Silver Bears

Czech writer/director Ivan Passer followed in the footsteps of Milos Forman to Hollywood but did not fare as well in terms of projects as his esteemed colleague, although he famously turned down the chance to direct 'Yentl'. His best American films are very much those of an outsider looking in and as the writer of 'Blonde in Love' and 'Fireman's Ball' he excels in showing the absurdities of the human condition. The only absurdity of 'Silver Bears' is the film itself and heaven only knows how Passer became involved in this nonsensical venture. A mobster is conned into buying a Swiss bank and his negotiator is likewise conned into investing in a silver mine, neither of which exist. The film's poster would have us believe that this is a 'superb comedy' which turns out to be a misrepresentation on both counts. There is no earthly point in criticising the players, most of whom are worthy of better. Louis Jourdan and Stéphane Audran provide that indefinably Gallic 'Je ne sais quoi' whilst the show is stolen by Tom Smothers whose close-up reaction when he realises that he has been made the 'fall guy' is absolutely priceless. When asked why he made so many mediocre films Michael Caine replied that "people only remember the good ones". He is alas probably right and this belongs to a growing number of his films that I, for one, would prefer to forget.

It picked up a bit towards the end of the film, but generally it was pretty awful. Some really hammy acting and dreadful characters made the confusing plot all too implausible.

A Las Vegas mob boss (Martin Balsam) comes up with an ingenious way to launder money - buy a bank! He sends pal Doc Fletcher (Michael Caine) to Switzerland to buy a bank with the help of local contact Prince Gianfranco di Siracusa (Louis Jordan). Along for the ride is the kingpin's wayward son Albert (Jay Leno). Prince Siracusa has a deed for a bank (really a rundown apartment over a pizza parlor) and then things get complicated when his "cousins" (Stéphane Audran and David Warner) want Fletcher to buy in on their Iranian silver mine. Also figuring into this are a banking exec (Tom Smothers) and his ditzy wife (Cybill Shepherd). Ouch! Caine has been upfront about his taking roles for their locations (paid vacation!) and I can't think of any other reason he would have taken this. It is billed as a comedy-thriller, yet manages to never be funny or thrilling. You would think with such a cast that some sort of sparks would fly, but this nearly 2 hour flick is a bore. It doesn't help that the main plot twist doesn't kick in until 90 minutes in (even though you've guess it when it is introduced) and the tricks to swindle some buyers turns into an anti-THE STING. Lots of moments of people talking...and talking...and talking. It says something when the comic highlight is Caine accidentally dropping a breakfast egg in his lap. I lay it all firmly at the feet of director Ivan Passer, who thinks having such a capable cast can immediately pass for a top notch film. Definitely not the case. I'm sure Caine's wife thanks him though.

'Silver Bears' is an enjoyable Clever caper in the tradition of 'The Sting' & 'Matchstick Men' Sir Michael Caine plays "Doc" Fletcher a Financial wizard who is sent by Mafia boss Joe Fiore Martin Balsam to buy a bank in Switzerland in order to launder their profits. Caine purchases a premises which is rather shabby and located above a pizzeria. Jourdan suggests that Caine invests in a silver mine owned by strange persian siblings Stéphane Audran and David Warner. the Silver mine attracts the attention of some of the most powerful people in the silver business. all is not what it seems as everyone is out to swindle Caine and company 'Silver Bears' also stars a fresh faced Jay Leno and kooky Cybill Shepherd.

Starting with five men wearing silly panchos, then taking them off and getting completely naked and getting in a hot tub and discussing the upcoming heist they want to pull off and then jaggedly cutting to the superimposed title "Gold Strike", which looks like it was typed on an old-school Apple IIgs, you can't help but groan. Set in Switzerland, Michael Caine plays Doc Fletcher, the mastermind of the Swiss bank heist. Similar to The Bank Job (2008), they are next to a pizza place instead of a chicken shack where they plan the heist. Caine is assigned a partner to oversee the "job", the irritating, high-pitched, show-stealing-from-Conan Jay Leno, named Albert Fiore. He has big curly hair, a big straw hat and glasses. All he does is complain and ask questions. Caine yells all his lines. Before On Deadly Ground, this was a career low for Caine and a career high for Jay Leno. Fletcher falls in love with Debbie (Shepherd) and Tommy Smothers shows up at some point. This is all mediocre, standard fare with no surprises. The "Gold Strike" VHS tape, put out on the "Dominican Releasing" label, has many problems. The G of Gold looks like a C, but the movie is not called "Cold Strike". On the back of the box, it reads "If you're looking for entertaining advice on the world market, you'll love every minute of Gold Strike!" Is that true? Only you can be the judge. For more insanity, please visit: comeuppancereviews.com

This is an underrated gem, its a cracking film, good acting, stunning scenery, good music score, well directed and edited, and an excellent story. This is supposed to be one of Michael Caine's lesser films, not as big as Zulu, the Harry Palmer trilogy or The Italian Job etc, but for me its just as good as those. It has a stellar cast, along with Caine is Louis Jordan, Joss Ackland, Martin Balsam, Cybill Shepherd, Stephane Audran, David Warner, Charles Gray, all excellent actors, even Jay Leno was Ok, even the supporting actors, all were good, so congratulations must go to the Director Ivan Passer for keeping them going as a team and with the pacing of the film. I wish more were made like this.

The story of financing and putting together this movie is probably even more remarkable than the intricacies of Oscar-winning scriptwriter Peter Stone's adaptation of Paul Erdman's 1974 'financial thriller' which brings together a once-in-a-lifetime international cast under the direction of Czech emigre Ivan Passer (who died recently, and ten years earlier had been considered the equal of Milos Forman) on picturesque locations that look suspiciously as if they were selected for their tax status as much as their visual attractiveness.

"Silver Bears" is a great little effort from Czech master, Ivan Passer. It's funny well acted and neatly done comedy caper, that wont let you go until the end. I don't know why it was so badly reviewed when it easily counts among the top 20 comedies of the 70's. Michael Caine is great as usual as Cockney mafioso who in order to make a buck for himself gets a green light from Italian mafioso to start a bank in Switzerland in order to launder some funds, but there's a catch. In fulfilling that mission, without getting himself a brand new pair of cement boots, Caine is greatly helped by Louis Jourdan as sleazy Prince Di Siracusa, and an odd couple of blockheads consisting of Jay Leno in his best role to date, apart from the "Tonight Show", and Tony Mascia as Marvin Skinner. Cybil Shepherd is always great as a decoration, and the movie slides along beautifully with turns on every corner. Passer later proved to be great as a director of many layers, showing his skills most notably in the "Cutter's Way", but here he does it strictly by the numbers. Great fun, catch it if you can, if you like comedies with style, you wont be disappointed.

Here's the prob. The book's a lot better. Paul Erdman invented the financial thriller with Billion Dollar Sure Thing and followed it up with this story. Inevitably, it's a 70s caper pic without the physical action. Not a great recipe but it works. The leads are OK. Michael Caine isn't given a lot to work with and Jay Leno shows he was right to take another direction. The supporting roles are much better filled. Joss Ackland and Charles Gray both deliver on cue and whoever plays Donald Luckman comes closer than anyone to the book. On the other hand, Cybil Shepherd's Debbie Luckman is nothing like the book. She's better! In the book, Debbie's a frustrated, embittered bitch. And not without reason but here, she's a suburban child escaping her boundaries but never breaking faith with Donald. Donald's going to be locked up and she's not about to abandon him. But Michael Caine's home is awfully close to the jail ...

The cast in "Silver Bears" is quite odd. On one hand, you have some very well respected actors such as Michael Caine, Louis Jourdan, Joss Acklund, David Warner and Martin Balsam. But you also have Tom Smothers and Jay Leno...and a very comedic performance by a young Cybill Shepherd! This mix manages to merge a serious crime drama with comedy...a strange mix to say the least. When the movie begins, Doc Fletcher (Caine) heads to Switzerland to check up on his latest organized crime endeavor...as he's bought a Swiss bank from which to launder money. However, it turns out the $3,000,000 he spent for the bank gave him a tiny dump above a pizza parlor with only $900 in assets! Clearly, Doc is in trouble, as this is mob money. So, to cover this, he and his compatriots decide to cover the loss with other money from a scam involving Iranian silver. And, now they're able to at least pretend to have a working bank. To make the story kooky, Doc is saddled with a jerk of a mobster's idiot son (Leno) and an obnoxious and ditsy wife of a banker (Shepherd). But where this all goes is frankly impossible to predict...just see the movie. To say that the plot is confusing is definitely an understatement. This is not a film you casually watch as you cook dinner or play with your laptop! You really need to pay attention to understand the scam and its many complications. This isn't a complaint...more an observation. So is it any good? Well, yes and no. The film is very talky and tough to follow. Additionally, Shepherd's character is someone you'll either love or hate (I tended towards the latter)....as she's not exactly subtle nor believable...as well as being incredibly confusing and amoral. To me, this film could have been a lot funnier had it been a bit more subtle. And, if I want to see a Michael Caine film about scammers, I'd rather see "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels"...it's just funnier and more clever.