Inside Out

Not all made for television move are bad, at least not in this age of the increasingly permissive and liberal standard allowed on the cable network. The made for TV flicks from back in the day were admittedly light weight but still managed to be fun. Movies like the one considered here might not have been up to the lofty production standards and though provoking story lines as demonstrated if an offering from HBO but they did their job, they were enjoyable. ‘Inside Out’ was originally aired on NBC under the more historically intriguing title of ‘Hitler’s Gold’. It was forged in the image of films such as 1960’s classic Ocean's Eleven’. The theatrical film sported a larger cast of established movie stars lead by Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin along with the rest of the globally known group of entertainers referred to as ‘The Rat Pack’, ‘Inside Out’ had a modest budget and drive for production so it cashed in as best as it could with a cast derived from actors all ready known of television, Robert Culp formerly from ‘I Spy’ and Telly Savalas perhaps best known as the tough as nails detective with a lollypop, "Kojack’. Of course bonus points are awarded to the casting director since Savalas had direct experience germane to the plotline from his theatrical flick, ‘Kelly’s Heroes’. As a movie produced in Britain it was obligatory to include one English actor of considerable repute. This position was played by a screen legend, James Mason. Although there is a considerable and deliberate overlap between ‘Insider Out’ and its better regarded movie theater cousin much of the natural inclination for comparison must be repressed. In 197 cinemas was the varsity line up, the major league of entertainment. Television was little more than a triple ‘A’ team, a place where talent can be tested but not regarded on the same level. There were movie stars and television personalities; the two designations did not overlap under most circumstances. Currently this distinction is blurred to the point of erasure but nearly forty years in the past there was the big screen and the small screen each providing entertainment in its own fashion. Movies had glamorous, unreachable stars while TV had celebrities we watched in our living rooms on a regular basis, a more familiar relationship.

Although World War Two had been over for decades there were still and abundance of rumors relating the Nazi’s legendary, insatiable thirst for treasure. Some of these tales reached the larcenous minds of Harry Morgan (Telly Savalas) and Sylvester (Sly) Wells (Robert Culp). The plan is to liberate over six million dollars in gold believed to be in Germany ripe for the taking. This is the standard basis for a heist flick; a huge payoff that because of its inaccessibility has never been attempted before. Usually this aspect requires a somewhat complicated back story and this movie at least meets that requirement nicely. It all started during the War with a covert convoy through the Black forest. The Nazi soldiers were waylaid but a SS squad acting on their own larcenous agenda. Many years later Harry is barely one step ahead of the repo man after is under paid Rolls Royce. Giving up the car confident his fortune will soon reverse he is confronted by his wife Meredith (Lorna Dallas wilt the usual argument about their vast debt. While combing through some old papers he finds one from a former acquaintance, Ernst Furben (James Mason). It turns out that Ernst was charged with obtaining the guards and truck to transport a shipment from the Reich Bank. One of those men, Hans Schmidt (Günter Meisner) noticed the gold when a crate opened during the trip. He was shipped off to the Russian Front. Sounds convoluted, yes it is but this is a standard part of the heist flick set up. There has to be a semi-realistic reason why an incredible fortune is still around after so many years. Most crooks just don’t have the stamina to get through the entire exposition scene. Harry hears the whole story and sets out to Amsterdam were he picks up Sylvester "Sly" Wells (Robert Culp). Since we first see him playing chess we know he is a master in concocting complicated strategy necessary to move the plot along in suitable fashion. Their first step is a trip to Seigfried prison, joined by Ernst where the original Nazi party official, Reinhardt Holtz (Wolfgang Lukschy) was an inmate. From there it’s on to Berlin where more complicated plot developments are added on to the caper.

It should be fairly obvious that although there is TV suitable action in this movie it borders more on the incessantly improbable cascade of circumstances that traditionally arte associated with the brand of humor known as the farce. Part of the reason for this is comedy is easier to sell as a movie of the week on television and back then it assured greater ratings. The performances are better than you might think considering the main characters are better regarded for their dramatic abilities but Savalas and Culp demonstrate an exceptionally well honed sense of comic timing. They both have played serious variations of their character archetypes a sufficient number of times so the opportunity to take a humorous slant on them must have been an enjoyable break for them. This is not a great film but like many of the movies incorporated into MGM’s manufactured on demand series it is fun to have and enjoyable to watch.