Gambit

This was pretty good. We enjoyed watching it but there wasn't much chemistry between the two lead actors. I enjoyed it but probably won't watch it again.

One of the 'Per Request' recent releases by the major studios, who have finally realized there is good money to be made from digging into their treasure trove of forgotten films.Hardcore cinephiles have spent years, no, decades, walking into the darkest corners of the collectibles world; dealing with the opportunistic predators that populate it and paying nose-bleed prices for video that is barely recognizable: Skittering, pan-n-scan, washed out colors, audio scratches, bad tracking; basically the crummiest early video recordings from the 1970s and 1980s repeatedly copied over and over and over and over. Enduring all of that garbage in order to watch a film that never received a post-theatrical commercial release.The advent of DVD burners turning out One-Disc-For-One-Paying-Customer has been the blessed key that released all of us from those foul sewer pits - and I'm terribly grateful.I'm amazed to read some complain that the prices are too high. Well, then you haven't been where I've been, heard what I've heard, and seen what I've seen. Twenty-something bucks is reasonable. I admit, it's not pocket change, but then you haven't spoken to some of these so-called dealers who demand $40-$60-$80 or more for their "has-never-been-released" piles of 1970s and 80s home video rips or the cleverer 8mm/16mm film repro guys who manage to obtain rare material from the 1920s-30s. You haven't had to knuckle under to these creeps, so you don't know how lucky you are at twenty-something a pop. Damn lucky.Sorry, but this is an important moment in the history of films and I want to savor every minute of it. <g>'Gambit' is one of these very special movies. Starring Michael Caine, Shirley MacLaine and the always enjoyable Herbert Lom, this production takes us on a humorous heist adventure in what was then the very exotic worlds of Hong Kong and Malaysia.Caine plays Harry Dean, a short con specialist who has spied himself a very valuable bauble. The trick here is the man who owns it is a billionaire industrialist with resources and access to the most advanced security money can buy. Keep in mind that in 1966 the concept of a 'billionaire' would be the same as saying "That guy owns the moon". It was both bizarre and off-putting, since the concept of ultra wealthy typically meant you were a 'millionaire'. The b-word term itself was only used to describe economies of entire countries, not a single person.So, how to obtain said bauble? Best known and oldest distraction in the grifter handbook: A beautiful woman. But this is no regular mark. Lom's character is wise, intelligent and very cautious. The distraction has to be something special. And Ol' Harry has found that special girl. Working in a cheap Hong Kong dancehall is Ms. Nicole Chang - aka the truly stunning Shirley MacLaine.And why this particular woman? Because she's the very image of the billionaire's late wife and the ultimate bait for Harry's hook.The plan: Accidentally bump into billionaire, attract same and quietly allow them time alone. Then cat burglar his way to the bauble and voila' - everyone is rich.What made this so darn funny is the set-up, the first twenty minutes of the movie. Just when you think you're watching Harry's ludicrous plan going off without a hitch - it being almost too easy - you realize it actually is. It's revealed that he has yet to initiate contact with Nicole (a fun adventure in and of itself) and that everything seen up to that point had been his fanciful fantasy.Real life isn't like that. And you know what happens to all best laid plans, things never go as expected do they? <g>An extremely enjoyable film for heist fans. And more so for heist fans that love a romantic-comedy-adventure. Very much in the vein of ' How to Steal a Million '. Maybe even better in some ways, 'Gambit' is that good.

I didn't know what to expect going into this watch. Usually I'm not a fan of older movies but this one intrigued me mostly because i had read Kino Lorber worked extensively to restore this at 4k although committed only to blu-ray. This movie looks great in technicolor, the color density levels are amazing. The set pieces are great. My hats off to Shirley McClaine she had great talent both as an actor and showed herself to be quite athletic. Michael Caine is also quite good. Story is good and kept my interest all the way through. At some point this will be worth a re-watch my myself. I give this 4.5 stars or 87/100.

Gambit is one of the cleverest and most original gems from the 60s. If you want to watch Caine and MacLaine at their peak, get this one. Somewhere along the way, performers have lost something called "charm." There's plenty of it here. The blu-ray looks terrific.

Fondly remembered by those who saw it back in the 60s and a treat awaiting those who have not, "Gambit" features delightful performances by stars Shirley MacLaine and Michael Caine, as a pair of art thieves, and Herbert Lom, as their mark, an Arabian oil magnate. Except nobody is quite what they seem here, starting with MacLaine who is simply beautiful and mysterious without saying a word for the first half hour or so.Fun as the silent Shirley is, once she starts talking, she's better. She's a clever girl, as Caine tells her, and catnip for the audience. He seems to both attract and amuse her, leaving him with a long string of slow burns. "Do I look like a crook?" he asks her indignantly at one point. "A little," she replies, and then offers reasons. But when things go wrong in the scheme, as they do repeatedly, she saves the day. But Caine also proves a worthy improviser.The actual robbery generates considerable "Rififi"-style suspense, while keeping the light comic touch that characterizes the whole picture, not an easy trick to pull off. Aside from the cute romance, the nicest touch in the film is the fact that even though he knows perfectly well he's being set up, Lom comes to like the couple who have come to con and rob him.

Nice blu ray presentation of a 1960s caper film with McClaine and Caine. The audio and video are perfect and the extra commentaries are fun and informational. Hearing the 98 year-old director Ronald Neame discuss "Gambit" and his long and productive career is fascinating.

If you are a fan of films such as “Charade”, this frothy, good natured caper film will please you. It’s actually one of the best “light” films of the sixties. Don’t confuse it with the 2012 remake, which, despite the talents of those involved, is an abomination. As of writing the review the Amazon description appears to be for a totally different film.

I saw this when it came out, and have been waiting to get it on DVD since DVDs came out. Just got it and watched it last week, and oh, what a romp! As good as I remembered.So much of it, I had not remembered - it was almost like watching a new movie that someone had told me the highlights of with photos or mini-clips, but those mini-clips had certainly stayed in my head.We bought a copy of the Alan Rickman version, and gave up watching it just a few minutes in -- the characters in it just seemed petty and mean. But these guys you actually cared about. You wanted them to succeed.Anyway, maybe I'm just a product of the 50s and 60s, but I loved it then, and I loved it again now. The writers never missed a beat, the actors never missed a cue. The photography was gorgeous -- as were Ms. MacLaine's costumes. I loughed 'til I coughed.

A stylish comedy crime film that, strangely and undeservedly, has fallen out of fashion. The two leading actors. Caine and MacLaine, remain incredibly charismatic and attractive. The plot has many an unexpected twist and, despite what now looks as a very low-tech theft, the scene of the actual burglary will still have you holding your breath throughout. The contrast between the reality of MacLaine's independently minded showgirl and the silent acquiescent fantasy of Harry Dean's (Michael Caine's character) imagination is a joy. If you have seen it before, it is well worth revisiting and if you have not seen it, you are in for a treat.

Made just after Alfie this is Michael Caine at the top of his career. He plays the same sort of lovable rogue as in Alfie. The story is an interesting "Sting" type tale with a really good twist at the end. Shirley MacLaine is excellent - a standout performance. Good support from Herbert Lom.

This is a fun crime comedy caper with a terrific performance by all & nice twist at the end.Lovely letter box 2.35.1 copy, no extras, which is never a problem for me, but there is a director commentary for those who like such things.Great to finally have this movie in the correct ratio, although not out in Canada, once again my multi - player to the rescue.Sit back & enjoy

Have always loved this film, so glad to have it on dvd. I play it on a Panasonic Blu-ray player and picture and sound are good.

Classic caine