Machine Gun McCain (aka Gli Intoccabili) (1969)

The Italian director Giuliano Montaldo has directed two of my favorite films, the gem of a heist caper called GRAND SLAM and an excellent film on the alleged anarchists, SACCO AND VANZETTI. This odd kettle of fish is an Italian film (everyone behind the camera is Italian) but set in San Francisco, Las Vegas and Los Angeles with mostly American actors in the leads. It feels odd because it doesn't feel American but it doesn't feel Italian either, neither fish nor fowl. A hoodlum (John Cassavetes) just released from prison is talked into a plan of breaking into a Las Vegas casino and robbing it but when the plan is called off at the last minute, he proceeds on his own. The actual casino robbery is handled well if rather ludicrous and unbelievable (a one man robbery of a major Las Vegas casino?). But most of it is awkward and the dialogue is stilted. The cast is great though. In addition to Cassavetes, there's Peter Falk, Gena Rowlands, Britt Ekland, Gabriele Ferzetti and Florinda Bolkan. The recycled score (and a rather silly title ballad) is by Ennio Morricone.