The Big Caper

With a title like The Big Caper you almost expect an Ocean’s 11-level heist, something involving a large group of colorful characters brought together to commit a robbery in an overly complicated and highly stylistic way. This film doesn’t quite live up to that level but it is in the same vein. There is a plot to steal a lot of money and it does involve several people working together, but the plan isn’t elaborate nor is it all that complicated. In fact, considering the group brought together to pull this off, it’s really straightforward. But that doesn’t mean this film isn’t a fun and exciting ride; quite the opposite. This movie is a refreshing example of how you can make a wonderful picture if you pay attention to the details and bring in the right actors for the job. 

Rory Calhoun is playing Frank Harper, a man who has recently burned through the loot from a recent heist. He comes up with a far more lucrative scheme to bring in a lot more money: a San Felipe bank which holds a million-dollar payroll every payday for the Marine Base at Camp Pendleton. The plan is simple but requires some long-term investment. Frank turns to his underworld boss Flood (James Gregory) for financial backing and planning. Flood pairs him up with Kay (Mary Costa), his moll, and has the two pose as a married couple who buy a gas station and garage in town looking for a business they can run together. This allows the two to get established with the townsfolk while the heist is being planned. Flood also recruits several others to assist in the robbery including veteran safecracker Dutch Paulmeyer (Florenz Ames), health nut Roy (Corey Allen), driver Harry (Paul Picerni), and alcoholic pyromaniac Zimmer (Robert H. Harris).

Not long after Frank and Kay set up house, though, Kay begins to express her desire to leave Flood and that she is attracted to Frank. For his part, Frank tries to keep things focused on business, refusing to betray his boss. But he is attracted to her and he eventually agrees to consider a romance, but only after the heist is successful. The two build relationships with several of the townsfolk and, despite Frank’s determination to pull off this heist, it becomes tempting to make a go at the straight life, giving up a life of crime. But Flood has grown suspicious of the couple and he is not the kind of man who allows someone to run off with his girl.

Unlike Ocean’s 11, this is not a complicated plot. The idea is to blow up an abandoned school, giving the police and the fire department a major distraction while Flood’s team makes off with the payroll money. Problems arise along the way, such as Zimmer’s inability to lay off the booze and his other big addiction, setting things on fire. Plus there is Harry, who, against Flood’s rules, brings along a dame, Doll (Roxanne Allen), who doesn’t have the sense to keep her nose out of things. When Doll tries to sell her silence for $25,000 she unwittingly seals her own fate. 

But just like Ocean’s 11, when the film is over we remember the characters more than we remember the caper itself. Frank and Kay are likable presences but they are the straight ones. Roy and Zimmer are far more colorful, an absolute blast to watch, especially Zimmer who looks like he must sweat a gallon of water just getting out of bed. These two characters are almost too broad when juxtaposed with the rest of the cast but somehow they manage to blend well anyway. Roy has a dark and murderous side to him that simmers just below the surface and we feel the danger whenever Zimmer lights a match and stares longingly into the flame. Zimmer also gets one of the most haunting moments ever as he is in the school, setting up the bomb, all the while there are children elsewhere in the building practicing their singing. We see him planting the bomb as the voices of the children melodically play muted in the background. 

We also get a sense of where this film is ultimately headed and it doesn’t disappoint. In its way it is also reminiscent of another caper movie, Small Time Crooks, where a couple sets up a business as a front to commit a robbery only to discover they could have a good life just running the business. Frank doesn’t start out with domesticity on his mind but finds in the end that he has what it takes to make a go at it. We may not be surprised when he finally turns on Flood but the film is so much fun along the way that that doesn’t really matter. It’s the journey, not necessarily the destination and this film makes that journey a whole heck of a lot of fun. 1957 - 85 minutes