Penelope (1966)

Comedy about a flighty, bored, kleptomaniac wife of a banker who robs her husband's bank of $60,000.

Director:

Arthur Hiller

Writers:

George Wells (screenplay), Howard Fast (novel)

Stars:

Natalie Wood, Ian Bannen, Dick Shawn

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Natalie Wood	...	Penelope Elcott
Ian Bannen	...	James B. Elcott
Dick Shawn	...	Dr. Gregory Mannix
Peter Falk	...	Lieutenant Horatio Bixbee
Jonathan Winters	...	Professor Klobb
Lila Kedrova	...	Princess Sadaba
Lou Jacobi	...	Ducky
Norma Crane	...	Mildred Halliday
Arthur Malet	...	Salvation Army Major Higgins
Jerome Cowan	...	Bank Manager
Arlene Golonka	...	Honeysuckle Rose
Amzie Strickland	...	Miss Serena
Bill Gunn	...	Sergeant Rothschild
Carl Ballantine	...	Boom Boom
Iggie Wolfington	...	Store Owner

Storyline

When James met Penelope at a club, it took all of three weeks before they were married. But after the marriage, other women became attracted to James and he kept getting promoted, which took him away from Penelope. So Penelope puts on a disguise and robs her husband's bank. Her psychiatrist, Greg, believes that this condition is caused by James being over worked and under romantic with Penelope. She also tells Greg that she robs the business associates of James. But Greg is in love with Penelope - in fact everyone likes her. The problem is when she confesses to her crimes, no one believes her.

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Plot Keywords:

disguise | banker | club | psychiatrist | marriage | 

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Taglines:

She's Public Entertainment No. 1

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 November 1966 (USA)

Also Known As:

Min kone er bankrøver

Filming Locations:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$4,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Euterpe, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

There seems to be a scene cut from the movie, perhaps a fantasy sequence. Some lobby cards show Natalie Wood and her husband in the film in their beds. The husband looks bored and uninterested in Natalie. In others from the same scene he reads a newspaper or has a boardroom meeting while Natalie sits in bed looking gorgeous.

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Goofs

In the opening scenes, Penelope is shown riding in the back seat of a 1960/1961 Ford taxicab. Moments later she gets out of a 1966 Ford taxicab.

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Crazy Credits

The opening credits are animated. Black hands without a body steal the diamonds contained in the first letter in the first name of the actors and crew members.

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Connections

Featured in Penelope's Fashion Show (1966)

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Soundtracks

"Penelope"
Words by Leslie Bricusse
Music by John Williams (as Johnny Williams)

User Reviews

Absolutely beautiful, a classic

A must for vintage, colourful movies - they don't colour'em like the used to. The strong female character a rarity, such cheerfulness which in more recent times has been a trademark of Meg Ryan and Reese Witherspoon. Wonderful scenes including "How to blow bubble-gum", including Penelope and a detective Horatio. Great scenes with her analyst Gregory, who, understandably, has a hard time not falling in love with Penny.