The Thomas Crown Affair (1968)
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A high-stakes game of cat and mouse unfolds between a daring thief and the investigator hired to catch him.
The story
Multi-millionaire businessman Thomas Crown, a cultured adrenaline junkie, orchestrates a sophisticated five-man heist of $2.66 million from a Boston bank. To evade detection, he ensures his accomplices never meet him face-to-face. Independent investigator Vicki Anderson is hired by the bank's insurance company to track down the stolen funds. Upon identifying Crown as the mastermind, Vicki begins a pursuit that leads to a complex game of cat and mouse. As she closes in on him, a physical and emotional attraction develops between the two, complicating her mission to bring the perpetrator to justice and her commitment to her professional duties.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Thomas Crown, a wealthy adrenaline junkie, orchestrates a $2.66 million bank heist in Boston, hiding his identity from his accomplices and moving the loot to a Swiss account. Vicki Anderson, an investigator hired by the insurance company, identifies Crown as the thief. As they engage in a high-stakes game of cat and mouse, they develop a mutual attraction and begin an affair. Vicki faces internal conflict between her duty to her friend, Detective Eddy Malone, and her feelings for Crown. She attempts to use legal pressure and a reward for a getaway driver's wife to corner him. Crown eventually orchestrates a second heist to test Vicki's loyalty. In the climax, Vicki and the police ambush Crown at a cemetery, but he anticipates her move, sending a messenger with a mocking telegram while he escapes. The film concludes with Vicki realizing she has been outmaneuvered, left alone as Crown escapes unruffled.
- First release year
- 1968
- Runtime (minutes)
- 102
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Norman Jewison
- Writers
- Alan R. Trustman · writer
- Cast and characters
- Steve McQueen · Thomas Crown; Faye Dunaway · Vicki Anderson; Paul Burke; Jack Weston
- Genres
- heist; crime drama; romantic drama
- Themes
- Identity; Obsession; Risk; Conflict of Interest
- Tone and mood
- Stylish; Sophisticated; Romantic
- Premise and plot tags
- Heist; Cat and Mouse; Romantic Thriller
- Reception
- Reviews were mixed; critics praised the chemistry between the leads and the stylish direction but criticized the thin writing. It is noted for its visual appeal and style.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 70% · scale: percentage · review count: 40; Metacritic · score: 66 · scale: 100 · review count: 7
- Production trivia
- The film features a chess scene based on a real game played in Vienna in 1898.; Steve McQueen performed his own stunts, including driving a dune buggy and playing polo.; Sean Connery was the original choice for the title role.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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