How do you steal a million?

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Movie
German title How do you steal a million?
Original title How to Steal a Million
Country of production United States
original language English
Publishing year 1966
length Cinema: 123 minutes
DVD: 118 minutes
Age rating FSK 12
Rod
Director William Wyler
script Harry Kurnitz
production Fred Kohlmar
music John Williams
camera Charles Lang
cut Robert Swink
occupation

How do you steal a million? (Original title: How to Steal a Million ) is a crime comedy from 1966 directed by William Wyler with Audrey Hepburn and Peter O'Toole in the lead roles. The film is based on the story Venus Rising by George Bradshaw .

action

Charles Bonnet is known in Paris for his high quality private collection of works of art. In fact, like his father, he is a cunning forger who creates these works of art himself. Since he comes from a wealthy family, he only pursues art forgery as a hobby. He has just sold a “ Cézanne ” from his (fake) collection at auction for US $ 515,000. Now he wants to loan a “ Cellini ” statue from the family to the Museum Kléber-Lafayette for their exhibition. This statue is also a fake, created by Bonnet's father, where Bonnet's mother was the model.

Bonnet's daughter Nicole is not enthusiastic about what her father is doing and is reluctant to accept it. On the evening of the museum opening, the detective Simon Dermott breaks into the Bonnets' house to take samples of a “ Van Gogh ” painting and check it for authenticity. Since Nicole didn't go to the opening with her father, she surprises Simon with the painting, mistaking him for a thief and keeping him at bay with an old pistol. He lets her believe. Since Nicole fears a scandal if she calls the police and the origin of the picture becomes known, she wants to let him go. When she puts down the pistol, however, a shot goes off that brushes Dermott's arm. This takes advantage of the situation and brings Nicole to drive him to his hotel. There he says goodbye to her with a kiss.

The next day Nicole has a date with the fanatical American art collector Davis Leland, who actually only wants to use her to buy the Venus statue from Bonnet. During the date, Dermott distracts Leland and then clears up Nicole of Leland's real intentions.

Bonnet later receives a visit from an employee of the museum who needs a signature on an insurance contract for the statue. This would be insured against any damage and theft at no cost to Bonnet with 1 million US dollars. After Bonnet has signed, he learns that he has thereby also consented to the routine authenticity checks.

Nicole now remembers Dermott, who she believes is a professional criminal, and orders him to break into the museum and steal the statue before investigating it. After some persuasion, Dermott agrees and they both visit the museum to investigate the situation.

Leland turns up surprisingly at the Bonnets and proposes to Nicole. Surprised, she accepts this, because she has an appointment with Dermott to steal the statue and she wants to get rid of Leland as quickly as possible.

Dermott and Nicole lock themselves in the museum and spend some time in a storage room. During the course of the night, Simon triggers a false alarm, which upsets the guards and wakes the French interior minister who lives next door from his sleep. Shortly afterwards, he triggers a second false alarm, which now also wakes up the president . The overstrained night watchmen then switch off the alarm system completely, and both can successfully steal the statue from the museum.

Since the insurance would only have come into effect after the statue was examined, Bonnet is not entitled to the sum insured. But he's just happy that the dizziness hasn't been exposed. Simon now explains to Nicole that he is a private detective and a specialist in stolen works of art. Simon gives the statue to Davis Leland without payment. However, he has to swear never to contact the Bonnets again so that he can own the longed-for statue. Simon demands that Bonnet retire and not make any more forgeries, and Bonnet finally agrees.

Nicole and Simon, who are planning to get married, are now on their way to the airport when the South American art collector Señor Paravideo, who has always wanted to buy the Van Gogh from Bonnet, drives up. This is now happily led into the house by Bonnet.

background

  • The film was shot entirely in France. Filming began in July 1965 and ended in September 1965.
  • The cost of production was estimated at $ 6 million.
  • The reference to Givenchy after Nicole put on the cleaning ladies' clothes refers to Audrey Hepburn's clothing designer.
  • The film's working title was originally How to Steal a Million Dollars and Live Happily Ever After , but was then shortened to the first part.

Reviews

“A comedy staged with a light hand and many witty ideas in the Parisian artistic milieu; as witty as it is exciting. "

- Lexicon of international film

“Lovely comedy about a fake statue and theft of a million, which is also not real. Staged by William Wyler with many cheerful ideas and lively played with an excellent cast. Well suited for entertaining relaxation from 16 onwards. "

- Protestant film observer

Trivia

Awards

Screenwriter Harry Kurnitz was nominated for a 1967 WGA Award by the Writers Guild of America .

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ How do you steal a million? In: Lexicon of International Films . Film service , accessed March 2, 2017 .Template: LdiF / Maintenance / Access used 
  2. ↑ Critique No. 370/1966, p. 673