LIVE A LITTLE, STEAL A LOT (MURF THE SURF)

US, 1975, 100 minutes, Colour.
Robert Conrad, Don Stroud, Donna Mills, Luther Adler, Paul Stewart, Burt Young.
Directed by Marvin J. Chomsky.

Live a Little, Steal a Lot is a pleasant crime film – designed for television. Robert Conrad was popular at the time as was Donna Mills – appearing in a number of television movies. The cast includes the veterans Luther Adler and Paul Stewart. It was made in the latter days of American International Pictures who had made a number of striking films on a small budget in the 1960s including Wild in the Streets.

1. Audience expectations from the title? The tone? The emphasis on life, stealing and its mystique? Did the treatment accord with the title?

2. Comment on the film's use of thriller techniques? The robbery structure of the film? The forward motion of the robbery, punctuated by the flashbacks, their significance and illustration of character and motivation? How were audiences involved in the plot via their structure?

3. The fact that the film was based on facts? The impression of this? The documentary overt? The fact that one of the thieves was technical adviser to the film?

4. How did the film show insight into the mentality of thieves? Motivations for robbery? The thrill and daring? The misguided heroism? The lure of being rich? The fascination of robbery and eluding the police?

5. Were the men criminal types? What is a criminal type? The atmosphere of the risk of being caught? Their response to being caught? Their reaction to each other? To the court room situation? The punishment?

6. In what ways were Allan, and Joe similar? Dissimilar? The film’s presentation of them as beach boys? The lack of moral stances? Their world view and aims? Ambitions? The use of their skills? The taunts to be robbers? The ultimate fate of each of them? How much did they live? Was it worth what they stole?

7. Why was Ginny caught up in this world? The first meeting? The type of girl she was? The discovery of the truth? Her remaining with them? The contrast with Sharon and the pathos of suicide?

8, The portrayal of the rich world, the hotel rooms, the stylish service, the boats and luxury? how much of a dream world was this? The chases illustrating this kind of unreal world?

9. Max as a jewel dealer? The mastermind criminal? The successful criminal? Living in luxury? Audience response to this kind of man?

10.The presentation of the police and contrasting them with the robbers? The men trailing them? Being deluded? Trying to get in on the money? The picture of human nature and its possibility of corruption?

11.The picture of the lawyers and the devious thinking to win the case?

12. Was this a good crime thriller?