20 reviews
I had first watched this on local TV as a kid: I'm a sucker for caper films (in fact, I've about six more, albeit very minor, such titles lined-up for viewing) and, therefore, I grabbed the opportunity to re-acquaint myself with it after all these years (even if it came via an Italian-dubbed version).
Anyway, it may be because I hadn't caught a film in this vein for quite some time but I really enjoyed this! A very typical outing from the 1970s international production and cast, location shooting, throwaway soundtrack and, thankfully, one whose mind is simply set on providing easy-going entertainment: often, the central premise in this type of film gets lost amid fastidious technique and other showy trimmings conversely, here we get an ingeniously-plotted (if, admittedly, improbable) heist that one's able to follow thus generating the requisite amount of suspense and surprise (via a plethora of entertaining twists).
The narrative is set in motion by ex-Nazi Concentration Camp Commandant James Mason(!) paying a visit to one of his former prisoners, ex-American Major Telly Savalas, presenting him with a scheme to retrieve a cache' of gold that once belonged to the Fuehrer himself (hence the film's subsequent retitling as HITLER'S GOLD); the catch is that the only one still alive who knows its whereabouts is a Nazi war criminal undergoing life imprisonment in a West German fortress! Thankfully, though, Savalas happens to be chummy with one of the American sergeants on duty there (Aldo Ray) and he brings along for the ride explosives expert Robert Culp. Along the way, they recruit a whole slew of other associates (from one of the soldiers in charge of the original transportation to a female nurse who eventually hitches up with Culp to a homosexual doctor played by Adrian Hoven to a Russian officer based in East Germany where, it transpires, the gold is located) which makes one wonder just how much they'd actually be making individually of the proposed loot of $6 million!
The elaborate plan involves the ex-Nazi official being drugged and replaced by Hoven for a day while our heroes, having turned a vacated building into a simulacra of the Nazi headquarters circa 1944 (complete with the ex-driver now impersonating Hitler!), try to nudge his memory bank about the coveted gold cache'. As I said, the turn-of-events see them crossing over to East Germany dressed as American officers and, with the help of the afore-mentioned Russian, they evacuate the building which now stands on the site where the gold is hidden so that they work at their leisure to recover it. Unsurprisingly, with so much money at stake and so many fingers in the proverbial pot, the number is reduced when the German soldier loses his nerve and the Russian becomes too greedy for his own good. At long last, the Nazi is placed back in his cell and the gang can take a deep sigh of relief; again, typical of the time in which the film was made, they manage to get away with it
Gripping, packed with incident but essentially light-hearted (with the actors clearly enjoying themselves) and good to look at (the cinematography is by the renowned and Sam Peckinpah regular John Coquillon), the film emerges as the perfect anti-dote to one's dreary work routine and the equally inconvenient summer heat.
Anyway, it may be because I hadn't caught a film in this vein for quite some time but I really enjoyed this! A very typical outing from the 1970s international production and cast, location shooting, throwaway soundtrack and, thankfully, one whose mind is simply set on providing easy-going entertainment: often, the central premise in this type of film gets lost amid fastidious technique and other showy trimmings conversely, here we get an ingeniously-plotted (if, admittedly, improbable) heist that one's able to follow thus generating the requisite amount of suspense and surprise (via a plethora of entertaining twists).
The narrative is set in motion by ex-Nazi Concentration Camp Commandant James Mason(!) paying a visit to one of his former prisoners, ex-American Major Telly Savalas, presenting him with a scheme to retrieve a cache' of gold that once belonged to the Fuehrer himself (hence the film's subsequent retitling as HITLER'S GOLD); the catch is that the only one still alive who knows its whereabouts is a Nazi war criminal undergoing life imprisonment in a West German fortress! Thankfully, though, Savalas happens to be chummy with one of the American sergeants on duty there (Aldo Ray) and he brings along for the ride explosives expert Robert Culp. Along the way, they recruit a whole slew of other associates (from one of the soldiers in charge of the original transportation to a female nurse who eventually hitches up with Culp to a homosexual doctor played by Adrian Hoven to a Russian officer based in East Germany where, it transpires, the gold is located) which makes one wonder just how much they'd actually be making individually of the proposed loot of $6 million!
The elaborate plan involves the ex-Nazi official being drugged and replaced by Hoven for a day while our heroes, having turned a vacated building into a simulacra of the Nazi headquarters circa 1944 (complete with the ex-driver now impersonating Hitler!), try to nudge his memory bank about the coveted gold cache'. As I said, the turn-of-events see them crossing over to East Germany dressed as American officers and, with the help of the afore-mentioned Russian, they evacuate the building which now stands on the site where the gold is hidden so that they work at their leisure to recover it. Unsurprisingly, with so much money at stake and so many fingers in the proverbial pot, the number is reduced when the German soldier loses his nerve and the Russian becomes too greedy for his own good. At long last, the Nazi is placed back in his cell and the gang can take a deep sigh of relief; again, typical of the time in which the film was made, they manage to get away with it
Gripping, packed with incident but essentially light-hearted (with the actors clearly enjoying themselves) and good to look at (the cinematography is by the renowned and Sam Peckinpah regular John Coquillon), the film emerges as the perfect anti-dote to one's dreary work routine and the equally inconvenient summer heat.
- Bunuel1976
- Jul 3, 2008
- Permalink
Former German soldier Ernst Furben (James Mason) tells Harry Morgan (Telly Savalas) a story about his WWII days. The SS had commandeered his truck to transport gold bars. He recruits Harry to free Nazi prisoner Reinhardt Holtz who had authorized the $6 million gold shipment. Harry brings in his friend Sly Wells (Robert Culp) and others.
Initially, I didn't think the premise makes sense, but in time, I realized that Reinhardt would never give up the goods without some torturing. The movie decides to go the theatrical route. I'll give them that one. It's silly, but it has some fun. The rest of the schemes are all very unlikely. I don't understand why they wouldn't switch Reinhardt back before doing the heist. Again, it's just outrageously unlikely that they do all that in 24 hours especially when they don't have to. By doing it this way, they leave the gold in other people's hands. The sequence of events don't make sense.
Initially, I didn't think the premise makes sense, but in time, I realized that Reinhardt would never give up the goods without some torturing. The movie decides to go the theatrical route. I'll give them that one. It's silly, but it has some fun. The rest of the schemes are all very unlikely. I don't understand why they wouldn't switch Reinhardt back before doing the heist. Again, it's just outrageously unlikely that they do all that in 24 hours especially when they don't have to. By doing it this way, they leave the gold in other people's hands. The sequence of events don't make sense.
- SnoopyStyle
- Nov 17, 2022
- Permalink
Thirty years after the end of the Second World War, Telly Savalas learns from German James Mason about six million dollars of gold bullion hidden by the Nazis in what is now East Germany. So he assembles of team from his old army unit, including Robert Culp and Aldo Ray to break out the one man who knows where the loot is hidden.
Although there are a few good moments in this movie, it looks like a paycheck movie for most of the performers: do the job efficiently, collect a paycheck, and go home. Perhaps it is my reaction to Telly Savalas, who always seems to acting rather than being invested in the character. This is clearly a case where your mileage may vary.
Although there are a few good moments in this movie, it looks like a paycheck movie for most of the performers: do the job efficiently, collect a paycheck, and go home. Perhaps it is my reaction to Telly Savalas, who always seems to acting rather than being invested in the character. This is clearly a case where your mileage may vary.
Former German officer Ernst Furben comes to American wide-boy Harry Morgan with a story of stolen Nazi gold that has been hidden somewhere. The only man who actually knows where it is hidden is one Reinhard Holtz, who unfortunately is being held in prison for the rest of his life. Employing the services of Sly Wells, Aldo Ray and Hans Schmidt, Harry comes up with a plan to break Holtz out of the maximum security prison, get the location and recover the gold for themselves.
The plot summary makes it sound like a great caper movie with elements of Kelly's Heroes thrown in, its tongue in its cheek and a nice twisty plot. However from the faltering first steps with a clumsy flashback setup, the film fails to really ignite and, although parts are enjoyable and to-formula, it has too many bits thrown in that slow it down. The best bits are the parts where they must execute their plan and often it is so ludicrous that you have no option but to go along with it. These bits just about provide the caper feel that I was expecting but other times it takes itself too seriously and limits the sheer sense of fun that things like this need to survive.
This isn't helped by the visual style of the whole thing or rather, lack of style. Parts of it look like it has been shot in an English northern town in the 1970's and to the eye it comes over as rather dull and dead. The horrible use of music is a real downer as well. Problems associated with the period perhaps but the overall impression is that the film generally lacked effort. On paper the cast seems to suggest that this is not true but in practice the lacklustre collection of performances just enforces the impression. Savalas just about turns up and, although he is a solid enough presence to almost get away with it, you can't help but feel like he is just taking the money and running. Mason is just as poor and turns in a rather dull performance that is far down the list in terms of his career. Culp is so-so, Ray is OK and the fact that Meisner stuck in my mind was probably more to do with the lack of competition as opposed to him being any good himself.
Overall then a fairly dull caper movie that will do little for fans of the genre or even those looking for entertainment. The plot is OK in parts but it generally lacks the fun and energy such a film needs to get by. It looks quite cheap and generally the impression given is a film made without a lot of effort or imagination which is probably a fair summary of it all told.
The plot summary makes it sound like a great caper movie with elements of Kelly's Heroes thrown in, its tongue in its cheek and a nice twisty plot. However from the faltering first steps with a clumsy flashback setup, the film fails to really ignite and, although parts are enjoyable and to-formula, it has too many bits thrown in that slow it down. The best bits are the parts where they must execute their plan and often it is so ludicrous that you have no option but to go along with it. These bits just about provide the caper feel that I was expecting but other times it takes itself too seriously and limits the sheer sense of fun that things like this need to survive.
This isn't helped by the visual style of the whole thing or rather, lack of style. Parts of it look like it has been shot in an English northern town in the 1970's and to the eye it comes over as rather dull and dead. The horrible use of music is a real downer as well. Problems associated with the period perhaps but the overall impression is that the film generally lacked effort. On paper the cast seems to suggest that this is not true but in practice the lacklustre collection of performances just enforces the impression. Savalas just about turns up and, although he is a solid enough presence to almost get away with it, you can't help but feel like he is just taking the money and running. Mason is just as poor and turns in a rather dull performance that is far down the list in terms of his career. Culp is so-so, Ray is OK and the fact that Meisner stuck in my mind was probably more to do with the lack of competition as opposed to him being any good himself.
Overall then a fairly dull caper movie that will do little for fans of the genre or even those looking for entertainment. The plot is OK in parts but it generally lacks the fun and energy such a film needs to get by. It looks quite cheap and generally the impression given is a film made without a lot of effort or imagination which is probably a fair summary of it all told.
- bob the moo
- Apr 1, 2006
- Permalink
Army buddies get back together thirty years after the big war, for one last mission. Savalas, culp, and mason team up to bust a german officer prisoner out of a high security jail to tell them where the lost shipment of gold is hidden. They get to the location pretty easily, but then things start to go wrong. It's a good caper. Good suspense, nothing too new to show us, but a gold heist is fun to watch. And it's always interesting to see things that aren't there anymore, like the berlin wall... that was up from 1961 to 1989, dividing berlin. It's a fun 98 minutes. Kind of funny to hear a very british james mason trying to do a german accent, but we can overlook that. Directed by peter duffell.
Unfortunately, the film feels cheap, tacky and very dated (although I can't really blame it for having being made in the 1970s). It has the feel of one of those 1970s cinema ads for the local Tandoori.
The plot is quite interesting and unusual and is the best thing about this film. The plot twists are quite clever and original (if not always believable).
This film also has the worst sound track I've heard on any film. Ever. It is quite simply horrible. This has brought it home to me how important a good soundtrack is - really you shouldn't even notice that there is a soundtrack as it should be an integral part of the film.
The acting is OK, but somehow you don't really get to know too much of the characters. James Mason is quite disappointing in his role.
Many of the other actors in the film could have been replaced by cardboard cut-outs and nobody would have noticed (in fact I'm sure some of the guards in the prison WERE cardboard cut-outs).
Having said all that - the film does have a certain charm, and Telly Savalas and Robert Culp have just about enough charisma between them to pull this one off - that combined with the decent story justifies a 7.
The plot is quite interesting and unusual and is the best thing about this film. The plot twists are quite clever and original (if not always believable).
This film also has the worst sound track I've heard on any film. Ever. It is quite simply horrible. This has brought it home to me how important a good soundtrack is - really you shouldn't even notice that there is a soundtrack as it should be an integral part of the film.
The acting is OK, but somehow you don't really get to know too much of the characters. James Mason is quite disappointing in his role.
Many of the other actors in the film could have been replaced by cardboard cut-outs and nobody would have noticed (in fact I'm sure some of the guards in the prison WERE cardboard cut-outs).
Having said all that - the film does have a certain charm, and Telly Savalas and Robert Culp have just about enough charisma between them to pull this one off - that combined with the decent story justifies a 7.
- codefire1962
- Feb 3, 2008
- Permalink
This has good qualities such as a good cast, very light on the profanity and some nice cinematography....but - and it's a big "but" - the story bogs down after the first 30 minutes and never recovers. It drags on and on for way too long.
It's the story of a group of men who kidnap a former Nazi out of a high-security jail because the man knows where six million dollars in gold is hidden. Then they must all go get it, in East Germany (when Germany was divided).
It sounds interesting and should have been an intense story, but it wasn't. With a cast headlined by Telly Savalas, Robert Culp and James Mason, the fact it didn't grab me is another surprise.
It's the story of a group of men who kidnap a former Nazi out of a high-security jail because the man knows where six million dollars in gold is hidden. Then they must all go get it, in East Germany (when Germany was divided).
It sounds interesting and should have been an intense story, but it wasn't. With a cast headlined by Telly Savalas, Robert Culp and James Mason, the fact it didn't grab me is another surprise.
- ccthemovieman-1
- Oct 8, 2006
- Permalink
I have to confess the first time watching Inside Out I'd found it a masterpiece, I just was a teenager and thrilled with such offer, well-planed, Telly Savalas yelling against someone who dared asking for something about his credential as Major scarring all them and so for, today a mature man after had watched 11.800 movies I've figure out that it could be an episode from the series Mission: Impossible from the sixties, without overdoing.
The plot is great if wasn't fake and far-fetched about former soldiers of WWII gathering together to grab a bars gold from Nazi, which the exact location is in the mind of prisoner of war Reinhard Holtz (Wolfgang Lukschy) jailed for good in top security fortress locate in Berlin, the British Ernest Furben (James Mason) got the files about bars gold he get in touch with Harry Morgan (Telly Savalas) who has to get others members and a receiver whereof turns it on dollars, he approaches of Sly Wells (Robert Culp) an expert mastermind a perfect plan, a German driver Schmidt (Gunter Meisner) will play the phony Hitler aided by an eye-candy nurse Erika (Doris Kunstmann) also an old acquaintance Seargent Prior (Aldo Ray) who makes a American shift on the Fortress.
The key to enter in the Fortress is the Dr. Maar (Adrian Hoven) who takes care of prisoner of war's wealthy, thru a blackmail they convince him join on the gang without any gain, then came up the trade on prison, Dr. Maars enters and stayed there on cell, meanwhile they drugged Reinhard disguises as Dr. Maars, they have just twenty four hours to return with Reinhard due the shift will be passed to another allied country, during the car route they make up him aiming for aging backwards Reinhard's face, letting him in an old building where he'll face the Fuher asking for where he sent the bars gold took from boxcar train, even a slight confused and baffled to see Hitler himself, he got hardly remembers the bars gold whereabouts, however has a hard matter to overcame the gold are in West Germany.
A picture that make Mission Impossible looks like a piece of cake, nonetheless it highly funny entertainment to relief the stress daily at ours life, especially by Telly Savalas's joking and fooling all around, worthwhile to see the amusing picture if you afford all mismatches and holes on it, just enjoy the clever scheme!!
.
Thanks for reading.
Resume:
First watch: 1981 / How many: 3 / Source: TV-Youtube / Rating: 7.
The plot is great if wasn't fake and far-fetched about former soldiers of WWII gathering together to grab a bars gold from Nazi, which the exact location is in the mind of prisoner of war Reinhard Holtz (Wolfgang Lukschy) jailed for good in top security fortress locate in Berlin, the British Ernest Furben (James Mason) got the files about bars gold he get in touch with Harry Morgan (Telly Savalas) who has to get others members and a receiver whereof turns it on dollars, he approaches of Sly Wells (Robert Culp) an expert mastermind a perfect plan, a German driver Schmidt (Gunter Meisner) will play the phony Hitler aided by an eye-candy nurse Erika (Doris Kunstmann) also an old acquaintance Seargent Prior (Aldo Ray) who makes a American shift on the Fortress.
The key to enter in the Fortress is the Dr. Maar (Adrian Hoven) who takes care of prisoner of war's wealthy, thru a blackmail they convince him join on the gang without any gain, then came up the trade on prison, Dr. Maars enters and stayed there on cell, meanwhile they drugged Reinhard disguises as Dr. Maars, they have just twenty four hours to return with Reinhard due the shift will be passed to another allied country, during the car route they make up him aiming for aging backwards Reinhard's face, letting him in an old building where he'll face the Fuher asking for where he sent the bars gold took from boxcar train, even a slight confused and baffled to see Hitler himself, he got hardly remembers the bars gold whereabouts, however has a hard matter to overcame the gold are in West Germany.
A picture that make Mission Impossible looks like a piece of cake, nonetheless it highly funny entertainment to relief the stress daily at ours life, especially by Telly Savalas's joking and fooling all around, worthwhile to see the amusing picture if you afford all mismatches and holes on it, just enjoy the clever scheme!!
.
Thanks for reading.
Resume:
First watch: 1981 / How many: 3 / Source: TV-Youtube / Rating: 7.
- elo-equipamentos
- Sep 9, 2023
- Permalink
Thrilling story about some greedy men joined to break out an inmate in an imprenetrable prison. Unlikely trio , an ex-GI , a jewel thief and a German POW camp (Telly Savalas , Robert Culp, James Mason) band together to recover 6 million dollars in gold bars that Hitler had hidden and , nowadays , it is behind the Iron Curtain . As the motley group has to pass the Charlie checkpoint and penetrate undetected in the Soviet occupied area of East Germany, subsequently take the treasure and make off with it across the border without alerting the Soviets . Only one man (Wolfgang Lukschy of Leone's Fistful of Dollars) knows where the gold is, so the trio must get this ex-Nazi out of a maximum-security prison so that he can lead them to it . The Stash : 6 million dollars in hidden gold. Four desperate men turn Berlin inside out to find it! Just 24 hours to pull off the heist of a lifetime! They're turning the Iron Curtain inside out to get Hitler's gold. Berlin, 1975 . . . An American ex-Major, a German ex-Colonel and an international ex-con . . . They're turning the Iron Curtain inside out to get their hands on Hitler's hidden gold. They're turning the Iron Curtain inside out to get their hands on Hitler's hidden gold. Berlin, 1975 . . . An American ex-Major, a German ex-Colonel and an international ex-con. One of the greatest escape adventures of all time!
This fun film is packed with intrigue , noisy action , thrills , tension and bits of humor . It results to be an entertaining and amusing caper to take a robbed gold shipment and to find it to be necessary a Nazi prisoner who knows the secret , that's why they help him to break out of prison . The picture is passable but the suspense and action should hold most viewers' attention. It contains uncomfortable mix of flaws and gaps with little believable situations and it's regularly developed. There's a lot of notorious actors giving acceptable interpretations , both American ones : Telly Savalas , Robert Culp , James Mason , Aldo Ray , Don Fellows and Germans : Günter Meisner , Adrian Hoven , Wolfgang Lukschy , Doris Kunstmann or Austrian : Charles Korvin . This ¨Inside out¨ bears certain resemblance to ¨Wild Geese 2¨ by Peter H. Hunt starred by Scott Glenn , Barbara Carrera , Edward Fox and Laurence Olivier as Rudolph Hess , in which a team of mercenaries is hired to spring Rudolph Hess from Spandau Prison in Berlin . As the role Reinhard Holtz played by Wolfgang Lukschy is Rudolph Hess-lookalike, who was judged in Nuremberg , found guilty on two counts and he was given a life sentence in Spandau ; long time after , he was found dead at age 93 with an electric cord wrapped around his neck ; Spandau prison was subsequently demolished to prevent it from becoming a shrine.
The picture was middlingly directed by Peter Duffel . The good craftsman Peter Duffell directed various films , such as : ¨Experience preferred.. but not essential¨ , ¨The Far Pavilions¨ , ¨House that dripped blood¨, ¨Inside out¨. But his speciality was mini-series and several TV episodes from famous series , such as : ¨The Bill¨ , ¨Space precinct¨ , ¨Tales of the Unexpected¨ , ¨Inspector Morse¨ , ¨The Waterfall¨ , ¨The famous five¨ , ¨Journey to the Unknown¨ , ¨Man in a Suitcase¨ , ¨The adventures of Black Beauty¨ , ¨Strange report¨ , ¨Far Pavilions¨ and ¨The Avengers¨ , among others . Rating : 5.5/10 . Essential and fundamental watching for Telly Savalas and Robert Culp fans . Well worth seeing for caper movies enthusiasts.
This fun film is packed with intrigue , noisy action , thrills , tension and bits of humor . It results to be an entertaining and amusing caper to take a robbed gold shipment and to find it to be necessary a Nazi prisoner who knows the secret , that's why they help him to break out of prison . The picture is passable but the suspense and action should hold most viewers' attention. It contains uncomfortable mix of flaws and gaps with little believable situations and it's regularly developed. There's a lot of notorious actors giving acceptable interpretations , both American ones : Telly Savalas , Robert Culp , James Mason , Aldo Ray , Don Fellows and Germans : Günter Meisner , Adrian Hoven , Wolfgang Lukschy , Doris Kunstmann or Austrian : Charles Korvin . This ¨Inside out¨ bears certain resemblance to ¨Wild Geese 2¨ by Peter H. Hunt starred by Scott Glenn , Barbara Carrera , Edward Fox and Laurence Olivier as Rudolph Hess , in which a team of mercenaries is hired to spring Rudolph Hess from Spandau Prison in Berlin . As the role Reinhard Holtz played by Wolfgang Lukschy is Rudolph Hess-lookalike, who was judged in Nuremberg , found guilty on two counts and he was given a life sentence in Spandau ; long time after , he was found dead at age 93 with an electric cord wrapped around his neck ; Spandau prison was subsequently demolished to prevent it from becoming a shrine.
The picture was middlingly directed by Peter Duffel . The good craftsman Peter Duffell directed various films , such as : ¨Experience preferred.. but not essential¨ , ¨The Far Pavilions¨ , ¨House that dripped blood¨, ¨Inside out¨. But his speciality was mini-series and several TV episodes from famous series , such as : ¨The Bill¨ , ¨Space precinct¨ , ¨Tales of the Unexpected¨ , ¨Inspector Morse¨ , ¨The Waterfall¨ , ¨The famous five¨ , ¨Journey to the Unknown¨ , ¨Man in a Suitcase¨ , ¨The adventures of Black Beauty¨ , ¨Strange report¨ , ¨Far Pavilions¨ and ¨The Avengers¨ , among others . Rating : 5.5/10 . Essential and fundamental watching for Telly Savalas and Robert Culp fans . Well worth seeing for caper movies enthusiasts.
This movie reminded me of one of my favorite Robert Redford movies "The Hot Rock" (1972). That's a caper movie with plenty of humor thrown in. This movie isn't as funny as that, it doesn't try to be, but it does have some very funny moments. And it's full of surprises along the way just like The Hot Rock. I have no doubt this movie was influenced by that movie.
It doesn't try to be a serious movie. This is straight up Saturday afternoon popcorn movie type entertainment. It's light entertainment. Some people might think that with the Nazi/Hitler element it should be ultra serious and ponderous and profound, but it's more along the lines of the TV show Hogan's Heroes.
I'm glad I watched this and I would recommended it. Just don't expect a "serious" movie. It's fun. And that's what it wanted to be.
It doesn't try to be a serious movie. This is straight up Saturday afternoon popcorn movie type entertainment. It's light entertainment. Some people might think that with the Nazi/Hitler element it should be ultra serious and ponderous and profound, but it's more along the lines of the TV show Hogan's Heroes.
I'm glad I watched this and I would recommended it. Just don't expect a "serious" movie. It's fun. And that's what it wanted to be.
- sambase-38773
- Nov 19, 2022
- Permalink
This is without question the most ridiculous script ever to waste film. A totally unbelievable, uninteresting, and ridiculous plan to steal 6 million of Nazi buried gold. The entire production reeks of circumstances so unlikely to happen, that it makes fairy tales seem more believable. Telly Savalas, Robert Culp, and James Mason, all repeat their lines without any conviction, because they obviously sensed that they were in a meaningless crap fest. This movie is the most blatant example of total nonsense I have ever had the misfortune of viewing. The U.S. Army comes out looking like total fools. This is definitely not the heist of the century, more like the "bomb" of the century. A well deserved 1 star, and I do not give out 1 star ratings lightly, but this film definitely deserved less. - MERK
- merklekranz
- Dec 6, 2019
- Permalink
I, accidently, came upon this film on the Starz Mystery Channel while channel surfing yesterday. I'm so very glad that I did. I found it to be a fast paced, suspenseful, sometimes humorous, caper "flick". IMHO, the entire cast of International actors is excellent. Telly Savalas and Robert Culp do a great job as two American WW2 military veterans who join forces with an ex German officer, nicely played by James Mason, to spearhead an attempt to retrieve $6 million in gold ingots hidden beneath a German air raid shelter during the war. To do so they must manage to get a German war criminal out of a top security prison where he is the only prisoner. Then, after getting the needed information concerning the whereabouts of the gold from him, they must get him back into his cell as if nothing had ever happened. Aldo Ray does a great job as the head noncom of the US contingent guarding the prisoner who, fortunately, is an old war buddy of Savalas and, for a price, agrees to aid in the caper. As the plot twists unfold, the suspense builds to a very satisfying conclusion. Near the end of the film there is a great scene of an exchange between Savalas as a bogus Army Major and the US Colonel who is in charge of the prison whenever the Americans are on watch. The conversation between Savalas and the Colonel is wonderful. The Colonel is extremely hostile but Savalas bluffs him with a classic conversational style containing a not too subtle threat to inform the proper authorities of the Colonel's non-cooperation. I found those few minutes to be priceless. For the most part, I found this movie to be free of the cliches that normally are found in a caper film. Also, the conclusion of the film is different than that of most other films of this type. If you watch this film I hope that you will enjoy it as much as I did.
- Dave Banks
- Jan 11, 2002
- Permalink
- JasparLamarCrabb
- Mar 5, 2011
- Permalink
Riddled with bills, con artist Harry Morgan (Telly) cooks up caper with his "associates," in this dated, yet enjoyable flick. The turns and twists of the plot are not exactly breathtaking, but it's just plain good fun. It involves a plot to hatch out of prison an aging Nazi, who knows the location of a hidden stash of gold, and then put him back before the prison officials are any wiser. The plot complications arise from there, to bribery of certain US military types to bribery of certain Soviet military types(!). Eeghads! Now, don't you know Telly has a "full plate" with this movie?!
It actually comes off as pretty slick, humorous and at times, surreal. It is also a testament of the affection that many in Europe had for Mr. Savalas, whom when I lived there, was widely evident. With a strong, supporting, international cast; including James Mason, Robert Culp, Gunter Meisner and Aldo Ray, INSIDE OUT is quite enjoyable.
It actually comes off as pretty slick, humorous and at times, surreal. It is also a testament of the affection that many in Europe had for Mr. Savalas, whom when I lived there, was widely evident. With a strong, supporting, international cast; including James Mason, Robert Culp, Gunter Meisner and Aldo Ray, INSIDE OUT is quite enjoyable.
Two rather likable but dodgy characters are persuaded by a German ex-army officer to co-operate with his plan to recover some Nazi gold some twenty five years later - various others are then roped in. A particularly ingenious plot makes this film a constant nerve-tingler, with extremely good use of music and atmospheric lighting, and small twists in the script to add further tension. The momentum is maintained right up to the very end. The characterisation is unusually original, each character having distinctive quirks, with the exception that the German plotter is portrayed somewhat stereotypically as entirely lacking a sense of humour or remorse. The dialogue is sharp and witty, with special effects relegated to a minimum, making a welcome change from the 1990s films which can be over-reliant on such devices. For those with an interest in retro-chic, the 1970s clothes & cars will add a further pleasure. Also of interest is the depiction of Berlin at the height of its Cold War division. A definite must-see for those who find modern mainstream films too heavy on explosions and too light on plot and dialogue.
- blorgshalf
- Nov 7, 2004
- Permalink
A great fast paced action yarn. This film stars Telly Savalas as a man who lives the high life, but soon becomes pressed for cash. He gets word from an ex German soldier, (played by James Mason) about missing gold; lost since the war. Savalas forms a small group of people to hunt for this lost gold. The films age shows when the characters make a dangerous attempt to cross between both areas of Berlin. This film serves as an excellent time capsule film, made during Savalas's Kojak fame.
Very good film with very basic ideas. The authentic street scenes and close up acting were and still are very powerful and believable. Old world movie with a nice story and acting all round kept pace going well. A film you can watch then in another 20 years try it again.
- cesspit-53505
- Oct 23, 2018
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- nickenchuggets
- Feb 15, 2022
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This gangster movie in cold war-Berlin really has a fast paced and clever plot. You can enjoy this pre-mission impossible film although not all the tricks of uncomparable Telly are believable. Great acting and tight dialogues make this a fine film-evening from start to end.
- alexander.stroeck
- Dec 18, 2000
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I have seen this film at least 20 times and it never fails to please. It is very funny and suspense at the same time. It is actually fun to watch, and the viewer wants the characters to succeed in finding the lost, stolen Nazi gold. Telly Savalas plays "Telly" but that is just how we like him. Loaded with 70's lingo, clothes, and cars, and nice use of location filming in German, and Amsterdam, and England. Love the name of the big fat guy, Otto Blimperman, always gets a laugh. This film should be shown to teens and millennials, as a reminder of the days when films were well made and fun.
- edwardiancinema
- Sep 25, 2019
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