- Once a Thief (1965 film)
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Once a Thief 
Movie PosterDirected by Ralph Nelson Produced by Jacques Bar Written by Zekial Marko Starring Alain Delon
Ann-Margret
Van Heflin
Jack Palance
Tony MusanteMusic by Lalo Schifrin Cinematography Robert Burks Editing by Fredric Steinkamp Distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Release date(s) September 8, 1965 Running time 102 minutes Country United States
FranceLanguage English
ItalianOnce a Thief is a 1965 film directed by Ralph Nelson. It was written by Zekial Marko, based on his novel Scratch A Thief. Nelson won the OCIC award at the 1965 San Sebastián International Film Festival for the film.[1]
Contents
Plot
Ex-criminal Eddie Pedak (Delon), tries to lead a normal life with a steady job and a family. Much to his chagrin, he also has a police detective (Heflin) and brother (Palance) after him, the first believes Eddie shot him, the second wants him for one last heist.
Cast
- Alain Delon as Eddie Pedak
- Ann-Margret as Kristine Pedak
- Van Heflin as Inspector Mike Vido SFPD
- Jack Palance as Walter Pedak
- John Davis Chandler as James Arthur Sargatanas, Walter's henchman
- Tony Musante as Walter's henchman
- Jeff Corey as Lt. Kebner SFPD
- Steve Mitchell as Frank Kane
Critical reception
A.H. Weiler of The New York Times thought that the film was not as good as similar genre pictures, but praised its dialogue for its accuracy in portraying the gangster's speak.
“ The melodrama may be tough, laconic and filled with a sense of doom, but it is hardly an innovation or an improvement on the gangster-with-a-heart-of-gold fare that has preceded it..... [The screenwriter] provided a generally terse, hard-bitten script whose language sounds like that used by the gunmen, narcotics addicts and hipsters of San Francisco's lower depths."[2] ” References
- ^ Once a Thief (1965) - Awards
- ^ "Original ;New York Times; review". Movies.nytimes.com. http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?_r=1&res=9901E5D91130E23ABC4153DFBF66838E679EDE. Retrieved 2010-10-18.
External links
- Once a Thief at the Internet Movie Database
- Once a Thief at AllRovi
Films directed by Ralph Nelson 1960s Requiem for a Heavyweight (1962) · Lilies of the Field (1963) · Soldier in the Rain (1963) · Fate Is the Hunter (1964) · Father Goose (1964) · Once a Thief (1965) · Duel at Diablo (1966) · Counterpoint (1967) · Charly (1968)1970s ...tick...tick...tick... (1970) · Soldier Blue (1970) · Flight of the Doves (1971) · The Wrath of God (1972) · The Wilby Conspiracy (1975) · Embryo (1976) · A Hero Ain't Nothin' But a Sandwich (1978)Categories:- 1965 films
- American films
- French films
- English-language films
- Films based on novels
- Films directed by Ralph Nelson
- Films set in San Francisco, California
- Films shot in San Francisco, California
- Italian-language films
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer films
- Neo-noir
- Novels adapted into films
- 1960s drama film stubs
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