This week’s mystery movie was the 1960 Twentieth Century-Fox film “Seven Thieves,” with Edward G. Robinson, Rod Steiger, Joan Collins, Eli Wallach, Alexander Scourby, Michael Dante, Berry Kroeger, Sebastian Cabot, Marcel Hillaire and John Beardino.
Screenplay by Sydney Boehm from “Lions at the Kill” by Max Catto.
Music by Dominic Frontiere, photography by Sam Leavitt. Art direction by Lyle Wheeler and John DeCuir, set decorations by Walter M. Scott and Stuart A. Reiss, orchestration by Edward B. Powell. Edited by Dorothy Spencer, assistant director Ad Schaumer, costumes by Bill Thomas, makeup by Ben Nye, hairstyles by Myrl Stoltz.
Sound by Charles Peck and Harry M. Leonard. CinemaScope lenses by Bausch and Lomb.
“Seven Thieves” is available from Amazon on DVD, Blu-ray and streaming.
“Seven Thieves” was suggested by Film Bulletin, which said (Feb. 1, 1960):
Surprise hit! Cleverly written, directed, acted crime melodrama sure-fire to delight and excite all classes of moviegoers.
In this graphic black-and-white CinemaScoope production of the preparation, execution and ironic aftermath of a $4,000,000 robbery from the Monte Carlo casino, Twentieth Century-Fox is offering audiences one of the most exciting and intriguing crime movies to come along in some time. Reminiscent of “The Asphalt Jungle” and peppered with some delightful whimsy, this one shapes up as a stick-out attraction for all markets. Edward G. Robinson, Rod Steiger, Joan Collins and Eli Wallach provide solid marquee appeal and word of mouth will be a strong asset. The class trade will appreciate its literate approach and the general audience will be kept glued to their seats by its throat-clutching suspense.
Bosley Crowther, writing in the New York Times (March 12, 1960), spent most of his review in a detailed account of the plot. He said:
A decidedly bold, ingenious and nerve-rackingly delicate plot for robbing the vaults of a gambling casino at a French Riviera resort is happily demonstrated in Twentieth Century-Fox’s “Seven Thieves,” a tight little package of melodrama that came to the Paramount yesterday.
… As entertainment it is altogether good — well conceived for suspense and excitement, well directed by Henry Hathaway and well played.
The big question for me was the similarities between “Seven Thieves” and the original Rat Pack “Ocean’s 11,” which opened a few months later. (You can have the remakes. All of them). “Seven Thieves” was based on Max Catto’s 1959 novel while the New York Times reported in 1957, well ahead of the Catto novel, that Frank Sinatra and Peter Lawford planned to produce “Ocean’s 11,” from a script by Jack Russell and George C. Johnson. At least one critic for Photoplay noticed the similarities.
“Seven Thieves” holds up fairly well, and I’m pleased with the process of selecting movies based on their reviews in the trades. But I have some minor reservations. “Seven Thieves” was initially listed as being filmed in color, but ended up in black and white. As a wide-screen format, CinemaScope is very unkind to process shots. There aren’t many in “Seven Thieves,” but they are horribly fake. Another visual problem with the movie is that many shots consist of two or more actors sitting at a table or sitting a bar and conversing. Perhaps my sensibilities have been spoiled by more recent suspense films, but long stretches of this movie are extremely static.
Trivia notes: May Britt was originally cast but refused to make the film and was replaced by Joan Collins. And yes, this is the film where Candy Barr taught Collins how to be an exotic dancer.
Just a reminder: The request line is always open for mystery movies, as long as they are available.
Here’s the full frame of Marcel Hillaire and Joan Collins. As I said, lots of static shots.
For Monday, we have a mystery gent who is boosting his mystery quotient by covering part of his face. His mystery companion, alas, does not approve of such goings-on and has been cropped out due to insufficient mysteriousness. You’ll just have to wait until Friday.
For Tuesday, we have a mystery gent. At this moment, he is not particularly happy about such goings-on.
Update: This is Berry Kroeger.
For “Hm Wednesday,” we have a mystery gent. He is intrigued by such goings-on.
Update: This is Michael Dante.
Brain Trust roll call: Howard Mandelbaum (mystery movie and both mystery guests), Jenny M. (mystery movie and both mystery gents), B.J. Merholz (Tuesday’s mystery gent), Sue Slutzky (mystery movie and both mystery guests), Thom and Megan (mystery movie and Tuesday’s mystery gent) and Sheila (Tuesday’s mystery gent). Also Charles Kjelland, half-credit.
Update: This is Alexander Scourby lusting after Joan Collins.
For “Aha Thursday,” we first have a mysterious gentleman who may not be much of an “aha.” His problem is that he approves of such goings-on by our mysterious leading lady, who will appear tomorrow.
Our second mystery fellow is much more of an “aha.” And no, he does not approve of such goings-on.
Update: Eli Wallach does not want to take his meds.
Brain Trust roll call: Sarah (Tuesday’s mystery gent), Sue Slutzky (Wednesday’s mystery gent), Howard Mandelbaum (Wednesday’s mystery gent), Megan and Thom (Wednesday’s mystery gent) and McDee (Tuesday’s mystery gent).
For Friday, we have this less-than-mysterious woman.
Update: Joan Collins trained by Candy Barr.
She has a friend who is even less mysterious.
Update: Joan Collins and Rod Steiger. I did not see that one coming.
And he has a friend who may be the least mysterious of all.
Update: Rod Steiger and Edward G. Robinson. And yes, they are sitting.
Brain Trust roll call: Tucson Barbara (mystery movie and all mystery guests), Sue Slutzky (Thursday’s mystery guests and peering into the future on Friday’s mystery folks), Howard Mandelbaum (Thursday’s mystery gents and Man With the Glass), Megan and Thom (Thursday’s mystery guests), Mary Mallory (Thursday’s mystery guest No. 2), McDee (mystery movie and Thursday’s mystery guest No. 2), David Inman (mystery movie, Monday’s mystery guest and Thursday’s mystery guest No. 2), Benito (mystery movie, Tuesday’s mystery gent and Thursday’s mystery gent No. 2), Sylvia E. (mystery movie and all mystery guests) and Michael Ryerson (mystery movie and Tuesday’s, Wednesday’s and Thursday’s mystery guests).
ladailymirror.com 
Louis Calhern?
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An interesting guess. But alas, Mr. Calhern lacks sufficient mysteriousness for a Monday…
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Wednesdays guest is Jack Beutel.
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An excellent guess. But, alas…
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Everett Sloane?
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If I didn’t know better, Mr. Bernstein (or Franklin, if you’re a “Twilight Zone” fan) would have been my guess. But alas, I’m afraid not.
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Fritz Feld as the psychiatrist in “Bringing Up Baby”.
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An interesting guess. But alas, the wrong studio and wrong era.
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Renzo Cesana?
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I missed this earlier. An intriguing guess. But alas, I’m afraid not.
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Marvin Miller.
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An excellent guess. But, alas, I’m afraid not.
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Tuesday’s guest is Marvin Miller.
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Two votes for Marvin Miller. But alas…
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SEVEN THIEVES (1960)
Monday: Marcel Hillaire
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No, it’s Berry Kroeger.
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Berry Kroeger
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Don’t know todays name, but he was in several Perry Mason episodes.
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Berry Kroeger.
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I believe Tuesday’s guest is Berry Kroeger. I’m working on Monday’s man. He sure looks familiar.
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The movie is “Seven Thieves.”
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Monday’s guest is Marcel Hillaire.
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Movie – Seven Thieves
Monday Man – Marcel Hillaire
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It looks like the movie is Seven Thieves with Jean Del Val on Monday ans Berry Kroeger for today.
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Berry Kroeger for Tuesday.
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Barry Kroeger on Tuesday.
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Wednesday: Michael Dante?
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Michael Dante.
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Today’s mystery man is Michael Dante.
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Barry Kroeger for Tuesday.
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On Wednesday, a very pensive Guy Williams?
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An intriguing guess. We were big fans of “Zorro.” But alas….
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“Seven Thieves”
Monday – Marcel Hillaire
Tuesday – Berry Kroeger
Wednesday – Michael Dante
Thursday – Alexander Scourby, Eli Wallach
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Thursday: Alexander Scourby and Eli Wallach. Looking in my crystal ball for Friday: Joan Collins, Rod Steiger and Edward G. Robinson.
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Alexander Scourby; Eli Wallach.
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Man with glass: Edward G. Robinson
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Today’s mystery men are Alexander Scourby and Eli Wallach.
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Eli Wallach.
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ACT ONE.
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An interesting guess, but alas, I’m afraid not.
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Eli Wallach today. I believe the movie is Seven Thieves from 1960.
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Eli Wallach today and Marcel Hillaire on Monday, making this “Seven Thieves.”
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Eli Wallach today, guess it’s SEVEN THIEVES 1960. Seeing Berry Kroeger from Tues clinched it. He looks like Ralph Williams and Jabba The Hut had a baby. Waiting for Eddie G!
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Thursday – Guy #2 Eli Wallach
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End of Aha Thursday, whew!
Seven Thieves 1960
Mon. – Marcel Hillaire (maybe the O.S. ‘non-mysterious’ guy is Mr. Robinson?
Tues. – Berry Kroegar
Weds. – Michael Dante (I think)
Thurs. – Alexander Scourby and Eli Wallach
Fri. – I’m guessing will be Edward G. Robinson, Joan Collins and Rod Steiger (and maybe Sabastian Cabot?)
Looking forward to Saturday’s breakdown.
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Well, Berry Kroeger, Michael Dante, Alexander Scourby and Eli Wallach makes this Seven Thieves (1960).
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SEVEN THIEVES. Barry Kroeger Tuesday, Joan Collins, Rod Steiger, and Edward G. Robinson today.
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Michael Dante also on Wednesday.
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Joan Collins, Rod Steiger, Edward G. Robinson
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Joan Collins; Rod Steiger, Joan Collins; Rod Steiger, Edward G. Robinson.
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Seven Thieves with Rod Eli Joan and Edward G.
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“Five Against the House” from 1955, with Guy Madison and Kim Novak, is the first casino heist movie I can recall.
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I think you’re right. I did a little homework, but couldn’t find anything resembling a casino heist any earlier than this.
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