Gambit (1966): Cast & Plot
Gambit is a 1966 crime comedy directed by Ronald Neame, starring Michael Caine as Harry, Herbert Lom and Shirley MacLaine. It runs 1 hour 49 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 49m (109 min)
- Director
- Ronald Neame
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Universal Pictures
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Gambit About?
The premise of Gambit without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Harry Dean, a seasoned burglar, plans to steal a priceless artwork from the world’s richest man, Mr. Shahbandar. He partners with exotic showgirl Nicole Chang and maps out every detail of the heist. When the crew attempts the robbery, unforeseen problems shatter the flawless plan, sending Harry’s vision into a chaotic, twist‑filled fiasco.
Gambit Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- heist
- hotel suite
- airport
- passport control
- rich man
- alarm system
- dancer
- cat burglar
- cabaret
- showgirl
- binoculars
- hotel
+38 more Show fewer
- hotel clerk
- champagne
- telephone call
- secretary
- rolls royce
- resemblance
- assumed identity
- passport
- cafe owner
- garage attendant
- flamenco dancer
- conversation in a car
- gloves
- elevator
- gambit
- cufflink
- woman smoking
- character appears on front page of a newspaper
- character appears in a magazine
- turban
- fez hat
- taxi
- kiss
- bust
- cockney
- statuette
- hotel owner
- falling in love
- burglar alarm
- secret compartment
- arrest
- workshop
- replica
- colonel
- magnifying glass
- cigarette smoking
- widower
- character says i love you
Gambit Cast & Characters
Michael Caine leads the cast as Harry, with Herbert Lom as Shahbandar and Shirley MacLaine as Nicole. Directed by Ronald Neame; 52 actors are credited in all.
- Director Ronald Neame
-
Michael Caine as Harry -
Herbert Lom as Shahbandar -
Shirley MacLaine as Nicole - John Abbott as Emile
Also Starring in Gambit
· 48 more- Tony Randall Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
- Paul Bradley Cafe Patron (uncredited)
- Hans Moebus Cafe Patron (uncredited)
- Hal Taggart Hotel Guest (uncredited)
- William Meader Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
- Vic Tayback Plainclothes Officer at TWA Counter (uncredited)
- Maurice Marsac Hotel Clerk
- Spencer Chan Citizen (uncredited)
- Victor Romito Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
- George Calliga Cafe Patron (uncredited)
- Richard LaMarr Departing Plane Passenger (uncredited)
- John Breen Cafe Patron (uncredited)
- Jan Arvan Airport Official (uncredited)
- Paul Ravel Immigration Agent (uncredited)
- Charles Cirillo Hotel Guest (uncredited)
- Roger C. Carmel Ram
Show all 52 cast members Show fewer cast members
- Tanya Lemani George Lighter Fluid Saleswoman (uncredited)
- Raven Grey Eagle Arab (uncredited)
- Chester Jones Servant (uncredited)
- Arnold Moss Abdul
- Than Wyenn Airport Official (uncredited)
- Richard Angarola Colonel Salim
- Tony Dante Security Guard (uncredited)
- John Marlin Commuter at Airport (uncredited)
- John Burnside Cafe Patron (uncredited)
- Al Beaudine Commuter at Airport (uncredited)
- Jack Berle Departing Airline Passenger (uncredited)
- John Zimeas Taxi Driver (uncredited)
- James Lanphier Garage Attendant (uncredited)
- Nick Borgani Citizen (uncredited)
- David Cadiente Bellhop (uncredited)
- Jim Michael Bellhop (uncredited)
- Max Reid Departing Plane Passenger (uncredited)
- Clarence M. Landry Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
- Ralph Smiley Airport Official (uncredited)
- Emma Palmese Citizen (uncredited)
- Joe Walls Cafe Patron (uncredited)
- Noel De Souza Head Porter (uncredited)
- Charles Wood Guard (uncredited)
- Joe Abdullah Restaurant Manager (uncredited)
- Robert Hitchcock Citizen (uncredited)
- Mustapha Pasha Man in Black Sedan (uncredited)
- Stasa Damascus Airline Hostess (uncredited)
- Norman Nazarr Hawker (uncredited)
- Tommy Andre Bellhop (uncredited)
- Kanan Awni Arab on Telephone (uncredited)
- Michael Corphan Man in Black Sedan (uncredited)
- Juan Talavera Flamenco Dancer (uncredited)
More from Ronald Neame
More films directed by Ronald Neame, best-rated first: The Poseidon Adventure, The Chalk Garden, Scrooge and Meteor.
Gambit Plot Summary
What happens in Gambit from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Aspiring Cockney cat burglar Harry Tristan Dean and his sculptor friend Emile Fournier stumble upon a spectacular Eurasian showgirl in a crowded Hong Kong nightclub: Nicole Chang. Nicole bears an uncanny resemblance to Ahmad Shahbandar, the world’s richest man, as well as to a priceless Li Su statue owned by the tycoon in tribute to his late wife. The two men hatch a plan to seize the Li Su, replacing it with a convincing replica created by Emile, while Harry explains the caper to Emile as if it will be flawless — a flawless performance that Nicole quietly observes, her skepticism tempered by a tempting offer of an authentic British passport.
Full summary
The whole story of Gambit, scene by scene
Gambit Trailers & Videos
The trailer of Gambit.
How Well Do You Know Gambit?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
Which actor plays the aspiring Cockney cat burglar Harry Tristan Dean?
Cars in Gambit
21 cars on screen, including the 1957 Citroën ID 19 and the 1963 Citroën ID 19.
-
1957 Citroën ID 19 Minor role -
1963 Citroën ID 19 Minor role -
1966 Dodge Coronet Minor role -
1966 Imperial Crown Minor role
Gambit Also Known As
20 alternative titles, including “Ladrona por amor” and “Гамбіт”.
- Also known as
-
- Ladrona por amor
- Гамбіт
- Das Mädchen aus der Cherry-Bar
- Harika Hırsız
- 神偷豔賊
- Högt spel i Orienten
- Гамбит
- 泥棒貴族
- Gambit - Grande furto al Semiramis
- A gyalogáldozat
- Un Hold-Up extraordinaire
- Ahtaat paikat
+8 more Show fewer
- גאמביט
- Como Possuir Lissu
- Η Κλέφτρα
- Pas på hovedet
- 神偷艳贼
- Ґамбіт
- 갬빗, გამბიტი
- גמביט
Seen Gambit?
Movies Like Gambit
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including The Great Gambler, Gambler’s Choice and Criminal Affair.
Gambit FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of Gambit, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Gambit?
Gambit runs 1 hour 49 minutes (109 minutes).
When was Gambit released?
Gambit was released on December 21, 1966.
Who directed Gambit?
Gambit was directed by Ronald Neame.
More films by Ronald Neame Who is in the cast of Gambit?
Gambit stars Michael Caine as Harry, Herbert Lom as Shahbandar and Shirley MacLaine as Nicole, among 52 credited actors.
Does Gambit have a post-credit scene?
No. Gambit has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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