Audrey Hepburn and Peter O'Toole are two of the most charismatic actors of all time. Complement their talent with a charming script and harmless direction from Hepburn regular, William Wyler, and you get a fun 2 hour ride.
Hepburn plays the daughter of an art forger who comes up the brilliant idea of stealing the very piece of art forged by her father, worth 1 million dollars, which is sitting in a 'highly' guarded museum. Of course, her reason for stealing the sculpture is so that her father isn't caught, but you're better off suspending disbelief for this plot point and every other one in this crime- comedy.
Hepburn and O'Toole have magnetic chemistry and share several laugh out loud moments in the heist. I think the problem is that it just takes a little bit too long to get going. With that and it's over the top nature, I can see why people wouldn't be keen on considering it one of Hepburn's best, it's not. With that said, it's hard not to become invested in O'Toole and Hepburn's budding romance throughout and the film's undeniably funny moments. The tone is very much in the same vein as the Wyler classic, Roman Holiday, also starring Hepburn. Once you get past the ridiculousness of the plot, I think you can enjoy the picture.
The film never reaches the heights of similar films like, To Catch a Thief, but I'm not sure it was intended to. Although, Hepburn can be seen holding an Alfred Hitchcock magazine at one point, possibly paying tribute to the crime classic which was released 10 years prior. At the very least, it got me thinking about how great a Hepburn-Hitchcock collaboration could have been. Overall, 'How to Steal a Million' deals with a simple plot and ridiculously over-the- top museum guards among other things, but it's a fun time. And that's all I can really ask from a 60's comedy.
+Hepburn & O'Toole's chemistry
+Undeniably funny
-Ridiculous plot
-Slow start and a little too long
7.5/10
Hepburn plays the daughter of an art forger who comes up the brilliant idea of stealing the very piece of art forged by her father, worth 1 million dollars, which is sitting in a 'highly' guarded museum. Of course, her reason for stealing the sculpture is so that her father isn't caught, but you're better off suspending disbelief for this plot point and every other one in this crime- comedy.
Hepburn and O'Toole have magnetic chemistry and share several laugh out loud moments in the heist. I think the problem is that it just takes a little bit too long to get going. With that and it's over the top nature, I can see why people wouldn't be keen on considering it one of Hepburn's best, it's not. With that said, it's hard not to become invested in O'Toole and Hepburn's budding romance throughout and the film's undeniably funny moments. The tone is very much in the same vein as the Wyler classic, Roman Holiday, also starring Hepburn. Once you get past the ridiculousness of the plot, I think you can enjoy the picture.
The film never reaches the heights of similar films like, To Catch a Thief, but I'm not sure it was intended to. Although, Hepburn can be seen holding an Alfred Hitchcock magazine at one point, possibly paying tribute to the crime classic which was released 10 years prior. At the very least, it got me thinking about how great a Hepburn-Hitchcock collaboration could have been. Overall, 'How to Steal a Million' deals with a simple plot and ridiculously over-the- top museum guards among other things, but it's a fun time. And that's all I can really ask from a 60's comedy.
+Hepburn & O'Toole's chemistry
+Undeniably funny
-Ridiculous plot
-Slow start and a little too long
7.5/10