Jean Seberg was offered the female lead in this film. She was excited by the prospect of staring alongside David Niven, since they had enjoyed working with each other on Bonjour Tristesse (1958). She committed suicide before filming began.
The movie is loosely based on the 1975 Bank of America robbery. The robbers managed to steal £8 million and, as the closing credits state, just £500,000 has been recovered. At the time, police believed the robbery to be the world's biggest.
Seven men were convicted for the crime in 1976, including an electrician who worked at the bank. Many of the details of the crime - a failed first attempt, the method by which the safe combination was obtained, and the escape of one gang member - are accurately reproduced in this movie. The gang received jail sentences totaling almost 100 years.
In his summing up, Judge Alan King-Hamilton said he was determined the thieves would not enjoy the missing £7.5 million, "What has been concealed will remain salted away so far as you are concerned for a great many years. Whatever has happened to it, it will not be used for your benefit."
Seven men were convicted for the crime in 1976, including an electrician who worked at the bank. Many of the details of the crime - a failed first attempt, the method by which the safe combination was obtained, and the escape of one gang member - are accurately reproduced in this movie. The gang received jail sentences totaling almost 100 years.
In his summing up, Judge Alan King-Hamilton said he was determined the thieves would not enjoy the missing £7.5 million, "What has been concealed will remain salted away so far as you are concerned for a great many years. Whatever has happened to it, it will not be used for your benefit."
Elke Sommer's topless shower scene was cut from UK theatrical release. All subsequent UK releases, and BBC television screenings, used the cut theatrical print. However, the BBC2 broadcast, in September, included the shower scene.
Despite the closing credits claiming "all Persons and Events in the film are fictitious. Any similarity to actual persons living or dead or events is unintentional", this film is loosely based on the 1975 Bank of America raid. Thieves stole £8m from the branch on Berkeley Square using methods very similar to those shown in the movie. At the time, this was thought to be the largest bank robbery ever. And just as the closing slide says, just £500,000 was ever recovered.