A Touch of Larceny

**** out of 5...No violence and no special effects, just droll and urbane humor and WIT. More in the spirit of "How To Steal A Million" or "The Thomas Crown Affair" rather than "The Sting," this British comedy has lots to like. Begin with a thoroughly winning, playboy-rogue characterization by James Mason. Mix in a perfect snob played by the inimitable George Sanders (as only he can). Simmer with the last half, which builds into one of those reversal-on-reversal, can-you-top-this endings. I caught it at 3AM on a local station and, fortunately, taped it.

A Touch of Larceny is directed by Guy Hamilton and adapted to screenplay by Ivan Foxwell & Roger MacDougall from the novel "The Megstone Plot" written by Paul Winterton. It stars James Mason, George Sanders and Vera Miles. Music is by Philip Green and cinematography by John Wilcox.

Plot finds Mason as Naval Commander Max Easton, a one time hero and a playboy who now idles away his time at an Admiralty desk. When an old comrade, Sir Charles Holland (Sanders), arrives on the scene with the beautiful Virginia Killain (Miles) on his arm, Easton wants her for himself. But Holland is well off financially and Easton is not, so he hatches a plan to make the press think he is a traitor to his country, and thus when they write damning articles about him he can sue them for libel!

It's little seen these days and merely a small entry on either the curriculum vitae of Mason & Sanders, but it deserves to have a bigger audience. It's very dry in humour and paced sedately without histrionics or extraneous passages of play (it was BAFTA nominated for Best British Screenplay), this is, in short, a long way from being screwball like! The novel it is adapted from apparently carries a cynical edge (not read it myself you see), and whilst the thematics here in the filmic adaptation; caddish rivalry and manipulation of the press, do lend a fragment of spice to the story, it's mostly played in a playful unobtrusive manner. The joy comes in watching the two wonderful cad lad actors on each side of the bonnie Miss Miles. All parties are doing darn fine work, with Mason dominating the screen with an engaging performance that pours scorn on those who thought he couldn't do comedy.

No masterpiece for sure, and sometimes it comes off as being a little bit odd, but this be a film to savour for the acting, the dialogue and the warm glow that follows when the end does come. 7/10

This movie should be on DVD. James Mason, Vera Miles, & George Sanders all give excellent & believable performances. Mason plays the underdog who cannot seem to attain success. Vera Miles is the love interest; but the connections between the three actors is not the usual screenwriter's depiction. Sanders is at his witty best as a snobbish, wealthy, & quite nasty villain. Mason seems incapable of contending with the oppressive & untruthful Sanders. The viewer will quickly attach allegiance to Mason's efforts to thwart Sanders' efforts. As the story advances, you get more & more involved with Mason's plight. What happens is delightful. Hollywood at its best.

I thoroughly enjoyed "A Touch of Larceny" starring James Mason, Vera Miles, and George Sanders.

Mason plays Cmdr. Max Easton, who works for the government in a boring job. He meets the fiance Virginia (Miles) of Sir Charles Holland (Sanders) and decides he must have her for himself. One problem: he's broke.

He insists that Virginia meet him for lunch and a sail. While sailing, he tells her he could make a lot of money if he disappeared, was taken for a traitor, and, as soon as the newspapers had libeled him enough, come back and sue them for everything they had.

Then he does it, after making sure his coworkers see him talking with a Russian at a party, and he makes a big scene on a dock about finding the ship the Karl Marx.

Once he figures he's been skewered enough, it's time for him to come back. That's when his problems begin.

Very good film with a marvelous performance by Mason, who plays a man whose latent conmanship appears. And just when you think he can't con any more -- you'll love the end of the film.

I have to say that when I thought about watching "A Touch of Larceny", the only attractive was seeing James Mason and George Sanders sharing the screen. To my surprise, the movie has a very interesting plot, but one that doe not take itself too seriously - as it happens in so many movies - adding always touches of irony and a james mason-ish humor. A pleaser for people looking for a good movie with good actors and good plot.