IMDb on iPhone and iPod touch Learn more Learn more Download from the App Store
IMDb > Once a Thief (1965)

Once a Thief (1965) More at IMDbPro »


Overview

User Rating:
6.3/10   425 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 11% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers:
Zekial Marko (novel)
Zekial Marko (screenplay)
Contact:
View company contact information for Once a Thief on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
8 September 1965 (USA) more
Genre:
Tagline:
CAUGHT! . . right in the middle between the killers and the cops!
Plot:
Eddie Pedak, a convicted criminal, has a steady job, a wife and daughter and he puts a down payment on a boat... more | add synopsis
Awards:
1 win more
User Comments:
Quite a standard movie and story but brought well to the screen by cast & crew. more (13 total)

Cast

  (Complete credited cast)
Alain Delon ... Eddie Pedak

Ann-Margret ... Kristine Pedak

Van Heflin ... Inspector Mike Vido SFPD

Jack Palance ... Walter Pedak
John Davis Chandler ... James Arthur Sargatanas, Walter's Henchman
Jeff Corey ... Lt. Kebner SFPD
Steve Mitchell ... Frank Kane

Tammy Locke ... Kathy Pedak

Tony Musante ... Cleveland 'Cleve' Shoenstein
Zekial Marko ... Luke
Russell Lee ... Drummer
Yuki Shimoda ... John Ling, Chinese Funeral Director
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Also Known As:
Les tueurs de San Francisco (France)
Scratch a Thief (USA) (working title)
more
Runtime:
Israel:102 min | USA:107 min | UK:106 min
Country:
Language:
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The voice of Zekial Marko is dubbed by Paul Frees. more
Goofs:
Revealing mistakes: Although set in one of the least parking-friendly cities in the country, everyone in movie always manages to find a parking spot directly in front of wherever they are going in San Francisco. more
Movie Connections:
Featured in The Background Beat (1965) more
Soundtrack:
Once A Thief more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
3 out of 5 people found the following comment useful.
Quite a standard movie and story but brought well to the screen by cast & crew., 10 July 2006
7/10
Author: Boba_Fett1138 from Groningen, The Netherlands

Lets face it. The 'film-noir' period was already over its peak and as good as death already in 1965, when this movie was released. This movie is a late attempt to revive the film-noir genre, with some big names involved. They partly succeeded. The movie works quite well as a crime/thriller movie but it lacks the certain style, characters and subtle style of film-making to consider this movie a good attempt at the film-noir genre.

All of the classic ingredients are present here but everything doesn't always connect very well. Some of the story lines are underdeveloped and it often leaves more questions than answers. I still don't fully understand what the point was of the robbery/killing in the beginning of the movie. Some of the events in the movie feel silly but it luckily doesn't make the movie any less pleasant to watch. So even though everything in the movie is far from flawless it still is a good enough crime/thriller to watch.

The main plot line isn't anything too terribly exciting but it's told in a good way. Director Ralph Nelson brought the standard and thin story well to the screen and even manages to make the movie look exciting, thrilling and surprising.

The musical score by Lalo Schifrin is quite odd but its suits the movie very well and therefor I liked it.

The characters and cast are good and interesting. OK so Alain Delon might not be the best leading man but the supporting cast certainly compensates for this. Ann-Margret shows she is a great actress although she mainly only does some screaming and crying in this movie. It gets a bit too much after a while. Van Heflin and Jack Palance were also great and John Davis Chandler beautifully plays a ruthless villainous looking villain. He absolutely stole the show in most of the sequences he was present in.

A good enough crime/thriller that deserves to be seen.

7/10

Was the above comment useful to you?
more (13 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Once a Thief (1965)

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
Du rififi chez les hommes The Asphalt Jungle The Italian Job The Anderson Tapes Heat
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
IMDb Crime section IMDb France section Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.