Gambit (1966)

Director:

Ronald Neame

Writers:

Jack Davies (screenplay) and
Alvin Sargent (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

7 January 1967 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime

Tagline:

Shirley MacLaine raises Michael Caine!

Plot:

An English cat burglar needs a Eurasian dancer's help to pull off the perfect heist, but even the most foolproof schemes have a way of backfiring.

Plot Keywords:

Dancer | Heist | Hong Kong | Cockney | Sexual Tension

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 1 win & 3 nominations

Cast

Shirley MacLaine	...	Nicole
Michael Caine	...	Harry
Herbert Lom	...	Shahbandar
Roger C. Carmel	...	Ram
Arnold Moss	...	Abdul
John Abbott	...	Emile
Richard Angarola	...	Colonel Salim
Maurice Marsac	...	Hotel Clerk
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Joe Abdullah	...	Restaurant Manager (uncredited)
Tom Andre	...	Bellhop (uncredited)
Jan Arvan	...	Airport Official (uncredited)
Kanan Awni	...	Arab on Telephone (uncredited)
Paul Bradley	...	Man in Cafe (uncredited)
Michael Corphan	...	Man in Black Sedan (uncredited)
Stasa Damascus	...	Airline Hostess (uncredited)
Noel De Souza	...	Head Porter (uncredited)
James Lanphier	...	Garage Attendant (uncredited)
Tanya Lemani	...	Lighter Fluid Saleswoman (uncredited)
Norman Nazarr	...	Hawker (uncredited)
Mustapha Pasha	...	Man in Black Sedan (uncredited)
Ralph Smiley	...	Airport Official (uncredited)
Juan Talavera	...	Flamenco Dancer (uncredited)
Vic Tayback	...	Plainclothes Officer at TWA Counter (uncredited)
Charles Wood	...	Guard (uncredited)
Than Wyenn	...	Airport Official (uncredited)

Directed by
Ronald Neame

Writing credits
Jack Davies		(screenplay) and
Alvin Sargent		(screenplay)
Sidney Carroll		(story)

Produced by
Léo L. Fuchs	....	producer (as Leo L. Fuchs)

Original Music by
Maurice Jarre

Cinematography by
Clifford Stine		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Alma Macrorie

Art Direction by
Alexander Golitzen
George C. Webb

Set Decoration by
John P. Austin		(as John Austin)
John McCarthy Jr.		(as John McCarthy)

Costume Design by
Jean Louis		(gowns designer)

Makeup Department
Sydney Guilaroff	....	hair styles creator: for Miss MacLaine
Bud Westmore	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Edward Muhl	....	in charge of production
Hal W. Polaire	....	unit production manager (as Hal Polaire)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Joseph E. Kenney	....	assistant director (as Joseph Kenny)

Art Department
Ward Preston	....	set designer (uncredited)

Sound Department
Melvin M. Metcalfe Sr.	....	sound
Waldon O. Watson	....	sound

Camera and Electrical Department
Robert Willoughby	....	special still photographer (uncredited)

Music Department
Joseph Gershenson	....	music supervisor
Maurice Jarre	....	conductor

Other crew
Leon Charles	....	dialogue coach
Paul Godkin	....	choreographer
Phill Norman	....	titles
Jivan R. Tabibian	....	technical advisor

Production Companies

• Universal Pictures (presents) (as Universal)

Distributors

• Universal Pictures (1966) (USA) (theatrical) (as A Universal Picture)
• J. Arthur Rank Film Distributors (1966) (UK) (theatrical)
• Universal (1967) (France) (theatrical)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1968) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• MCA Home Video (1987) (USA) (VHS)
• Universal Home Video (2007) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Universal Studios Home Entertainment (2010) (USA) (DVD) (Universal Vault Series)

Other Companies

• Cinefx  titles
• Cinematique  cosmetics by

Also Known As:

Runtime:

109 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | French | Arabic

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Australia:PG | Finland:S | Sweden:11 | UK:U

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

A "gambit" is a chess tactic where a player sacrifices a piece to get a more advantageous position in the game.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When Nicole and Harry arrive at Dammuz and are about to be picked up by a limo, the shadows reveal that there is no aircraft, just the stairs.

Quotes:

Nicole Chang:I'm sorry, Émile. It's for the best. I'm sure you can find something honest to do with all that old Mongolian clay.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Preminger: Anatomy of a Filmmaker (1991)

Forgotten comedy thriller

Michael Caine uses flighty Shirley MacLaine to hopefully steal something from Herbert Lom--the richest man in the world.

That's about all you need to know. This is a fun movie--nothing too serious about it. It's very colorful with some beautiful settings and outfits (get the white dress MacLaine wears). The script is sharp and sometimes very funny. MacLaine is full of life and fun in her role--quite an accomplishment since she has nothing to work with. Caine (a great actor) seems strangely muted in his role. Lom is having a fun time with his part. The comedy mixes very well with the action (MacLaine comes off best) and there are some really neat twists and turns at the end (although I saw the last one coming). This isn't an acting film--just a film to sit back with, turn off your brain and enjoy! Strangely this is pretty unknown--I didn't even now it existed till it turned up on TV unannounced! Well worth catching.