Rosie Searle It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

Deanna There are moments in this movie where the great movie it could've been peek out... They're fleeting, here, but they're worth savoring, and they happen often enough to make it worth your while.

Bob This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

Logan By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

tomsview This is a pretty good caper film, stylish and witty, but it loses its grip a little in the last 15 minutes.Charles Grodin plays a small time jewellery dealer, Howard R. Chesser, who travels to London to conduct business with 'The System' located at 11 Harrowhouse, an enormously prestigious and snooty diamond trading house. 'The System' is run by the equally snooty Mr Meecham, played by John Gielgud – one of the film's trio of top British actors who were a fair way along in their careers by the mid 70's.Chesser is offered a big diamond deal by mega-wealthy Clyde Massey, played by Trevor Howard with the ham gauge set on the highest level. Events lead to Chesser breaking into 11 Harrowhouse to steal the entire stock of diamonds. He is helped by Charles Watts, an unassuming Harrowhouse assistant out for revenge. Watts is played by James Mason, an actor with one of cinema's most distinctive voices, like George Sanders, he was smooth from the start to the finish of his career.Chesser is also helped by his girlfriend, Maren Shirell, played by Candice Bergen in a role that is reminiscent of Grace Kelly in "Rear Window" – glamorous, poised, and adventurous.The film is in the same spirit as "Arabesque", "How to steal a million" and "Charade" and quite a few others of the 60's and 70's. It features an inventive jewel robbery, much of it played out on the rooftop of 11 Harrowhouse; although that sequence is marred by bad matching between the location and the studio shots.Charles Grodin's offbeat style was not unlike Bob Newhart's – a bland, milquetoast exterior concealing underlying insolence. Grodin also supplies droll, running commentary on the action in voice-over, somewhat like someone showing home movies. This works pretty well up until the end where the commentary seems disconnected with what is happening on screen. When Grodin says at some length that he can't understand why Howard and his associates are chasing him, it's obvious why they are.Apparently there was another version of the film without Grodin's voice-over, but I suspect it was added because it was felt something was needed – the long chase sequence at the end is as drawn out and tedious as those things often were in this kind of film.Despite the odd lapse, the film still has much that works – an ingenious robbery, the tongue in cheek delivery of Grodin, a dazzling Candice Bergen, and a line-up of legendary, albeit aging, British stars of the period.

Scott LeBrun Charles Grodin lends his distinctively dry comic persona to this somewhat tongue in cheek adaptation of a more serious novel by Gerald A. Browne. He also narrates, and does a good job at maintaining a fairly light tone. He plays a diamond merchant who regularly visits the worlds' largest clearinghouse for gems, located at 11 Harrowhouse in London. He ends up approached by a slimy, yet genial, oil baron named Clyde Massey (Trevor Howard) to steal the places' inventory, and although that usually isn't his trade he and his spirited female companion Maren (Candice Bergen) prove up to the challenge, coming up with an ingenious way to pull off the robbery. For one thing, it involves using a cockroach, but more importantly, it includes an angry employee, Charles Watts (James Mason) who they convert to their cause. At first glance, Grodin (who also is credited with adapting the story) would seem an unlikely lead for such a film, but his presence gives it a little something extra; his narration ensures that this feels like kind of a parody of the genre. Bergen is lovely, of course, and appealing as his girlfriend, a wealthy widow and ace getaway driver who's skillful, not reckless. The mostly British cast includes some very big names who give "11 Harrowhouse" some gravitas; Mason is a real standout as the willing participant in the robbery who wants to make sure that his family is provided for. John Gielgud is excellent as his serious-minded boss, and appearing as well are Helen Cherry, Peter Vaughan, Cyril Shaps, Leon Greene, Jack Watson, and Clive Morton. Director Aram Avakian handles it all in style, cranking up the excitement factor for a breathless final act involving a chase. All in all, this is pretty enjoyable; even if it's not that memorable it's hard to resist while it lasts; the climactic robbery sequence is fun and great use is made of the various locations. Worth a look for fans of the caper film and of the actors on hand. Seven out of 10.

JasparLamarCrabb A light as air but undeniably entertaining heist film. Diamond broker Charles Grodin and wealthy girlfriend Candice Bergen are hired by billionaire madman Trevor Howard to rob a diamond clearing house (address is 11 Harrowhouse). Extremely clever and a lot of fun with great chemistry between Grodin & Bergen. Grodin's narration is hysterical and Bergen, looking stunning, shows early comic promise. Howard, not usually seen in anything approaching a comedy, is very funny. Director Aram Avakian brings a lot of style and moves things along at a lightening pace. Michael Lewis contributes a first rate score and the supporting cast includes James Mason, John Geilgud and Helen Cherry (in a most unlikely role). It's unlikely you'll see a movie make such good use of cockroaches.

IslandMadMacs One with the Grodin narration, and one without. I suspect many of the negative reviews refer to the highly edited TV-version. Unfortunately, I'm not sure if the commercial VHS tape offered is the edited version, so caution is advised.As a fan of heist films, I only recently learned of this rare film and had an opportunity to obtain the widescreen laserdisc presentation. And while it's true that this isn't a top-notch comedy or thriller, it's certainly better than you would think given the majority of less-than-flattering reviews here. There are clever heist tricks - many of which have not been used again since this film. You know how much Hollywood likes to "borrow" clever ideas and use them over and over to the point where they become sad clichés. Well, you have to admire the use of cockroaches and chocolate cake to defeat an ultra-secure vault! How many times have you seen that done before? Or since?If you're a fan of the heist genre or a Grodin devotee - this is a 'must see'. Otherwise, I'd wait 'til it gets a DVD release.