A young British heiress (Patricia Franklin) is kidnapped at an airport in Paris in this rather tough existentialist crime drama featuring Marlon Brando as the nominal leader of the gang of morally flexible criminals that include his drug addicted girlfriend played by Rita Moreno, her pickpocket brother (Jess Hahn) and Richard Boone at his most menacing as a pimp named Leer. They hold her in an isolated house on a desolate looking beach but discover a French police officer who likes to fish coincidentally happens to live nearby. The entire affair is heavy going with a group who thinks they can pull off this caper and avoid the underlying violence. Interesting tension develops between bad Boone and not-so-bad Brando, with Jess Hahn sort of stealing the show as a kind of non- violent pickpocket desperate just to get the money. In addition it's a pretty far way from where Rita Moreno was in West Side Story.

A solid cast does well under capable direction by Hubert Cornfield, in this tale (scripted by Cornfield and Robert Phippeny, based on Lionel White's novel "The Snatch") of a kidnapping that ultimately goes awry, due to the nature of the players involved. A "chauffeur" (Marlon Brando) isn't so sure he wants to participate, especially when unreliable drug addict Vi (Rita Moreno) and dangerous creep "the leer" (Richard Boone) cause problems for him; his old chum Wally (Jess Hahn) convinces him to stick around. While this film does move slowly at times, Cornfield does a fine job in showing a part of Paris and the French countryside we don't always see; the exotic setting certainly doesn't hurt at all in the telling of this story. Lovely cinematography by Willy Kurant ensures a good look for the picture, while Stanley Myers supplies a very interesting, jazzy sort of music score. It's a nicely plotted tale, with entertaining twists and turns along the way, with some scenes of explicit violence and some of implied violence. The acting by the principals (you'll notice this isn't a particularly large cast) really is the glue that holds the whole thing together, with Brando getting a chance to emote in one scene but mostly playing it agreeably subtle. Moreno is very convincing (and sexy) in the role of the troubled Vi, and Hahn is quite likable in the role of a guy who you can see hasn't had much success in life and for whom you can root easily enough. Cute Pamela Franklin is extremely sympathetic in the role of the abused kidnap victim. However, Boone dominates the proceedings playing the kind of guy who will get under your skin before too long. Gerard Buhr is engaging as the friendly gendarme and Al Lettieri can be seen in the small role of the pilot. The atmosphere of the beach setting also plays no small part in the overall mood of the film. The ending may come off as unsatisfying to some viewers, but one thing to remember is that this kind of ending wasn't so much of a cliché 40 plus years ago when this was made. It does create a very sinister feeling, especially with that smile on Brando's face. (The actor, however, strongly disagreed on how things should end and it took some doing in order to come up with a final frame Cornfield could live with.) Not a bad bet for thriller fans, it's fairly chilling entertainment. Seven out of 10.

This was a real shocker of a movie. I was very young when I first saw it and never had a clue as to the violence and psychological drama that would occur! This is a definite must see movie! Until I read the cast names, I had no idea that Rita Moreno had a part in it. Marlon Brando is a sympathetic character for quite some time. Poor Pamela, the one with no name, makes such a good victim. Unfortunately, the violence really keeps this from children watching; although nowadays, it wouldn't be considered that violent or disturbing by the jaded eyes of our new generation or the generation before! It would be great to know the background of this movie and the making of it! Pamela Franklin either liked the "victim" roles or they were the ones that were available to her at the time. ANOTHER interesting fact that I and many others would like to know! Who directed her choices? Who was her mentor? Where were her Parents? This is a DVD that I would certainly love to purchase unless it is only on VHS at this time.

another brando film from the 60s which got a lot of negative reviews when it came out. its not that bad at all in fact pretty interesting. brando has moments here which just underline the fact that he is the greatest ever.the movie could have been better, but the performances are very good. boone, moreno and of course brando. Brando is looking good with blonde hair and is fit and fine in all black...and his greeting to richard boone in the last half hour of the film is to die for...when he says clark gable..hilarious.the movie captures the deceit and confusion of its main players and the geography of the entire movie adds to the drama. There is an underlying feeling of violence about to be unleashed at any time in the movie.A movie which again says to all the critics of that time, that they did not have the knack of appreciating something which made them think and see the dark nature of man.