Cinco Milhões de Erros

A nice trip to Italy and a good paycheck is what probably got Robert Wagner, Raquel Welch and Edward G. Robinson over from America to make The Biggest Bundle Of Them All. Not to mention Godfrey Cambridgr who has a few funny moments in this routine caper film.

All, but Robert Wagner have no criminal activity to their credit. Wagner has recruited Welch, Cambridge, Davy Kaye and Francesco Mule to kidnap deported old Mafia don Vittorio DeSica to hold for ransom. Problem is that he's so long out of the criminal business no one figures DeSica is worth paying for.

DeSica feeling rejected and unwanted decides to get back in action and this mob of misfits is whom he recruits. He also gets Edward G. Robinson who is a Sam Jaffe like caper planner. Robinson and DeSica decide to rob a train carrying platinum bars.

Somehow this crew with a lot of problems makes it come off. Pretty routine. But the ending with a variation is borrowed from Ocean's 11.

Raquel Welch does look great in a bikini.

I've got as much testosterone as the next bloke, and Raquel Welch at her finest is certainly worth a look; but the fact is that a cardboard cut-out could act better, and an hour and half of Ms. W showing off her credentials does not a movie make.

Considering the cast, it's surprising that it's as bad as it is. I've never been a big fan of Wagner, and his tough guy Harry is about as convincing as a 9-dollar bill. Godfrey Cambridge and Vittorio de Sica, both of whom I usually enjoy, seem to be sleeping through their lines; and as for Edward G...well, I can only assume he was there for the paycheck.

This film is a mess: from non-existent plot, through stop-start action and unfunny script to puerile slapstick and annoying 60's 'caper' music. If it weren't for Miss Welch, I'd have given it a 0.

That said, she is a treat to the eyes - even better than her delicious cameo in 'Bedazzled' - and for that reason alone I gave it a 3.

Mindless, 'wacky' nonsense involving sorry group of thieves in Italy who hope to rob Old World mobster Vittorio De Sica out of 50 grand...unfortunately, he's broke. Plan B has the team plus De Sica and criminal mastermind Edward G. Robinson joining forces to steal five million in platinum ingots from a train. Inane, overlong caper with mostly obnoxious characters (particularly Robert Wagner's, who keeps barking insults like a tough Sammy Davis, Jr.: "I've had it, baby, can you dig it?"). Raquel Welch is bouncy as the one girl in the bunch, and anyone watching will end up just watching her. Ken Annakin directed, without flair, style or humor. *1/2 from ****

Not a truly funny movie, but it is amusing. Watching Robert Wagner acting tough is very amusing. Of course there is Raquel in all her splendor. Watching her go-go with Edward G. Robinson (!) is worth the price of admission alone. The supporting characters do the best they can with the cartoon characters they are given to enact. And you get to watch Godfrey Cambridge play the violin!

Robert Wagner (with girlfriend Raquel Welch in tow), Godfrey Cambridge, Davy Kaye, and Francesco Mulè kidnap retired gangster Vittorio di Sica and try to ransom him. He's broke. When he can't raise the ransom money, he takes them into partnership to steal $5,000,000 in platinum with a plan by mastermind Edward G. Robinson.

It's one of those sprawling 1960s comedies, this one directed by Ken Annakin, populated by serious actors. Unfortunately, it's not in the least funny. Di Sica shows no sparkle, Wagner is in over his depth, and Miss Welch, who would show great comedy chops in THE THREE MUSKETEERS, is present for eye candy, and she certainly performs in a bikini. The big heist is well done, but that makes this no less a slog.

This sort of movie could work; IT'S A MAD, MAD, MAD, MAD WORLD was carried on the backs of its all-star comic performers, and WHO'S MINDING THE MINT likewise. This one, however, brought no smile to my face.