Peruse any film schedule and you'll find a heist movie or two. Slickly plotted to guarantee tense action, edgy wit, character clashes, treachery, and last-minute hitches, they have a cool cachet that attracts big name actors and directors. Moreover, they provide irresistible escapist entertainment, whether crime pays or not. So, let Cinema Paradiso guide you through the rogues' gallery that helped establish this enduring sub-genre in its first two decades.
