Un coup de 2 milliards de dollars

Elaborate caper movie which, while nothing special, is redeemed by its unusual Israeli setting. Robert Shaw has a dual role as an industrialist and his security device-maker twin (the karate match between the two Shaws constitutes perhaps the film's low-point!). Ex-con and thief Richard Roundtree (often clad in conspicuously outlandish costumes) and lover Barbara Hershey (billed Barbara Seagull) are industrialist Shaw's unwilling accomplices in a diamond robbery – whose security system was devised by none other than his brother (whom he admits to not liking!). Shelley Winters turns up in irrelevant bits as an annoying American tourist; GET CARTER (1971)'s Roy Budd provides the score. Caper movies are among my favorites (maybe, it's because I work in a bank) but this is a very mild addition to that exciting thriller subgenre – chiefly because of an unconvincing plot also involving child kidnapping, a counter robbery from a church to mislead the Israeli police, the gang donning a series of silly disguises and, ultimately, a burglary which remains unfulfilled (again, a fashionable twist in the cynical 1970s but rather ludicrous in this context!).

Good crime drama, with somewhat complex storyline (unique twists and turns), but easy and fun to follow. Characters portrayed by Robert Shaw and by Richard Roundtree were played well, particularly Robert Shaw's quirky expressions (similar to those of Quint, in Jaws, but with a good deal more class). Barbara Hershey's character was OK, but could have been played as well or better by any number of actresses. Israeli cast members did a good job, and there were some really nice scenic shots of Israeli locations (though somewhat dated, in view of the time of filming). Good fun - good ending!

Who doesn't like heist movies, be it cash, jewelry, paintings, gold bars, etc. Or diamonds? The film has a solid, well-written script. Robert Shaw is one of the best actors ever and one of the actors I love the most. A unique man, with a more than penetrating gaze, with his eyes like a scalpel if not like a laser, he could have cut through any safe just by looking at it.

Barbara Hershey, Mary Magdalene from "The Last Temptation of Christ", looks super sexy, specially dressed as a nun. She is young, beautiful, talented and with her smile, she can wake up the dead. Mister Richard "Shaft" Roundtree, in the night scenes, in total dark, you can neither distinguish him nor say he's there on the screen. It's true, I'm not being mean when I say that. But he did a good role. And Shelley Winters is a perfect actress, very natural, with a special charm. The film reminded me of another very good film with a similar subject, "Topkapi", with Maximilian Schell in a role similar to that of Robert Shaw in this "Diamonds". But, in "Diamonds", at the end you will have a big unexpected surprise. Menahem Golan, the producer and director of this film, did a very good job. And nice music by Roy Budd too.

Pretty decent heist flick benefits from better than average perfs from Shaw and Shaft.

Golan decides to film it all in the Holy Land which, if nothing else, gives it some excellent cinematography to work in front of.

Shaw shows that he could have been James Bond. He looked great in the role. One almost wonders why the Oscars didn't call on him more often.

Shaft Roundtree made an excellent balance for him too. He did the hired muscle routine with a touch of class.

I'm trying to figure out Shelly Winters role though. It seemed like the producers just wanted to hire her just to hire her. Don't get me wrong. She did fine in the part. But why was it there? Dated a lot. But still a thrill ride.

It's one of those films I discovered purely by chance looking through Robert Shaw's filmography and happened to find the whole film on YouTube. I liked it. It's not polished and the twist at the end was driven by ego and morals, but that helped it feel a different cut to the usual formula e.g. Oceans... Italian Job etc. In fact there's a semblance of another film I like, with Oliver Reed and Michael Crawford called Jokers which would make a perfect double billed afternoon. I particularly enjoyed the similarities to the first Mission Impossible film, without giving too much away. Just temper any expectations of high action. This film works by tension but it does it well enough to justify watching at least once. Not a bucket-list worthy film, but the main actors may justify my 6/10.