This film was disadvantaged from my perspective by virtue of the fact that we watched "Roman Holiday" just before it which seems to have everything this film lacked. Hepburn is lovely as always but the script gives O'Toole the best lines and he works wonders with them however Audrey is left looking ravishing and occasionally ravished. It's a far cry from the breathtaking impact she made in RH where she had a much more nuanced character to play, a better script and a leading man who seems to stand in awe of her blossoming talent. Curiously the older film feels more fresh. HTSAM has so many of those damned cornball rear projection shots, the French don't speak French and Audrey's wardrobe while of its time seems more like a parody of Carnaby Street than chic. All those things conspire to take you out of the picture whereas in RH, the rear projection on the scooter is handled deftly (and briefly), the Italians speak Italian and her wardrobe (by Edith Head) never threatens to upstage the actors. Farce and fable are like apples and oranges of course but it is Hepburn and Wyler together again and the magic just isn't there - for me anyway.
Review of How to Steal a Million
