The Happy Thieves


The Happy Thieves is a 1961 American crime/comedy-drama film starring Rex Harrison and Rita Hayworth and directed by George Marshall. The film is based on the novel The Oldest Confession by Richard Condon. The film was poorly received, with star Harrison later describing it as "absolute rubbish".

Plot

belonging to Duchess Blanca is stolen from a castle in Spain by the clever Jimmy Bourne and his partner in crime, Eve Lewis. It is stolen from the thieves, however, by Dr. Victor Muñoz, the cousin of the duchess.
Eve wants to go straight, but Muñoz blackmails her and Jim, demanding they steal another valuable artwork, a Goya, from the Prado museum. A duplicate is created by Jean Marie Calbert and a switch is planned during the farewell bullfight of a matador whom the duchess intends to wed.
Munoz shoots the matador. During the ensuing chaos, Jim and Eve switch the paintings. They also find Munoz dead, killed in vengeance by the duchess. Jim is brought to justice and sentenced to 5 years in prison. Eve vows to wait for him.

Cast

The film was produced by Hayworth's production company Hillworth Productions A.G., and distributed by United Artists. The film's executive producer was Hayworth's then-husband James Hill.

Music

During a test bullfight, a melody based on Gernikako Arbola can be heard.