THE BIGGEST BUNDLE OF THEM ALL

US, 1967, 110 minutes Colour.
Raquel Welch, Robert Wagner, Vittorio De Sica, Edward G. Robinson, Godfrey Cambridge.
Directed by Ken Annakin.

The Biggest Bundle Of Them All was one of many caper films of the late 1960s and early 1970s - no worse, a little better. It has smart direction by Ken Annakin, who directed many thrillers in England before moving to America as well as directing a number of Disney's live action adventures. During the '60s he directed a number of spectacular films including Those Magnificent Men In Their Flying Machines and The Battle of the Bulge. He brings the same kind of spectacular sweep to this modest story. There is an international cast with Vittorio De Sica over-acting and hamming in the central role. The story is by producer and co-writer Josef Shaftel.

1. The perennial popularity of this kind of caper film? The gallery of characters, the exotic situation, the plan for a large robbery, hazards and mistakes, success? The amoral caper comedy?

2. The European photography and Panavision? The special effects for illustrating each character, for the plans for the robbery, for the robbery itself? The musical score and its light touch - by Riz Ortolani?

3. Audiences accepting the conventions of this kind of film? The quick establishing of the characters, their characteristics and background. their working together, the small-time gangsters being overtaken by the large scale planners? The details of the plan, mistakes, successes? The plausibility and implausibility?

4. Cesare Celli as the focus of the film? The background of the retired mobsters? Funerals? His being held to ransom - and his being broke, nobody coming to rescue him? His taking over of the motley group? His plans? His calling in the professor for more accurate planning? The mistakes on the way? The success of the robbery. the chase? The new plan? The humorous parody of the Italian mobster?

5. Robert Wagner and Raquel Welch as romantic leads? Harry and his gang? The kidnapping, the role of leader, his handing it over to Cesare? His relationship with the rest of the group, exasperation, ineptness? His relationship with Juliana? The participation in the crime? Future plans? Juliana as attractive heroine - and Raquel Welch's particular style?

6. The gallery of minor characters Benjamin and his money troubles, his music? Davy and his mechanical skills and family with eleven children? The chef and his enjoyment of food? The minor characters associated with the group?

7. Professor Samuels and Edward G. Robinson parodying himself? The master crook. his taste. wealth, smooth talk? His organising of the plans? The failure of the platinum robbery and his plans for the next robbery?

8. The action sequences, the various small robberies with their farcical overtones? The spectacular ending? The robbery, the final flight, the chase and the police?

9. The audience willing to suspend disbelief as regards characters, robberies, moral issues? The enjoyment of this kind of amoral caper film?