11 Harrowhouse

CinemaSerf

This is another of those films that I recalled fondly from childhood. "Chesser" (Charles Grodin) is a small time diamond dealer who, along with girlfriend "Maren" (Candice Bergen) finds himself ensnared in a cunning plot to rapidly increase the value of diamonds (though without the aid of "Pussy Galore's Flying Circus") by removing around $18bn from the global reserves. The trading centre for these jewels is the eponymous, unremarkable, London townhouse occupied by the imperious Sir John Gielgud ("Meecham") and his dedicated assistant "Watts" (James Mason). We learn quickly that "Watts" is a man on borrowed time, and that his boss couldn't really care less - so this makes the former character ripe for co-operation with "Chesser". Their scheme is ingenious, and their planning and implementation is as an enjoyable a heist scenario as I've seen. Sadly, though, it all rather falls away in a last half hour that sees too many false endings, spokes in the wheels - and a really silly horse chase with Trevor Howard that reduces it to little better than a routine crimi-caper. I wasn't an huge fan of the narration that accompanied the story - it tries to be sarcastic, but lacks any real bite. It's a film of two halves, and the first one is where all the goals are.