“Master Stroke” aka “The Great Diamond Robbery”

Review by B2's Movie Cave

Richard Harrison (in one of the most ironic roles ever) plays an actor in Spaghetti Westerns who is one day approached by a group of men offering him an acting job. He agrees to listen and discovers that this is no ordinary role. It seems that the actor bears a remarkable resemblance to Arthur Land, a top executive at the diamond exchange. These men want him to pose as Lang and help them steal a fortune in diamonds. “Master Stroke” features one of the most clever plots imaginable. There are more twists and turns, more red herrings, and more slight of hand than you'll see in a dozen other movies combined. Every time you think you've got things figured out, the plot throws you another curve. It's really an amazing piece of writing.

Beyond the plot, the cast is another big highlight. Richard Harrison was never better. I've seen him in Spaghetti Westerns, peplums, and other genre films, but I don't remember enjoying a performance from him as much as this one. Harrison is joined by a wonderful cast that includes genre regulars Adolfo Celi and Margaret Lee. Both are also excellent in their roles. Most of the rest of the cast, with the notable exception of Luciano Pigozzi, weren't as familiar to me, but all were very good. I have no complaints with the acting in The Great Diamond Robbery.

 

 

Colpo maestro al servizio di Sua Maestà Britannica – Italian title

The Great Diamond Robbery – English title

Master Stroke – English title

 

A 1967 Italian film production [Atlanta Films, Fida Cinematografica (Rome)]

Producers: Maurizio Amati, Edmondo Amati

Director: Michele Lupo

Story: José Luis Martínez Mollá, Sandro Continenza, Roberto Gianviti

Screenplay: Sandro Continenza, Ettore Giannini, Roberto Gianviti, José Luis Martínez Mollá

Dialogue: Lewis E. Ciannelli, Ettore Giannini, John Davis Hart

Cinematography: Francisco Sánchez [Technicolor]

Music: Francesco De Masi

Running time: 111 minutes

 

Cast:

Arthur Lang/Owen – Richard Harrison (Richard Harrison Jr)

Mr. Bernard – Adolfo Celi

Evelyn – Margaret Lee (Margaret Box)

Max - Gérard Tichy (Gerhard Wondzinski)

Colonel Jenkins – Antonio Casas (Antonio Barros)

Mr. Ferrington – Eduardo Fajardo

Mr. Van Doren – Andrea Bosic

Miguel - Charlie Lawrence (Livio Lorenzon)

Doctor – Ennio Balbo (Enrico Balbo)

Goldsmith - Jacques Herlin (Jacques De Jouette)

Billy - Alan Collins (Luciano Pigozzi)

Dorothy - Mary Arden

Western actors - George Eastman (Luigi Montefiori), Angelo Boscariol, Claudio Ruffini,

     Goffredo Unger

Mr. Maxwell - Tom Felleghy (Tamás Fellegi)

Van Doren assistant – Dom Moor

Security men - Vito Fasano, Gilberto Galimberti

With: Robert Stevenson (Roberto Dell'Acqua)

Ferrington henchman - Artemio Antonini, Bruno Ariè, Massimo Ciprari

Movie producer - John Bartha (János Barta)

Stunts: Gianni Siragusa, Artemio Antonini, Bruno Ariè, Vito Fasano, Gilberto Galimberti, Mario Ghignone, Claudio Ruffini, Claudio Scarchilli