To call this would-be 'with it' caper comedy muddled is a gross understatement – indeed, Bernard Girard the director should have fired Bernard Girard the writer because an admittedly ingenious premise has only resulted in a relentlessly dull movie! Hero James Coburn, with a permanent grin on his face, is involved in so many schemes on his way to rob Los Angeles' LAX airport (which brought back memories of my stay in the city three years ago, extending to the similarity of hotel interiors): in fact, he dupes a variety of people during the course of the narrative – including lovely leading lady Camilla Sparv (already ex-Mrs. Robert Evans by the time the film was released and who won a Golden Globe for Best Newcomer, over Candice Bergen and Lynn Redgrave[!], even if her career seemed to wither soon after); consequently, it's all needlessly (indeed painfully) stretched to 107 minutes! To add to the confusion (not to say dejection), we get a dreary subplot revolving around the visit of a Russian official to the United States and the elaborate (though not always successful) security measures American agencies – led by Robert Webber and assisted by an impossibly youthful Todd Armstrong (from the Ray Harryhausen opus JASON AND THE ARGONAUTS [1963]!) – have to undertake for this purpose. As with many films of its ilk from this 'anything goes' era, the title is a reference to nothing in particular – to be sure, it surfaces in the plot as the name of a book ostensibly written by Coburn (under one of the innumerable aliases he hides behind); again, typically, the criminals (also including Aldo Ray in an underwritten part) are allowed to get away with it…though there's a nice ironic final twist when the author – who has unaccountably gone 'missing' but, apparently, truly existed – is found to have left his vast fortune to bewildered 'bride' Sparv!This was my third effort from its little-known director in a relatively brief period of time – the first was intriguing but invincibly low-key, THE MIND SNATCHERS (1972), the second a Godawful (and barely-released) Western spoof called GONE WITH THE WEST (1975); the "Leonard Maltin Film Guide", then, awards DEAD HEAT ON A MERRY-GO-ROUND a very respectable *** – hence, it ranks as yet another disappointment! Incidentally, the star made innumerable films in this vein during the 1960s and 1970s – where his narcissistic and arrogant personality comes off as overbearing and, therefore, alienating: up next, in fact, is DUFFY (1968) which, despite rating an even lower *1/2, it's one I'd long been curious about in view of its rather interesting credentials

This film deals with a con-man named Eli Kotch, (James Coburn) who just gets out of prison and decides to lay out his ground work for a large bank robbery at the Los Angeles, California airport. Eli also knows that a Russian Prime Minister will be visiting Los Angeles and flying into the same airport which will distract the police force away from a bank holdup. Eli also meets up with a very sexy blonde named Inger Knudson, (Camilla Spary) who works for very rich people and cons her into doing all kinds of things, Eli even marries her with a fake ID. There is plenty of comedy and some tense moments in a police station. You will never be able to figure out how this picture will end. It will definitely surprise you. Enjoy.

All the ingredients for a fun, slick caper film are here, but somehow it just never comes off as well as one might like. Coburn plays a parolee who never thinks for a minute about living a lawful life. He's not even out of the clink before he's planning to rob the Los Angeles Airport Bank, on a day when the Premier of Russia is due to arrive nonetheless. Coburn uses female after female to attain his goals, leaving each one befuddled and confused after he's done with them. One, however, Sparv, manages to hold his attention a bit longer than the rest, especially when she is so easily duped into continuing to do his bidding. He amasses a small team and sets out to pilfer all the ready cash out of the bank as US government agent Webber frantically attempts to secure the grounds for the Premier's safe arrival. Coburn uses all sorts of tactics such as accents and assumed identities in order to get what he wants, but in the end, even though he has it, he may have lost even more than he had ever dreamed of. Coburn is okay in the film. His ability to bed down every conceivable lady in sight will seem more realistic the more one finds his unique looks attractive. His accents in the film are truly rotten and come and go with ease. Sparv is exceedingly lovely to look at and isn't bad acting-wise. She and Coburn try to ignite some chemistry, but don't really succeed as a couple. Ray, as one of Coburn's associates, doesn't show up until over an hour in and isn't given much to do. Webber is appropriately harried and aggravated as Coburn's robbery plans thwart his ability to keep the airport secure. "Sword and sandal" actor Armstrong appears as one of his associates. Among Coburn's conquests are Wayne, amusingly dippy, McCargo, classy and attractive and, of all people, Marie, who is difficult to recognize right at first, but turns in a mildly amusing cameo. This type of film should be light as a feather and slick as can be, but this one has many dull spots and lack the zest it needs to really sing. Coburn's character isn't nearly as ingratiating as, say, Steve McQueen's in "The Thomas Crown Affair" and the film isn't remotely as stylish as that one either. It's a nicely photographed movie that depicts an era of clean, smartly-dressed people in attractive settings, but it just isn't captivating or charming enough to come out a winner. Look for young Ford in a small role as a hotel bellman.

A great movie to see while knowing nothing much about it. (Stop here if this is you, and watch it!)A marvelous script, and Coburn is fantastic. The rest of the cast does a great job with their material, too. Good to very good direction and good to very good production values.Cute sub-plot, and a nice ironic twist at the very end.This has long been one of my favorite movies.