Jack of Diamonds (1967 film)
Jack of Diamonds is a 1967 film directed by Don Taylor filmed in Germany that was released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. It stars George Hamilton in the lead role of an international cat burglar and jewel thief.
| Jack of Diamonds | |
|---|---|
 Original film poster by Robert McGinness | |
| Directed by | Don Taylor |
| Produced by | Sandy Howard Helmut Jedele executive Lutz Hengst |
| Written by | Jack DeWitt Sandy Howard additional dialogue Robert L. Joseph |
| Based on | a story by Sandy Howard |
| Starring | George Hamilton Joseph Cotten Marie Laforêt Maurice Evans Carroll Baker Zsa Zsa Gabor Lilli Palmer Wolfgang Preiss Karl Lieffen |
| Music by | Peter Thomas |
| Cinematography | Ernst Wild |
| Edited by | Hannes Nikel |
Production company | Sandy Howard Productions Maran Films |
| Distributed by | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
Release date |
|
Running time | 108 minutes |
| Country | United States West Germany |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $1.3 million[1] |
Plot
A master thief known as the Ace of Diamonds decides it's time to retire before he gets caught, so he teaches everything he knows to Jeff Hill, his protege.
Jeff begins pulling off heists, singling out glamorous film stars like Zsa Zsa Gabor, Carroll Baker and Lilli Palmer (portraying themselves in cameo roles) and stealing their precious jewels. On a luxury liner, Jeff, now nicknamed the "Jack of Diamonds", discovers he has a competitor aboard, another burglar pulling the same kinds of thefts.
After the boat docks, Jeff goes to see the Ace, who advises him to do the same thing he did, quit while he's ahead. Jeff encounters a woman named Olga who introduces him to Nicolai, and after discovering that Olga was the other thief aboard ship, Jeff schemes with them to rob a bank vault in Paris.
They are caught, but the Ace shows up and claims responsibility for the crime, sacrificing himself for Jeff and the others. The thieves agree to return the stolen jewels, but when Jeff and Olga decide to marry, Nicolai reveals he has withheld one gem to present Olga as a gift.
Cast
- George Hamilton as Jeff
- Joseph Cotten as the Ace
- Marie Laforêt as Olga
- Maurice Evans as Nicolai
- Zsa Zsa Gabor as Herself
- Carroll Baker as Herself
- Lilli Palmer as Herself
Production
The 1949 Paramount film about jewel thieves, Copper Canyon, was originally known as Jack of Diamonds.[2] It is unclear whether this film has any connection with the George Hamilton film.
The film was based on a story by the producer, Sandy Howard, who said before filming that the movie "may be reminiscent of other films, but we feel, even though we have no releasing deal as yet, that it will be different in style and its budget – $1.3 million – makes it an honest and safe bet."[1]
The film was originally meant to be directed by Herschel Daugherty. Oscar Homolka was meant to play Nicolai but was replaced by Maurice Evans.[1]
The plan was to film in New York for a month and then 12 weeks in Europe in Paris, the Bavarian Alps, Genoa and a Munich studio.[1][3]
Producer Sandy Howard described George Hamilton before filming as "a fine actor, I'm convinced, and he's a hot commodity these days", due in part to the fact he was dating the President's daughter.[1][4] Reports put his fee around this time at $100,000 a movie. He was drafted into the army but received a 3-A deferral notice on the grounds he was the sole financial provider for his mother.[5] (Hamilton's draft deferment was highly controversial at the time because it was thought that his relationship with the president's daughter gave him preferential treatment.[6])
Reception
Reviews for the film were mixed to negative. In his review for the New York Times, Bosley Crowther wrote, "Unless you have a particularly urgent reason for wanting to watch George Hamilton modeling a dazzling assortment of the most beautifully cut men's clothes...you may safely skip Jack of Diamonds, which turned up in neighborhood theaters yesterday. It is strictly low-grade Topkapi done up in expensive high-style.[7] Roger Ebert wrote in his review, "Jack of Diamonds is a harmless exercise in how not to make a suspense adventure. I can't think of any reason to go and see it, unless you're a George Hamilton fan. He's pleasant enough, I guess.[8]
See also
References
- A.H. WEILER (Oct 2, 1966). "Who's Afraid Of Togetherness?: More on Movie Matters". New York Times. p. 127.
- "PARAMOUNT PLANS 'JACK OF DIAMONDS': Comedy Drama About Jewel Thieves Will Be Made Partly in Local Gem Market". New York Times. Oct 14, 1949. p. 33.
- "GEORGE HAMILTON TO STAY IN EUROPE". Los Angeles Times. Oct 24, 1966. p. C24.
- TERENCE SMITH (Oct 6, 1966). "Lynda Johnson Gets A Job at McCall's: LYNDA BIRD GETS A JOB AT M'CALL'S". New York Times. p. 1.
- VINCENT CANBY (Oct 7, 1966). "HAMILTON TELLS OF BUSY CAREER: But Sought-After Actor Is Silent on Role as Suitor". New York Times. p. 38.
- THOMAS A. JOHNSON (Oct 29, 1966). "Carmichael Says He Won't Go if Drafted: CARMICHAEL VOWS HE WON'T SERVE". New York Times. p. 1.
- Crowther, Bosley (11 November 1967). "Screen: Jewel Thievery:George Hamilton Plays the 'Jack of Diamonds'". The New York Times. Retrieved 15 February 2020.
- Ebert, Roger. "Jack of Diamonds". Roger Ebert.com. Retrieved 15 February 2020.