[go: up one dir, main page]

    Release calendarTop 250 moviesMost popular moviesBrowse movies by genreTop box officeShowtimes & ticketsMovie newsIndia movie spotlight
    What's on TV & streamingTop 250 TV showsMost popular TV showsBrowse TV shows by genreTV news
    What to watchLatest trailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb SpotlightFamily entertainment guideIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsEmmysSan Diego Comic-ConSummer Watch GuideToronto Int'l Film FestivalSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll events
    Born todayMost popular celebsCelebrity news
    Help centerContributor zonePolls
For industry professionals
  • Language
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Watchlist
Sign in
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Use app
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • FAQ
IMDbPro

Les Joyeux Voleurs

Original title: The Happy Thieves
  • 1961
  • Not Rated
  • 1h 28m
IMDb RATING
5.2/10
663
YOUR RATING
Les Joyeux Voleurs (1961)
CaperComedyCrimeDrama

A suave art thief romances a wealthy duchess, only to enable him to steal a priceless painting from her collection. Complications ensue.A suave art thief romances a wealthy duchess, only to enable him to steal a priceless painting from her collection. Complications ensue.A suave art thief romances a wealthy duchess, only to enable him to steal a priceless painting from her collection. Complications ensue.

  • Director
    • George Marshall
  • Writers
    • John Gay
    • Richard Condon
  • Stars
    • Rita Hayworth
    • Rex Harrison
    • Joseph Wiseman
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    5.2/10
    663
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • George Marshall
    • Writers
      • John Gay
      • Richard Condon
    • Stars
      • Rita Hayworth
      • Rex Harrison
      • Joseph Wiseman
    • 13User reviews
    • 1Critic review
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos38

    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    + 32
    View Poster

    Top cast16

    Edit
    Rita Hayworth
    Rita Hayworth
    • Eve Lewis
    Rex Harrison
    Rex Harrison
    • Jimmy Bourne
    Joseph Wiseman
    Joseph Wiseman
    • Jean Marie Calbert
    Alida Valli
    Alida Valli
    • Duchess Blanca
    Grégoire Aslan
    Grégoire Aslan
    • Dr. Victor Muñoz
    Virgilio Teixeira
    Virgilio Teixeira
    • Cayetano - the Bullfighter
    • (as Virgilio Texera)
    Peter Illing
    Peter Illing
    • Mr. Pickett - the Art Expert
    Britt Ekland
    Britt Ekland
    • Mrs. Pickett
    • (as Britta Ekman)
    Jorge Rigaud
    Jorge Rigaud
    • Spanish Police Inspector
    • (as George Rigaud)
    Gérard Tichy
    Gérard Tichy
    • Antonio - Prado Museum Guard
    Barta Barri
    Barta Barri
    • Chern - Lawyer
    • (uncredited)
    • …
    Toni Fuentes
    • Prado Museum Guard
    • (uncredited)
    Yasmin Khan
    • Girl
    • (uncredited)
    Julio Peña
    Julio Peña
    • Señor Elek - Hotel Bourne Desk Clerk
    • (uncredited)
    Karl-Heinz Schwerdtfeger
    • Police Official
    • (uncredited)
    Lou Weber
    • Prado Museum Guard
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • George Marshall
    • Writers
      • John Gay
      • Richard Condon
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews13

    5.2663
    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10

    Featured reviews

    1lotsofwordz

    Like watching paint dry, only not quite as exciting

    What a waste of everyone's time this is: a boring story line, terrible dialogue, wooden acting from all the actors (yes, even Rex H.), pedestrian directing (sorry, no offence to pedestrians intended), lifeless cinematography with hardly a single interesting camera angle or lighting in the whole film (and in muddy black and white, too, in 1962! - and the lighting cameraman had obviously never seen a good film noir, or if he did then he must have kept his eyes closed all the time), old-fashioned editing, an awful soundtrack (that irritating whistling tune that keeps repeating ad nauseam, and I do mean ad nauseam, is a top candidate for the worst film score ever) ...

    The only reason it merits 2 stars instead of 1 is that we get to see Rita H. in her negligee.

    Good grief, how did the studio have the brass neck to distribute this film instead of burning it and claiming on the insurance?
    4bensonmum2

    Not as good as it could have been

    The Happy Thieves gets off to a good start. Art thief Jimmy Bourne (Rex Harrison) steals a painting from a Spanish villa. He hands it over to Eve Lewis (Rita Hayworth) for transport to Paris. Once she arrives, Eve is shocked to discover the painting is missing. They have no idea how the stolen painting could have been stolen. To make matters worse, they are contacted by a man who has photographic proof they stole the painting. His silence comes with a heavy price tag. Jimmy and Eve must steal a gigantic, heavily guarded Goya from a Paris museum. Can they pull it off?

    On paper, The Happy Thieves looks like a real winner. It's got a lot o things that usually appeal to me. Rex Harrison is an actor I usually enjoy. His work in My Fair Lady, for example, is fantastic. Likewise, I usually really enjoy Rita Hayworth. Gilda is one of my all time favorite films. The Happy Thieves is billed as a Euro- heist/comedy - a "genre" that appeals greatly to me. Finally, there's some nice cinematography, interesting locations, and strong actors in supporting roles. It all should have worked.

    Unfortunately, The Happy Thieves is no where near as good as it should have been. The problem - it's as dull a movie as I've seen recently. Harrison, Hayworth, the heist/comedy elements - none of it can completely save this dud. The Happy Thieves is a chore to get through without falling asleep. It's about as dull as a kitchen knife at a beach house rental - and that's dull. Call it a missed opportunity. A generous 4/10 is the best I can rate the movie.
    6blanche-2

    of mild interest

    "The Happy Thieves" from 1961 is about art thieves Jimmy and Eve (Rex Harrison and Rita Hayworth) who steal a painting from a museum. A painting belonging to Duchess Blanca (Alida Valli) is stolen from a castle in Spain by the two thieves, but then it's stolen from them by the Duchess' cousin.

    Eve wants to call it quits, but the thief, one Dr. Munoz (Gregoire Aslan) blackmails the couple and wants a piece of art from the Prado museum. They have a duplicate made by Jean Marie Calbert (Joseph Wiseman), planning to switch the paintings during a farewell bullfight for the duchess' fiancée, a matador.

    A few things could have helped this film. One was a color production. It is Europe and does deal with art, after all. The second thing that would have helped was a more exciting actor as Jimmy. Rex Harrison was a marvelous actor but somehow wrong for this role, not dashing, charismatic, or romantic enough. The last thing that would have helped is a faster pace.

    "The Happy Thieves" was based on a book by Richard Condon and directed by George Marshall, both very accomplished, but this isn't the best representation of either one. Hayworth, in her forties here is beautiful, graceful and does a good job. The film was produced by her last husband, and she later pronounced it "rubbish." It moves fairly slowly, but the painting-switching scene is very good. Not awful, not great. Seeing Rita Hayworth is always worthwhile.
    5planktonrules

    Considering the cast, it's an amazingly lifeless picture

    With Rex Harrison and Rita Hayworth, you might tend to think you'll see a pretty good film but unfortunately the film only barely manages to earn a 5 and most of this is due to these actors. Try as they might, the film is just an amazingly listless film. Plus throughout the film I kept expecting a payoff to make my time investment worth while. Sadly, when the film was over, my first thought was "is that all there is to it?!". No magic, no chemistry...just a rather bland caper about stolen masterpieces. If you are looking for a good crime film or some of the excitement of GILDA, keep looking. This film features second-rate writing and barely enough energy to keep your interest. It isn't that the film is bad, but it certainly wasn't good either.
    6ksf-2

    okay caper with R Harrison & R Hayworth

    "Thieves" opens with Jimmy (Rex Harrison ) snitching a painting from a museum, and meeting his chick out front. Harrison will go on to win the Oscar for My Fair Lady in 1965. His co-star and partner in crime is Rita Hayworth as "Eve". Hayworth really should have won SOMETHING for her work in Gilda back in 1946, fifteen years before. Also watch for Britt Eckland, who married (and co-starred with ) Peter Sellers in the 1960s....she was also a Bond girl in "Man with the Golden Gun". This part in "Thieves" was only her second role...the first was "uncredited redhead" in GI Blues, with Elvis ! So... after stealing the painting, they have lost it, and now Eve and Jimmy have to figure out what happened to it. The film is okay... but can't help thinking the part of "Jimmy" could have been someone with more personality or style. Not sure who would have done it better. Overall, its pretty slow-moving. Story by Richard Condon, who also wrote Prizzi's Honor and Manchurian Candidate. Directed by George Marshall, who had started in the silents... such a prolific actor, writer, director.

    More like this

    Embrasse-moi, idiot!
    6.9
    Embrasse-moi, idiot!
    Toute la ville en parle
    7.3
    Toute la ville en parle
    Bruits de coulisses
    7.4
    Bruits de coulisses
    Pressure Point
    7.1
    Pressure Point
    La lame nue
    6.6
    La lame nue
    Le cygne
    6.4
    Le cygne
    Fou de girls
    6.8
    Fou de girls
    Les bourlingueurs
    5.5
    Les bourlingueurs
    Paris Blues
    6.7
    Paris Blues
    Tempête dans un verre d'eau
    6.5
    Tempête dans un verre d'eau
    Un pruneau pour Joe
    6.0
    Un pruneau pour Joe
    Comment tuer votre femme
    6.5
    Comment tuer votre femme

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The painting, known as the "Rokeby Venus" is by Velazquez and is his only known nude. It moved to England in 1813 to hang in Rokeby Park, Yorkshire. The painting was purchased by National Art Collections Fund in 1906 for the National Gallery, London. The suffragette Mary Richardson attacked and badly damaged the painting in 1914, but it was restored and returned to display.
    • Goofs
      Right at the start the 'master criminal' says that it takes 32 minutes to the airport and he'll leave at 10 27 in order to get to the airport at 11.00 exactly. For someone who calculates distance and departure times to the minute, he can't do his maths very well.
    • Quotes

      Jimmy Bourne: [as Eve grabs a drink from a tray and tosses it back] But Eve, that's a *martini*.

      Eve Lewis: It *was* a martini.

    Top picks

    Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
    Sign in

    FAQ

    • What is the name of the stolen painting?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 1962 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Spanish
    • Also known as
      • Once a Thief
    • Filming locations
      • Museo del Prado, Paseo del Prado, Madrid, Spain(museum)
    • Production company
      • Hillworth Productions A.G.
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 28 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.66 : 1

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
    Follow IMDb on social
    Get the IMDb App
    For Android and iOS
    Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • License IMDb Data
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2025 by IMDb.com, Inc.