"El Grillo" has just been released from prison. The first thing he does is go to the "headquarters" of his old gang, formed by El Palillos (José Luis López Vázquez), El Grillo (José Luis Ozores), Camborio (Manuel Zarzo), El Chepa (Venancio Muro), El Sésamo (Ángel Álvarez) captained by "El Señorito". In the band "El Señorito" business does not go well. It is increasingly difficult to live on the theft of wallets only, and Don Rafael "El Cajero" (Ismael Merlo) -administrator of society- suggests a change of method in his work. They decide that the best way to learn how to hit bigger blows is to send one of them to North America. The diversity of opinions on the work methods of a Madrid gang of pickpockets makes a minority go with El Grillo (José Luis Ozores) and the majority stay with El Señorito (Tony Leblanc) who after going to study new methods at Chicago . Thus, "El Señorito" begins an accelerated English course in 20 days, meanwhile, El Señorito meets an English teacher, Margarita (Conchita Velasco) and to whom he lies about his work and projects, and finally leaves for Chicago. And he returns with the gangster Seisdedos (José Truchado), and subsequently they kidnap the elderly Don Sebastián Guzmán, a veteran of the Cuban war who helps them to rob his daughter-in-law's bank.
The plot bears a remarkable resemblance to ¨La pandilla de los once¨(1963), concerning a gang of Spanish pickpockets decide to send one of them to Chicago to learn how to be a gangster, in fact this ¨Sabían demasiado¨ belongs to a trilogy directed by Pedro Lazaga about tiny crooks, formed by the much better ¨Los tramposos¨and¨la pandilla de los once¨. This agreeable picture regards a bunch of unfortunate as well as bungling thieves trying to carry out successful robberies for which they decide to import North American techniques, but things go awry . It is a sort of parody of the American film ¨Ocean's Eleven¨ or ¨La Cuadrilla de los Once¨ (1960), directed by Lewis Milestone starring Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin , it caused an attempt to make a kind of remake-tribute in this Spanish production. For this, Pedro Lazaga, one of the most sought-after directors of the moment, and a group of actors of undoubtedly comical vis were involved in this enjoyable production. Despite the inequalities of the script by Miguel Martín and Luis de Diego, which makes the story take a while to start and includes overly elongated characters like Margarita/Conchita Velasco, the prolific director Lazaga manages to develope a good narrative rhythm to the film, increased with the filming in the streets of Madrid. Without forgetting the effectiveness of the large and traditional cast, where once again show up characteristics spanish actors such as: José Luis Ozores, Manuel Zarzo, Ismael Merlo, Venancio Muro, ängel Alvarez, Francisco Bernal, and special mention for José Luis López Vázquez and Jose Isbert stand out, including their usual tics.
The motion picture was well directed by the prolific Pedro Lazaga and it was a hit at Spanish box office . Lazaga directed various film with the popular comic player Paco Martinez Soria and other stunning comedian actors as Alfredo Landa, José Luis López Vazquez or José Isbert. Lazaga was born in Valls , Tarragona , Catalonia , and died on November 30, 1979 in Madrid . He was a prolific director and writer , specially known for Los Chicos del Preu (1967), María Morena (1951), Cuerda De Presos (1956) and Posición Avanzada (1966). Pedro was a craftsman , a notorious director and writer who directed all kind of genres such as Peplum : Siete Espartanos , Wartime : Cuerda De Presos , Posicion Avanzada , Torrepartida , La Patrulla ; Drama : Rostro De Asesino , Otro Arbol De Guernica , but especially known for comedies in low budget . Director Pedro Lazaga made , during the fifties and early sixties , eight films , mostly comedies : ¨Muchachas De Azul¨, Ana Dice Si¨. ¨Luna De Verano¨, ¨Económicamente Debiles¨ , ¨Trio Damas¨ for screenwriter and producer Jose Luis Dibildos and his ¨Agata Films Productions¨. The best of all them resulted to be ¨Los Tramposos¨. He continued making comedies such as Patrulla De Los Once , Los Tramposos , Sabian Demasiado , El Vikingo , ¡No Firmes Más Letras, Cielo! , Vente a Ligar Al Oeste , Hasta El Matrimonio Nos Separe , La Amante Perfecta , Fulanita y Sus Menganos , Vota a Gundisalvo , Terapia Al Desnudo , Tres Suecas Para Tres Rodríguez , Yo soy Fulana de Tal , 5 Almohadas Para Una Noche , En La Cresta De la Ola and several others . His most known films were with the popular comic player Paco Martinez Soria , such as : Abuelo Made in Spain or Old made in Spain, , Padre De La Criatura , Alegre Divorciado , Estoy Hecho Un Chaval , Vaya Par Gemelos , among others. Rating : 6.5/10 . The pic will appeal to Spanish cinema fans.
