THE MILLION DOLLAR RIP-OFF

US, 1976, 73 minutes, Colour.
Freddie Prinze, Alan Garfield, Christine Belford, Joanna Kearns.
Directed by Alexander Singer.

The Million- Dollar Rip- Off is a conventional telemovie, typical of entertainments made for television in the mid-1970s. It is a heist caper, an electronics genius and a gang of women friends who decide to pull off a big robbery. Alan Garfield plays a police officer who is suspicious of them. There are a few twists along the way. One of the main reasons for looking at the film is that it features a rare dramatic role for the comedian Freddie Prinze.

1. How entertaining a caper film?

2. The organisation of criminals, the master minding of the plot, the rehearsals, the gimmicks? The presentation of security and police? Electronics and robberies? How different with disguises, electronic information, the women?

3. City locations, music, trains, pickups, the police? authentic atmosphere for this kind of robbery?

4. The significance and tone of the title? Muff as a credible character, his work, electronic skills, prison? The planning of the robbery? The human element and the women's fears, the trail, Lubeck and his taking over the plot? The presentation of the police and their being bugged? The human side of the police? The build-up to the execution of the robbery, details, the humorous aspects, the disguises, the personalities of the women? Rendezvous, moments of tension with the truck, with Fogarty watching? The finale at the airport according to Muff's plans? Finding out the traitor?

6. The character of Muff as a credible criminal, smooth operator?

7. The four women and their roles? The other criminals? The portrayal of the police, Fogarty as sympathetic, harassed, trying to do his job, his assistant, relationship with authorities, his trying to thwart the crimes, exasperation e.g. with the garbage truck? shrewdness at the airport, the robbery? The irony of their money going up in smoke and their not being arrested? How seriously was it meant to be taken? Invitation to audience admiration for the mastermind and the execution of crime? Sheer entertainment?