Gambit (1966)

A petty crook and international thief wannabe (Michael Caine) devises a complicated plan to steal a valuable bust from a wealthy Arab millionaire (Herbert Lom) and to this end, he recruits an Eurasian dancer (Shirley MacLaine) who resemble's the millionaire's deceased wife. Directed by Ronald Neame (THE POSEIDON ADVENTURE), this elegant heist comedy/thriller is a piece of fluff but handsomely done. Of course, as with all good thrillers, the "perfect" plan never plays out as planned when Caine's thief underestimates Lom's millionaire. It's a lightweight diversion with the young Caine in his first flush of stardom (he'd just come off ALFIE) at his most appealing and MacLaine, coiffed by the legendary Sydney Guilaroff, looks sensational in her Jean Louis wardrobe. Disastrously remade in 2012. Maurice Jarre contributes the tiresome score. With Arnold Moss, John Abbott and Roger C. Carmel.