Grand Slam

James Anders, a mild-mannered professor working in Rio, retires from teaching and resolves to pull off a high-stakes diamond heist during the Rio Carnival. He begins assembling a diverse team of specialists whose skills will be crucial to the plan. The decision marks the beginning of an elaborate scheme that will test loyalty and nerve.

Mark Milford, Anders' childhood friend and current criminal contact, helps assemble the crew. The team is composed of Gregg, the English safecracking specialist; Agostino Rossi, the Italian mechanical and electronics genius; Jean-Paul Audry, a French playboy tasked with seducing the key holder Mary Ann; and Erich, a German ex-military man. Each member brings a distinct skill set essential for breaking into the protected building.

The specialists devise a plan to defeat the building's defenses, including the photocell beams in the entry corridor and the new Grand Slam 70 safe system. They prototype mechanical devices and timing methods to minimize noise and detection. The goal is a silent, coordinated entry that can stand against layered security.

One day before the heist, Agostino discovers a clever way to circumvent the Grand Slam 70 alarm while maintaining plausible deniability. His breakthrough keeps the operation on track despite the system's initial ominous tone. This discovery is the turning point that makes the plan feasible.

On the night of the carnival, the team crawls over the photocell beams using a pneumatic trestle to bypass the guards. They approach the building's protected corridor with precision and timing. The infiltration relies on quiet movements and the element of surprise to avoid triggering alarms.

Jean-Paul works to charm Mary Ann, the only woman with a key to the diamond building. Through manipulation, he gains access to her trust and obtains the key she controls. With the key compromised, the team can penetrate the inner security zones and reach the safe.

They move the heavy safe closer to the corridor using a plan that dampens noise, including careful handling and timing. The operation reduces the distance the crew must carry the safe, minimizing detection risk. Tension builds as the safe sits within reach, ready for the final breach.

The team executes the final breach by placing nitroglycerin charges to open the safe. The plan succeeds as the diamonds are retrieved without triggering the alarm. They escape the scene with the loot, but danger remains in the wake of the heist.

The crew evades the immediate pursuit, but the next day Mary Ann notices that the safe key had been temporarily taken. Her realization tips off the police, and law enforcement closes in on the team. The mood shifts from triumph to imminent danger as the chase looms.

As they push through a roadblock, the team is cornered and Jean-Paul is identified while Gregg is killed during the ensuing chase. The betrayal and loss change the dynamics of the operation. The remaining members must improvise under mounting pressure.

After the chaos, Erich turns on his comrades and murders Jean-Paul. Agostino escapes back to Rio to join his love Stetuaka, but is shot by the police upon arrival. The betrayal fractures the group and seals a grim fate for several members.

Erich delivers the diamond case to the meeting point, but Milford intercepts him and kills Erich. He discovers the case is empty, revealing that the diamonds were already diverted elsewhere. The mystery of the missing loot deepens the film's tension.

Anders reunites with Mary Ann in a Rome café, swapping the diamonds for an empty case as part of their secret arrangement. Almost immediately, two thieves on a motorcycle intercept and loot the gems, leaving the conspirators with nothing. The carnival caper collapses into a chaotic, unsatisfying end.