Pamela Fernandes’ first book “The Milanese Stars” will be released this Spring. It is the story of an Italian-style diamond heist. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, and by the end of the story, we guarantee you’ll be rooting for the diamond thieves. While you wait for “The Milanese Star” to hit the bookshelves, the author has written a special blog post for our readers:

---

“Settling the Score with Heist of the decade,” that’s what “The Milanese Stars” all about. And since we’re talking about heists, I thought why not look at some of the best heist movies that audiences around the world have loved and enjoyed.

Source: Pixabay.com/ gr8effect

Let’s face it, we all know how unbelievably hard it is to rob a bank. But diamonds? They’re easy, a handful of them can fetch millions. Unlike cash, diamonds are easy to pilfer and worth the trouble. The burglars and the unsuccessful police hot on their heels prove it!

Here’s a look at some of them:

To Catch A Thief (1955)

Directed by Alfred Hitchcock

Starring: Cary Grant, Grace Kelly

This classic Hitchcockian movie was considered a cinematic “gem” starring icons Grant as the “cat burglar” and Kelly, his love interest. After a new “cat” burglar is preying on the wealthy in Paris, he must find out who is impersonating him. The jewels in question are a set of rubies and sapphires, and of course, quite a few of those clear, sparkly diamonds.

 

Pink Panther (1963)

Directed by Blake Edwards

Starring: Peter Sellers

This film was so poignant that it was selected to be preserved by the Library of Congress as part of its National Film Registry, being deemed “culturally, historically, and aesthetically significant” in 2010. The titular feline-esque detective attempts to rescue an enormous 182 carat, fancy pink diamond (just like my book).  As Inspector Clouseau, Sellers provides the laughs and plays the French stereotype with conviction.

 

Rififi (1974)

Directed by Jules Dassin

Starring: Jean Servais, Magali Noël

This classic French noir film is not specifically about diamonds, but it’s a superb jewel nabbing, cinematic masterpiece you must watch.  Four elite burglars conspire to rob a glitzy, Rue di Rivoli jewelry shop. The robbery plan in this movie was so well detailed that real-life criminals have used it as a template for knocking over jewel stores around the globe. It’s considered the pinnacle of heist movies.

 

A Fish Called Wanda (1988)

Directed by Charles Crichton

Starring: John Cleese, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Kevin Kline

This is one of the funniest heist movies of the 80’s and dare I say of all time. The movie is about a gang of thieves double-crossing one another to steal 20 million dollars’ worth of diamonds. Phew! This movie is a rollercoaster, and the cast is absolutely stellar, with an Academy Award for Kline.

 

Reservoir Dogs (1992)

Directed by Quentin Tarantino

Starring: Harvey Keitel, Steve Buscemi, Tim Roth, Michael Madsen

 

For a Quentin Tarantino movie, you’d know what to expect. It tells the tale of a caper-gone-wrong.  While trying to score a sack (yes, a sack) of diamonds of undisclosed value, the plan goes awry. Expect a lot of blood and violence in this botched diamond heist flick.

 

Snatch (2000)

Directed by Guy Ritchie

Starring: Benicio del Toro, Brad Pitt, and Dennis Farina

This British film is quite entertaining, and you may strain to understand the accents. (Irish, cockney? You decide!)  Different criminals vie for the ultimate piece de resistance of jewelry, a huge 84-carat diamond that everyone in the London criminal underworld is looking for.

 

Flawless (2007)

Directed by Michael Radford

Starring: Michael Caine and Demi Moore

 

The star of this movie is a 123-carat diamond, valued at $4,000,000.  Michael Caine, a frustrated janitor in 1960’s London, teams up with a similarly disenfranchised worker, to give himself a hefty retirement package. This is a brilliant movie, and Micheal Caine has been in so many heist movies, that he’s become synonymous with them, at least in my mind.

 

There are so many wonderful movies out there about diamond heists, but these were at the top of my list. Do you have any heist movie recommendations that our readers will enjoy? Let us know.

For all those who’ve watched and enjoyed this list, be sure to check out my contemporary heist romance. The Milanese Stars will be out soon! Pre-order your copy now.