JACK OF DIAMONDS

US/West Germany, 1967, 108 minutes, Colour.
George Hamilton, Joseph Cotten, Maurice Evans, Marie Laforet, Wolfgang Preiss, Caroll Baker, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Lilli Palmer.
Directed by Don Taylor.

Jack of Diamonds is an international thriller, a collaboration between the US and West Germany, during tense times in a divided Germany. The director is the American actor, Don Taylor, director of a number of films and television movies.

George Hamilton was a popular star at the time. Joseph Cotten was a reputable character actor, with Citizen Kane and The Third Man in his CV. Maurice Evans was a British character actor, on stage and in such films as Kind Lady and, in the year following this film, Planet of the Apes and Rosemary’s Baby. There are some slight and amusing cameos from Zsa Zsa Gabor, Caroll Baker and Lilli Palmer as victims of George Hamilton’s cat-burglar activity – with memories of The principal cat-burglar film, Hitchcock’s To Catch a Thief.

1. 1960s glossy caper? International? Celebrity world? Police, insurance, investigations? The world Burglars?

2. New York City, glamour, hotels? Munich and German settings? Paris and French settings? The musical score?

3. The cast, George Hamilton is a star, Joseph Cotten and his past career, Maurice Evans and his past? The guest stars Caroll Baker, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Lilli
Palmer?

4. The opening, the jewel thief, scaling the wall, in the room, the sleeping actress, taking the jewels, the phone call, her conversation, discovering the jewels were gone, his escape, the corridors and steps, Rudi and the car? His career, travel, international, lavish home, the trapeze?

5. Ace, his patronage for Jeff, his example, collaboration, helping him? Relationship with the police? Proud of his protégé? The travelling to Europe?

6. Jeff, on the boat, the clash with Olga, the escape in the boats, her following him, discovering his identity? Her relationship with Nikolai? Her past, her mother, her skill as a thief?

7. The picture of the police, international investigations, questioning the victims, Zsa Zsa Gabor and her talk about her celebrity, the message on her mirror? Caroll Baker and conversation? Lilli Palmer and her charm? The international police, security issues, following Jeff, in the bar – and his leading them to the airport, his getting off the plane? The later meeting with Ace, his presenting himself, the deal with the police?

8. Ace and Jeff meeting with Nikolai and Olga, suspicions, suggestions for a robbery, the temptation, the lure of the diamonds, the agreement? Olga and Jeff getting to know each other? The relationship? The past suspicions? The detailed preparation? The diamonds, hidden, getting into the building, gymnastics, retrieving the diamonds, the escape, the police?

9. Jeff and the Inspector, the deals, the fake jewels, returning them, not revealing the extent of the fakes to security and insurance? And going free?