How to Steal a Million

How to Steal a Million

Year: 1966

Runtime: 123 mins

Language: English

Director: William Wyler

RomanceCrimeComedy

A movie about those who appreciate the finest things in life… for free! A woman must steal a statue from a Paris museum to help conceal her father’s art forgeries.

How to Steal a Million (1966) – Spoiler-Free Movie Summary & Plot Overview

Get a spoiler-free look at How to Steal a Million (1966) with a clear plot overview that covers the setting, main characters, and story premise—without revealing key twists or the ending. Perfect for deciding if this film is your next watch.

In the luminous streets of Paris, the world of high art glitters with the same brilliance as the city’s famed cafés and boulevards. Beneath the polished veneer of museums and exclusive galleries, a quiet obsession with the most exquisite objects thrives, and the desire to possess them—sometimes without paying—lurks just out of sight. The film drifts through this elegant playground, pairing the romance of classic Parisian scenery with an undercurrent of restless ambition that makes every polished surface feel slightly off‑kilter.

At the heart of the story is Nicole, the disapproving yet devoted daughter of a celebrated collector. She lives in the shadow of her father’s reputation, aware that his celebrated acquisitions hide a precarious secret. As a woman who appreciates beauty as much as she fears the fallout of its counterfeit, she finds herself caught between loyalty to family and the growing weight of moral compromise. Her world is one of gilded frames, afternoon tea in stately mansions, and the perpetual hum of whispers about authenticity.

Enter Simon Dermott, a charismatic figure whose casual demeanor masks a keen eye for the very objects Nicole reveres. Their chance encounter sets off a spark that threatens to upend both of their carefully curated lives. Meanwhile, the polished charm of Davis Leland, an American magnate with a taste for rare masterpieces, adds another layer of allure and pressure, as his desire for a particular statue intensifies the delicate balance of desire and deception.

Against this backdrop of opulent settings and intricate social games, the narrative teases a daring undertaking: a plan to acquire a coveted statue from a Paris museum. The tension rises from the interplay of elegance and danger, romance and ambition, leaving the audience to wonder how far Nicole and Simon will go to protect the fragile world they cherish while inching ever closer to the edge of a high‑stakes art intrigue.

Last Updated: December 05, 2025 at 22:59

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Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Sophisticated caper romances like How to Steal a Million

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Narrative Summary

The narrative typically follows a charismatic duo or group who come together to pull off an impossible-seeming theft, often in a high-society setting like an art museum or auction house. The plot intertwines the meticulous planning and execution of the caper with a growing romantic attraction, where deception and double identities often complicate—and eventually strengthen—the relationship.

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Narrative Summary

Stories in this thread often revolve around a social or professional predicament—like maintaining a deception or achieving a goal within high society. The humor stems from clever wordplay, situational irony, and the charismatic foibles of the leads. The plot progresses steadily towards a satisfying, happy resolution that affirms charm and cleverness over brute force.

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These movies are united by their specific aesthetic and tonal quality. They possess a LIGHT tone, STEADY pacing, and a sense of visual and verbal elegance that defines a particular era of filmmaking. The experience is one of pure, sophisticated escapism, where the primary goal is to delight the audience with wit and charm.

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How to Steal a Million Summary

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How to Steal a Million Summary

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Characters, Settings & Themes in How to Steal a Million

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