"The Day of the Wolves" has attracted a small cult among die-hard aficionados of the crime syndicate genre, yet the central concept of a large-scale robbery pulled off by an anonymous boss (and his specifically-invited cohorts, who don't know their leader nor each other) isn't too original--it reminds one right away of "The Thomas Crown Affair", and probably a few other titles besides. The low-budget yarn begins with one man killing a restaurant manager, another robbing a bank while disguised as a postman (!), and still another robbing a hilltop residence; these three crooks, as well as three other men, are then brought to a secret hideout where their new leader (Jan Murray, playing "No.1") lays out his plan: to overtake a small town after knocking out the phones and electricity, each man standing to gain $50,000 G's. Richard Egan plays the chief of police--recently dismissed by his own city council!--who is the only town resident brave enough to take on the bad guys. "Wolves" must have been more fun to make than it is to watch. Apparently, the population of Lake Havasu City got involved in the production, and the results have that stilted, tentative feel of an amateur project wherein everybody pitches in without actually possessing noticeable film-making talent. Egan, though looking weathered, does his best without embarrassing himself; as his child-hugging spouse, Martha Hyer isn't as fortunate. Surprisingly, Murray really delivers the goods as the brains of the outfit, and there's a nifty ending with him on TV. Sean Bonniwell's score, which sounds like stoned-out jazz, dates the picture more than anything else, though the opening theme song is a gone gasser. "Nameless men have heard the cry of silent, pounding hoofs," we're told, "While nameless men like you and I will never hear the wolves!" Huh?? ** from ****

With a title like this, one might expect a cast like Leslie Nielson, Lynda Day George and Stuart Whitman pitted against a town full of rabid canines. In actuality, it's a heist flick with ambitions a bit beyond its budget. (The title is explained within the film as well.) Murray plays a mysterious ringleader who hires six men to carry out the elaborate scheme of fleecing an entire small desert town in a matter of three hours. They are each given numbers, instead of names, and he asks them to disguise themselves with beards and to wear gloves all the time in an effort to keep their identities secret, even from each other. They happen to converge on the town the very day they've assigned a new sheriff the previous one, Egan, having been deemed too strict and too cynical for what the city fathers assume to be an ideal town. Fortunately, Egan hasn't gotten around to fully vacating since he's practically all that stands between the seven numbered thieves and their targets. Egan gives an able enough performance, though it's nothing to write home about. As his wife, Hyer is handed a thankless and colorless role. She had been experiencing severe career slippage up to this film and wisely took a hike forever after. If she were going to slum anyway, it's a shame it couldn't have been in Irwin Allen's or Jennings Lang's disaster epics where at least she'd have been dressed nicely and photographed well. Murray seems to be enjoying a break from more comedic parts. Jason looks pretty good and does fairly well as one of the hired henchmen. Capps, as Number 6, has one of the swishiest walks that any ostensibly macho male character ever displayed on film. A novel concept is at least interesting enough to hold the viewer's attention, but it really can't fully take off thanks to a couple of things. First, the budget is very tight and so the settings, the lighting, the cinematography and the action sequences take a hit. The shootouts aren't too bad, but the scenes involving skydiving are hampered. Also, the script (written by the director, who also produced!) lacks zing and polish. A bit too much time is spent in the set-up and with the dullards of the town while more tense scenes would have been welcomed during the actual carrying out of the crime or perhaps a bit more development of the dénouement. There are also several bad actors on hand, apart from the name brand quartet. Stay alert, however, for the hilarious female extra who gets to say the line, "Pete Anderson's been hurt!" She and her crony look like the inspiration for Joy and Verla in the syndicated comic strip The Dinette Set and they amuse with their heinous over-listening to the scene at hand. One preposterous development has several of the henchman being shown clean shaven and then wearing full, year-long grown beards within a day or two – which look very fake – only to be later shown shaving them off as if they are real! That's probably the most ridiculous thing in the movie. Otherwise, it's really not too bad a time killer and has elements that surely inspired the makers of other later (and better) heist films. Distinctive character actor Helton has a brief, but amusing, cameo as a farmer.

Just re-saw this "B" heist film. The plot was interesting, the acting was decent, and there are a host of washed-up former stars throughout. For fans of such films as Ocean's Eleven (both versions), The Anderson Tapes, The Killing, Assault on the Queenm,Heat, and Dayton's Devils, this is an enjoyable little film. Made on a shoe string budget; the texture of the film is fair, and the camera work makes it look like a high school production, but the over all look and feel of the movie is entertaining. There is even a surprise ending which is comical. Richard Egan does a professional job, as does Jan Murray. However, Martha Hyer has aged badly and has lost her sexy looks from her role in the Carpetbaggers. So, if you're a fan of caper and heist films, this is the movie for you.

I first saw this as a kid- and have longed to see it again/own it/etc. It is a 10+ as far as plot goes, and although the production is as bad as any B-horror movie you'll ever see it almost adds to the mood of the film. Great action w/cool music, costumes, etc. And a twist of an ending rarely matched in modern screen-writing. A must-see for every movie fan.