GAMBIT
US, 1966, 109 minutes, Colour.
Shirley Mac Laine, Michael Caine, Herbert Lom.
Directed by Ronald Neame.
Gambit was a popular entertainment idea of the mid-sixties in combining the talents of Shirley Mac Laine and Michael Caine, who was a rising star at the time. Elegantly directed by British Ronald Neame (who had just made A Man Could Get Killed - with similar irony), the plot is a robbery thriller with a twist in the middle. The film is smoothly made, quite enjoyable when the ideal robbery and the real robbery are compared. Attractive entertainment.
1. How entertaining a film, the nature of its appeal? The reasons for films like this being made?
2. The use of colour, Panavision, eastern locations, the combination of the stars? Successful entertainment ingredients?
3. The offhanded irony of the title and its illustration within the film?
4. The importance of the structure, the trick, the irony in repetition? Audience enjoyment of this?
5. The appeal of robberies? The skill of their executions? The repetition here and the irony of good and bad robberies?
6. Harry as the hero, Michael Caine's style? The initial presentation of the ideal Harry as criminal, the contrast with the real bungler? His heroics, as a non-hero? His personal style, the engaging nature of his mistakes, his determination to achieve the robbery, his sacrificing everything for Nicole?
7. Nicole and Shirley MacLaine's style? The ideal Nicole in the first part, contrasting with the real Nicole and her gum-chewing comedy? The comedy irony of the latter part with the ideal? Her role in the plan, the end? Deserving a happy ending?
8. Shahbander - the ideal victim and dupe for a robbery, the contrast with the shrewd real businessman?
9. Emile and his sharing of the plans, his participating in the robbery, ending up as a winner? An ironic comment on the whole proceedings?
10. The film's reliance on detail in both plans, the cleverness, cinema techniques to involve audiences in robberies and suspense, the comedy touches as well?
11. The morality of this type of film in which crime is committed and everyone happy? The value of the light moral touch?
