thinker1691
Throughout the world, men with money and those without have created a game which for all practical purposes will never end. Those with wealth seek to design a box which will keep their valuables safe. Those without money then seek to break the box of riches even if it's against the law or if it's dangerous. Hopefully the 'box-makers' will eventually come up with a fool-proof design which will keep the thieves out. That is the premise of the film called " Grand Slam." Edward G. Robinson is Prof. James Anders a mild mannered school teacher who after years of research has discovered the 'perfect crime.' for stealing valuable diamonds worth millions. Secure that he has a fool proof scheme, he visits an old mafia friend, Adolfo Celi is Mark Milford and asks for a special team of professionals. The men chosen include Robert Hoffmann who plays Jean-Paul Audry a world re-known playboy and suave lady-killer who will meet his match in a cold, dispassionate secretary (Janet Leigh) with a secret. Klaus Kinski is Erich Weiss a military man who does not quit a job until it's conquered. Riccardo Cucciolla is Agostino Rossi and George Rigaud is Gregg, professionals in their own right. Together they accept the challenge of what is a deemed an unbreakable, thief proof safe. called the " Grand Slam 70 " series. A film which has become a favorite of many E.G. Robinson fans. ****
hoosierthunder
I would be difficult for me to say enough good things about this movie. The Itallians came make a movie like no one else. This is a very stylistic heist movie. It co-stars the b movie hero, Klaus Kinski. The score was done by Ennio Morricone. What more could you ask for? This is truly outstanding example of the Itallian crime sub-genre. All the elements that make a movie of this type entertaining are present in spades: over the top schemes, gadgets, one-liners, and car chases. I have heard many of Enni Morricone's scores, but the opening piece is one of his best. Over the past few years, Blue Underground re-released some great, obscure movies. Watch this.
sborges
Been spreading the word around the neighborhood about this forgotten cultural curiosity like a virus! The amount of clichés and stereotypes in this piece make the entire thing hilarious and a good deal of fun to watch. Rio becomes this absolutely exotic venue, with non-stop carnivals and pageants, strange folk a galore and people who go by the name of "Stetuaka" (?!?!) - believe me, I have been born, raised and lived a good part of my life in Rio and have never, ever known anyone by the name of Stetuaka (played simply by one "Jussara" - may the Almighty bless her whoever she is!). But, and this is the main point of interest and solely for this I give it a ten, there are some exceptional external takes that give us a very good glimpse of Rio de Janeiro when it was still a breathtaking city and an incredible place to live (and not the violent, crime-infested & decadent urban disaster it is today) - excellent shots from the pre-expansion Copacabana Beach, Downtown, the Pavãozinho Slum and, most amazingly, a still pristine Barra da Tijuca, a very far cry from the horrendous scenario it has now become. For those of us, who live here or know Rio, a very nostalgic piece, not to be missed. Oh, yes, almost forgot...there's also some sort of a loosely built plot, about a heist around a handful of diamonds, but that's really secondary, of nil interest.
TheVid
Released in the USA by Paramount as GRAND SLAM in the late sixties, this slickly-made heist film is a first-rate effort exploiting the Jules Dassin classic, RIFIFI. The all-star international cast is exceptional, with Klaus Kinski being the standout. One of the best of it's kind, and still enjoyable today. Ennio Morricone wrote the eclectic score, featuring some catchy bossa-nova tunes to complement the location. Thanks to Image Entertainment, the picture is now available on DVD in a widescreen version to capture all the excitement! Check it out.
AD
