A very enjoyable crime movie, which has somehow been lost on contemporary audiences. I've mentioned it to several friends, none of them have ever heard of it.
The plot is original, not just a by-the-numbers bank caper. Seven criminals break out of prison to commit the perfect robbery, then sneak back into prison before anyone is the wiser, so one will suspect them of the crime. Lionel Stander and Terry Thomas were great, as was most of the cast. The film was definitely low budget, but like Day of the Wolves and the Naked Prey, less was more. I won't give away the ending, except to say it's unexpected and perfect. The last five minutes alone are worth the price of admission, and Lionel Stander delivers one of the best lines of the decade. "Please, just take me back to prison..."
No doubt sooner or later Seven Times Seven will be remade as Ocean's Seven or whatever, but it will no doubt lack this film's innocence and imagination. Look for it on video if you can, or possibly on late night TV. Not the slam bang action Hollywood cranks out these days, but overall far more enjoyable.
