Las Vegas, 500 millones (1968)

Director:

Antonio Isasi-Isasmendi

Writers:

André Lay (novel) and
Lluís Josep Comerón (writer)

Release Date:

7 December 1968 (Japan)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

Tagline:

They touched the raw Vegas nerve with the wildest heist in history! And they challenged the syndicate boys in their own backyard!

Plot:

Film based on a novel published by Fleuve Noir. |

Plot Keywords:

Based On Novel | Number In Title

Awards:

4 wins

Cast

Gary Lockwood	...	Tony Ferris
Elke Sommer	...	Ann Bennett
Lee J. Cobb	...	Steve Skorsky
Jean Servais	...	Gino
Georges Géret	...	Leroy
Jack Palance	...	Douglas
Fabrizio Capucci	...	Cooper
Roger Hanin	...	The Boss
Gustavo Re	...	Salvatore
Daniel Martín	...	Merino
Maurizio Arena	...	Clark
Enrique Ávila	...	Baxter
Rossella Bergamonti
Gérard Tichy	...	Sheriff Klinger
Rubén Rojo	...	Brian

Also Known As:

An einem Freitag in Las Vegas (West Germany)
Les hommes de Las Vegas (France)
Our Man in Las Vegas (USA) (TV title)
Radiografia di un colpo d'oro (Italy)
They Came to Rob Las Vegas (USA)

Runtime:

124 min

Country:

Spain | Italy | France | West Germany

Language:

Spanish

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Norway:16 | West Germany:16 | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Angel's Flight Railway, Bunker Hill, Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Capitole Films

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: Santa Claus Conquers the Martians (#4.21)" (1991)

A fine plot, completely different to anything else.

I can remember watching this film when it came out and it has been one of my favourites ever since.

The atmosphere is slow but that is the correct pace as the relationship between Tony and Ann is explored as well as her relationship with Skorsky. Also, the tension between the thieves is very real especially as things don't go exactly to plan. Cooper is an idiot but there is always one in every gang and it sometimes doesn`t show up until they are put into a stress related situation.

There are two plots going through the film. Firstly we have Skorsky (played superbly by Cobb,) moving money for the Mob and wanting out and secondly we have Tony planning to steal one of Skorsky`s trucks. Tony doesn't realise what he is going to find when he finally gets inside the truck. Also, the treasury department are after Skorsky for his financial dealings and we have them just one step behind him all throughout the film.

There are some excellent moments of complete realism, the killing in the casino and the scant regard for life that the gang has as they murder a passer by in the dessert `Just in case'. Tony's instruction to end this unfortunate person's life was simply `Chop him'.

I have just managed to obtain a CD of the music to this film by George Garvarentz via Amazon. I wish the video of the film was available, a widescreen version would be very collectable. Especially if people knew that Gary Lockwood`s (Tony,) previous film had been 2001.