The year before this elegant looking caper comedy was made, legendary song and dance man Fred Astaire attempted, most successfully, an Irish accent in the movie version of "Finian's Rainbow", but for anytime it seemed over the top, he started hoofing and all was well. He takes on an upper class British accent here, and it's like no other upper class British accent I'd ever heard. Astaire is the mastermind behind the goal of stealing a passenger plane transporting gold, all because he was not given a little thing called a knighthood. Sour grapes should be the name of the song he never gets to dance to in this campy thriller.
Filmed on location in exotic spots throughout Europe, this is handsome looking and frequently amusing, with Richard Crenna and Anne Heywood (who also sings the opening theme song) hired by Astaire to lead this scheme. Well at least Crenna is. Heywood just happens to be there. Cesar Romero, Ralph Richardson and Roddy McDowall are also featured, but it's the audacious performance of Astaire that stands out, and not in a good way. Odd 60's fashions add to the chuckles. It's rare that a comedy gets laughs like this one does, but it's not for the reasons that the creators thought they'd get laughs.
Filmed on location in exotic spots throughout Europe, this is handsome looking and frequently amusing, with Richard Crenna and Anne Heywood (who also sings the opening theme song) hired by Astaire to lead this scheme. Well at least Crenna is. Heywood just happens to be there. Cesar Romero, Ralph Richardson and Roddy McDowall are also featured, but it's the audacious performance of Astaire that stands out, and not in a good way. Odd 60's fashions add to the chuckles. It's rare that a comedy gets laughs like this one does, but it's not for the reasons that the creators thought they'd get laughs.