This is a small but enjoyable comedy mostly remembered today for an early Audrey Hepburn appearance at the beginning of the film. Blink and you miss her, but she is beautifully chic. The story concerns the reminisences of a criminal, marvelously played by Alec Guinness, who, after 20 long years escorting gold bullion shipments, finally figures out how to disguise the gold and move it out of England. The man who supplies the means is Stanley Holloway.
This is a fun film where the main theme is that the joy is in the ascent and not necessarily making it to the top of the ladder. The word ascent brings the word descent to mind, and there is a dizzying one from the top to the bottom of the Eiffel Tower, as the two chase some schoolgirls who inadvertently got their hands on gold souvenirs. There is also an excellent car chase.
You're really pulling for the "bad guys" - although you can't call them that - all the way. It's a charming comedy, not up there with "The Ladykillers" or "Kind Hearts and Coronets," but still wonderful.
This is a fun film where the main theme is that the joy is in the ascent and not necessarily making it to the top of the ladder. The word ascent brings the word descent to mind, and there is a dizzying one from the top to the bottom of the Eiffel Tower, as the two chase some schoolgirls who inadvertently got their hands on gold souvenirs. There is also an excellent car chase.
You're really pulling for the "bad guys" - although you can't call them that - all the way. It's a charming comedy, not up there with "The Ladykillers" or "Kind Hearts and Coronets," but still wonderful.