s a place where demolition happens all the time and new is hot. I’m glad the Neon Museum and the Nevada State Museum and others are archiving the stories of the pioneers, Hoover Dam workers, mobsters, atomic engineers, and the colorful history of this area. My mother-in-law lived and worked there and was one of the special characters of that unique place. There was nothing like sitting next to her in a lounge show watching the showgirls and listening to her stories.

Affiliate links: if you make a purchase using these links, I’ll receive a small compensation towards maintaining this blog, at no extra cost to you.

This is an update of a review that appeared originally in RETRO magazine, Nancy Eaton, editor.

Lisa’s Home Bijou: “How to Steal a Million”

September 25, 2015 by Lisa Grable 3 Comments

Film Festival: Caper Films

AUDREY HEPBURN earned a special place in our hearts in her star-making performance in 1953’s “Roman Holiday.” What was it about her? Her dark hair, pretty eyes, slim figure and her sense of style all contributed to her unique look, helped along by her favorite designer, Hubert Givenchy. In this caper film, Givenchy’s designs are an important part of the fun.

“How to Steal a Million (1966)” takes place in Paris in the swingin’ ’60s. Paris was a confection of a city then, with its Belle Epoque mansions, inspiring art, the Ritz Bar, Maxim’s restaurant, and Givenchy’s trend-setting fashions. Nicole Bonet (Audrey Hepburn) lives the life of an heiress with her father in the family mansion. Papa helps maintain their lifestyle by creating masterful art forgeries. As the story begins, he has just sold a Cezanne “from his collection” for $5 million.

” I doubt very much if Van Gogh himself would have gone to these pains with his work. — He didn’t have to; he WAS Van Gogh. — But my darling, you know that in his whole lifetime he only sold one painting; whereas I, in loving memory of his great tragic genius, have already sold two!”–Papa and Nicole

In his latest publicity stunt, Papa lends his Cellini Venus to a great Paris museum for public display (Carnavalet Museum.) At the opening reception for the exhibit, Leland Davis (Eli Wallach) falls passionately in love with the Cellini Venus, which is insured for $1 million. Meanwhile, Nicole stays home from the reception and decides to read a Hitchcock novel before going to bed. She gets scared to death when she hears a noise in the empty house. Creeping downstairs, Nicole discovers an intruder, debonair in a tuxedo, stealing flecks of paint off the “Van Gogh” hanging in the entrance hall. This tall, good-looking ruffian with intense blue eyes is Simon Dermott (Peter O’Toole).

Nicole tries to shoot Simon. The two of them end up on a wild ride in a sports car to the Ritz, their first encounter culminating in a soulful kiss. Nicole likes Simon very much despite the fact that they met during an apparent burglary. Nicole doesn’t know that Simon is an employee of De Solnay (Charles Boyer), a rich man interested in acquiring some of the Bonet art works. Nicole convinces Simon to help her steal the Cellini Venus from the museum. She won’t tell Simon her reasons for committing this crime, but he has his own secret reasons for agreeing to help her.

Simon and Nicole case the museum to plan the theft. The Venus is protected with light beams from the ceiling circling the work, with alarm controls in the guards’ lounge. The museum closes to visitors at 5:30 pm, and the guards make rounds once each hour all night. The maids come in to clean from midnight to 4 am. Simon’s plan needs to work around all these schedules and alarms with only himself and Nicole to carry it out.

” Now look, if you were a guard and had to sit night after night guarding a bunch of junk you couldn’t afford and didn’t particularly like, how would you feel? —Irritable. … –It’s psychological warfare!” –Nicole and Simon

And now for the fashion report: Givenchy’s outfits for Nicole are a visual feast of mid-1960s style. In her first appearance, she is dressed completely in white, complemented by her bright red sports car. Her white “bug-eye” sunglasses complete the ensemble. The fashion show continues with

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a white suit with a pleated skirt and helmet hat
a light brown tweed suit with no-lapel jacket and dirndl skirt, accessorized with white kid
a lime green suit, the jacket button-less with a mandarin collar, worn with diamond dangling earrings
a butter-yellow belted jacket suit, with a silk cravat, a dirndl skirt, and white diamond-patterned hose
a black satin dress with lace overlay, black peau de soie shoes, lace eye veil, glittery eye shadow, and the palest pink lipstick
a navy blue double-breasted coat with white accessories, including very large square sunglasses
a wheat cowl-neck dress
a navy wrap-jacket suit with a large white collar and belt
a window-pane plaid coat.
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Audrey is irresistible in all this; Peter O’Toole does not have a chance!

Will Nicole be swayed by Leland Davis’s proposal, including a large engagement ring? Will Nicole’s father end up in jail? How long can Nicole and Simon spend in a tiny closet together without getting in trouble? Can Simon work around the alarm system? Who will end up with the Venus? “How to Steal a Million” is your how-to guide with all the answers.

Let’s talk story

I find myself wishing these styles would come back. Isn’t it great that modern movie makers like the 1960s too? We don’t all look like Audrey, but a little matching shoes, dress, hat can’t be bad! And I love a romance that happens because the couple works on a hard project together (even if it is illegal)!

Affiliate links: if you make a purchase using these links, I’ll receive a small compensation towards maintaining this blog, at no extra cost to you.

This is an update of a review that appeared originally in RETRO magazine, Nancy Eaton, editor.

Lisa’s Home Bijou: “Gambit”

September 11, 2015 by Lisa Grable Leave a Comment

Six months with Casa Bouquet!

Before we get started our latest Film Festival entrée, I have some news! Casa Bouquet is celebrating 6 months online!

To celebrate, I am hosting a giveaway (sweepstakes)! Take a chance to win a $25 Amazon gift card! Just comment on any post in Casa Bouquet and you’ll be entered. Additional ways to enter: Enter your email in the Subscribe section on the right; OR go to Casa Bouquet Facebook page and Like the page; OR go to Casa Bouquet Pinterest and Follow. Enter up to 4 ways! The winner will be notified by email or private message. Entries limited to U.S. residents 18 years of age and older. Read the giveaway disclosure and policies here. Giveaway ends September 25, 2015 at 11:59 pm EDT. Thanks, dear readers, for helping me celebrate my blog!

Film Festival: Caper Films

SEARCHING FOR fine art can lead to travel in exotic and beautiful places, such as Hong Kong and the Middle East. In the 1966 film, “Gambit,” Michael Caine masterminds a caper to pursue such artistic riches, and ends up in these exotic locales. But his first problem is how to convince Shirley MacLaine to be his accomplice.

“Gambit” opens in Hong Kong, where we watch debonair Harry Dean (Michael Caine) follow a beautiful Eurasian girl down the street into the International Palace of Joy, a local nightclub. Harry and an art dealer friend visit the club and watch the floor show, a multi-national version of New York’s Kit Kat Club. It features the beauty they were following on the street, Nicole Chang (Shirley MacLaine), who works as a chorine in the floorshow.

“How would you like to make 5000 dollars? Not Hong Kong, 5000 United States of America dollars. That’s uh 5, 0, 0, 0.” –Harry

Nicole is inscrutable. Even after Harry invites her to his table and buys her drinks, she refuses to smile or speak. Harry offers her $5000 to pull off a job with him, and she finally relents.

Harry and Nicole fly to Dahmuz, a very prosperous Middle Eastern country. Their destination is a visit with Ahmed Shahbandar (Herbert Lom) the richest man in the world. Shahbandar owns a rare Chinese bust, the Empress Li Su, which looks like Shahbandar’s late wife. The bust also looks remarkably like Nicole, who is dressed as a Chinese princess for the visit. Harry hopes that Nicole will catch Shahbandar’s eye and that will help clinch the deal for the rare bust.

Of course, the movie would be over in 15 minutes if everything went Harry’s way. Ahmed turns out to be much more intelligent, perceptive and analytical than Harry thought — probably greater than Harry himself. Nicole is not an obsequious china doll who follows Harry’s every bidding. She’s a feisty, intelligent young woman, who might be able to help Harry if he would allow himself to respect her. And Harry is not quite as suave as he thinks. He can’t quite pull off the educated Etonian facade, since the con man Cockney he really is keeps showing through.

“Harry! I have the funniest feeling! You’re not one of those spies that get blown up, are you? –What are you talking about? –You’re being followed. –Are you at it again? Who’s following us? Your Aunt Minnie from Manchuria? –Why I don’t know their names, but they’ve been behind us ever since we left the hotel. –Are you sure? –They’re fingering trinkets at the purple booth. –Purple booth? –Why is it that people who follow people always end up fingering trinkets? –I don’t know. But they’re fingering trinkets all right. Come with me.” –Nicole and Harry

Jean Louis created the exquisite costumes for the film. Shirley dresses in traditional cheongsams (very vintage vogue) for much of the film, and are they ever gorgeous. There’s a red and white one, a teal and gold one and a pink one with gold lace trim. Shirley also looks fabulous in a white, one-shoulder, roman-style gown with silver trim.

“Saleem and I have been friends for years. We have many interests in common. He also shares my enthusiasm for gadgets. In fact it was he who helped me to perfect all those little electronic devices to protect my paintings and sculpture. One of these days we hope to test them out!”—Shahbandar

Will Nicole earn the $5000 Harry promised her? Will she and Harry end up with each other? Can Harry figure a way around Ahmed’s elaborate photo-detector alarm system, his sliding bookcases, his rooms that change floors? The secret panels? Will Harry get the Li Su bust, or will he go bust? Tune into “Gambit” and find out.

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Let’s talk story

I love a good caper film. There’s something about the impossible puzzle and the suspense that really appeals to me. “Gambit” has the added perks of Shirley MacLaine (one of my favorite dancers), young Sir Michael Caine, and humor with the tension.

Affiliate links: if you make a purchase using these links, I’ll receive a small compensation towards maintaining this blog, at no extra cost to you.

This is an update of a review that appeared originally in RETRO magazine, Nancy Eaton, editor.

Lisa’s Home Bijou: Topkapi caper film

August 24, 2015 by Lisa Grable 2 Comments

Film Festival: Caper Films

Melina Mercouri is Elizabeth in Topkapi (1964). IMAGINE A BEAUTIFUL and passionate woman who lives for beautiful objects — especially emeralds. She exudes such a joie d’vivre that men flock to her. With beautiful makeup and hair, an infectious laugh and freely bestowed kisses, she uses her power to persuade men to help her get everything she wants.

Topkapi is the treasury in Istanbul where the priceless jewels of the Turkish empires are kept. In this film, two protagonists devise a caper to get their hands on a particular item in the Topkapi treasury. Walter Harper (Maximilian Schell) and Elizabeth Lipp (Melina Mercouri) decide to steal an emerald-studded sultan’s dagger, since emeralds are Elizabeth’s best friends.

I will give you all of them for just one dagger. Encrusted with diamonds, emeralds. The four greatest emeralds the world has ever known. Dazzling, flawless. All four are priceless. There is one that is perfection. –Elizabeth

To help them pull off the caper, they plan to assemble a team of amateurs. This is to decrease the likelihood that a dossier already exists on a team member in a police bureau somewhere.

The film opens at a carnival. Psychedelic colors filter across the screen in a surrealistic fashion, giving an effective air of mystery to the story’s introduction. The two conspirators recruit a strongman, a gymnast and a carnival worker. The first recruit is Cedric Page (Robert Morley), who appears to be a bumbling toymaker. But Cedric is actually an amazing inventor and alarm expert. He determines that the floor of the Treasury is loaded with hundreds of strain gauges. This means that the slightest weight on the floor after closing hours will set off the alarms.

Elizabeth and Walter also recruit a driver, Arthur Simon Simpson (Peter Ustinov). Arthur works in a Greek border town as a guide-for-hire. Though Arthur has lots of British and American tourists to solicit, his limited skills will never make him prosperous. Walter and Elizabeth hire Arthur to drive a Lincoln across the Turkish border. Arthur has no idea about the caper or the real identities of Walter and Elizabeth. He just thinks they are a jet-set couple with an expensive car. They give Arthur directions to drive the Lincoln to Turkey and leave it at the Istanbul Hilton.

How’s the captain, my successor? –It took 3 days for the magnetism to wear off. –Seriously? –Seriously! –Cannibal! –It’s like Chinese food. One hour, and you’re hungry again. – Elizabeth & Walter

The guards at the Turkish Border are suspicious of Arthur, so they check the car so thoroughly that they almost dismantle it. The search pays off — they find weapons and Arthur is immediately taken into custody. The Turkish security force suspects that a terrorist group has set Arthur up, so they appoint him as an agent to try to find out more. Arthur then sets out to join Elizabeth’s team in Istanbul.

In one fascinating scene, the plotters attend a wrestling match in an Istanbul stadium. This once-a-year event is quite a spectacle as musicians march around tangled masses of writhing, oiled male bodies. The spectators are totally mesmerized with the scenario, so the caper team uses this to their advantage to advance some of their plans.

Will Arthur fall under Elizabeth’s spell and help her with the heist or will he help Turkish security? Will the team find a way to slow down the lighthouse beam that sweeps the Topkapi palace roof every 21 seconds? How will they use Cedric’s mechanical parrot that perfectly records human speech? How will they make a key for the sultan’s display case? How will they get to the display case without triggering the floor alarms? Will the fabulous Elizabeth get her emeralds? Only the amusing and mysterious Topkapi holds the answers.

Resource links for Topkapi

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0058672/
- Topkapi (1964) at IMDB
http://topkapisarayi.gov.tr/en
- Topkapi Palace Museum
http://www.lifetimetv.co.uk/biography/biography-melina-mercouri
- Melina Mercouri biography from Lifetime
http://whc.unesco.org/en/melinamercouriprize/
- The UNESCO Melina Mercouri International Prize
http://www.biography.com/people/peter-ustinov-9514015
- Peter Ustinov from Biography.com website
http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/person/171336|110340/Maximilian-Schell/
- Maximilian Schell from Turner Classic Movies
http://kilyos.ee.bilkent.edu.tr/~history/Ext/emerald_20.html
- The Emerald Dagger
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/turkey/istanbul
- Istanbul from Lonely Planet
http://www.vernier.com/products/sensors/force-sensors/
- Force sensors from Vernier Software & Technology

Let’s talk story

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Theoni V. Aldredge was the costume designer for this film. Melina Mercouri is riveting in her coordinated outfits. In these days of minimalism and capsule wardrobes, I’m still inspired by a total matched outfit. Her fingernails even match. I didn’t know anyone with green nail polish in the 1960s!

Affiliate links: if you make a purchase using these links, I’ll receive a small compensation towards maintaining this blog, at no extra cost to you.

This is an update of a review that appeared originally in RETRO magazine, Nancy Eaton, editor.