Grand Slam

Grand Slam

Year: 1967

Runtime: 121 mins

Language: English

Director: Giuliano Montaldo

Crime

Professor James Anders, a mild‑mannered American teacher stationed in Rio, is bored after years of lecturing and decides to orchestrate the crime of his life. He assembles four international experts—a safe‑cracking specialist, a master thief, a mechanical genius and a playboy—to execute a daring diamond heist during the Rio Carnival.

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Timeline & Setting – Grand Slam (1967)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Grand Slam (1967). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Late 1960s

The story unfolds in the late 1960s, an era of stylish heist adventures and high-tech gadgetry. The period mood combines glamorous international travelers with street-level danger. The setting exploits the contrast between tropical Rio's energy and European urban sophistication.

Location

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Rome, Italy

Rio de Janeiro is the film's primary stage, a city famed for its samba-filled Carnival and vibrant street life that masks a risky diamond caper. The action moves through the security-rich buildings and urban labyrinths, where cameras and photocells become obstacles. The final acts shift to Rome, where Anders and Mary Ann's partnership reaches its fraught culmination in a cafe confrontation.

🗺️ City settings 🏛️ International crime backdrop 🎉 Carnival atmosphere

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:01

Main Characters – Grand Slam (1967)

Meet the key characters of Grand Slam (1967), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Prof. James Anders (Edward G. Robinson)

A seemingly mild-mannered professor who masterminds the diamond caper. He is patient, calculating, and skilled at assembling an international team, treating the heist as a controlled puzzle. He keeps the operation running smoothly even as risks mount and loyalties are tested.

❄️ Cool-headed 🧠 Mastermind 💼 Planner

Mary Ann (Janet Leigh)

The woman with the key and Anders's secret partner. She uses charm to influence others and plays a pivotal role in coordinating access to the vault. Her loyalties waver under pressure, and she ultimately participates in the deception that cloaks the theft.

💃 Seductress 🗝️ Key-holder 🔀 Double-crossing

Mark Milford (Adolfo Celi)

A longtime ally turned mastermind of the operation, pragmatic and ruthless in pursuit of the diamonds. He provides funding and direction, willing to manipulate or eliminate threats to ensure success. His cool, calculating approach keeps the plan on track even as tension rises.

🤝 Confidant 🧠 Strategist 💼 Criminal mastermind

Gregg Hutchinson (George Rigaud)

An English safecracking expert whose technical finesse is central to bypassing the building's defenses. He remains cool under pressure but is ultimately caught up in the chase that follows the heist. His skills make the difference between potential failure and success.

🧰 Safecracker 🔒 Security expert ⚔️ Fatal turn

Agostino Rossi (Riccardo Cucciolla)

An Italian mechanical and electronics genius tasked with defeating security systems. He designs devices to counter photocells and the Grand Slam 70 system, and his ingenuity is vital to the operation's viability. He also falls in love with Setuaka, adding a personal dimension to his scientific focus.

🧠 Genius ⚙️ Mechanic 💘 Lover

Jean-Paul Audry (Robert Hoffmann)

A French playboy who uses seduction to obtain Mary Ann's key, acting as the access broker for the team. He embodies charm and opportunism, but his role is short-lived as violence interrupts the plan. His fate underscores the perilous nature of the crew's alliances.

💃 Seducer 🧭 Opportunist 🗡️ Targeted

Erich Weiss (Klaus Kinski)

A German ex-military man who is ruthless and volatile. He betrays his teammates, murdering Jean-Paul and triggering a deadly cascade of events. His end comes at the hands of Milford, sealing his role as the volatile wildcard in the crew.

🪖 Ex-military ⚡ Betrayer 🗡️ Violent

Mary Ann's Boss (Aldo Bonamano)

The power broker behind the operation who manages Mary Ann's arrangements and the flow of information. He provides the organizational backbone for the heist and exercises decisive control when things go wrong.

🕴️ Boss 🗂️ Organizer

Setuaka (Jussara)

A local figure in Rio who becomes connected to Agostino in the Rio arc. She embodies the local milieu and adds a cultural counterpoint to the international crew. Her presence helps anchor the Brazilian phase of the plot.

💃 Local love-interest 🧭 Cultural connector

Miguel del Castillo (Manager)

Manager of the operation, coordinating logistics and serving as a gatekeeper to crucial locations. His role is pragmatic, ensuring the crew can move through security hurdles when required.

🏢 Administrator 🗺️ Gatekeeper

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:01

Major Themes – Grand Slam (1967)

Explore the central themes of Grand Slam (1967), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🧠 Heist Craft

A meticulously planned diamond heist drives the narrative, blending technical gadgetry with tight teamwork. The crew's success depends on timing, misdirection, and careful coordination across borders. The plan evolves as challenges arise, highlighting the precision required to beat a high-security system.

🔪 Betrayal

Betrayal threads through the mission: Erich turns on his comrades, and Mary Ann's loyalty wavers as police close in. The double-cross plunges the crew into deadly infighting, with several deaths altering the plan's course. Loyalties fracture under pressure, revealing the true cost of greed.

💃 Seduction

Seduction is a strategic tool to gain access, with Jean-Paul using charm to win Mary Ann's favor and secure a key to the vault. The film uses romance to unlock security, complicating who can be trusted. The Carnival backdrop enhances the glamour and danger of these manipulations.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:01

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Grand Slam Summary

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Grand Slam Summary

Grand Slam Timeline

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Grand Slam Timeline

More About Grand Slam

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