This foursome do not come off at all like Fagin's gang in the Charles Dickens classic, "Oliver Twist". Like Fagin, under the training of Walter Pidgeon and James Coburn, newbies Michael Sarrazin and Trish Van Severe learn that " You've got to pick a pocket or two", but unlike the British waifs under Fagin's thumb, they learn to do it with panache. But a thief is a thief is a thief, and as charming as these four are, that makes them difficult to root for.
Still, watching them at work in this comedy thriller is fascinating, and when the victims are lecherous men ogling Van Severe, watching the pervert loose his shirt is amusing. Veteran actor Pidgeon is as far from Mrs. Miniver's husband as he can be, a delightful old codger who keeps his spark flaring even if his days are fizzling out. Coburn is no-nonsense and bossy, Sarrazin sexy yet bumbling. Attractive but minus the spark that makes movie stars, Van Devere seems like a desperate replacement for either Dyan Cannon or Raquel Welch.
Still, there's great location photography of several Pacific coast cities (notably Seattle) and a nostalgic feeling in the costumes, dialog and trends. They pickpocket as if it was just another day in market trading. As caper films go, it's dated fun yet the type of money making scheme they are out to perpetrate leaves an awkward feeling lingering.
Still, watching them at work in this comedy thriller is fascinating, and when the victims are lecherous men ogling Van Severe, watching the pervert loose his shirt is amusing. Veteran actor Pidgeon is as far from Mrs. Miniver's husband as he can be, a delightful old codger who keeps his spark flaring even if his days are fizzling out. Coburn is no-nonsense and bossy, Sarrazin sexy yet bumbling. Attractive but minus the spark that makes movie stars, Van Devere seems like a desperate replacement for either Dyan Cannon or Raquel Welch.
Still, there's great location photography of several Pacific coast cities (notably Seattle) and a nostalgic feeling in the costumes, dialog and trends. They pickpocket as if it was just another day in market trading. As caper films go, it's dated fun yet the type of money making scheme they are out to perpetrate leaves an awkward feeling lingering.