Penelope (1966)
dir: Arthur Hiller
Penelope Elcott (Natalie Wood) is the wife of wealthy banker of James Elcott (Ian Bannen). Feeling bored and tired of constantly being neglected by her husband, Penelope decides to disguise herself as an old woman and rob her husband's bank. While the police, including Lieutenant Horatio Bixbee (Peter Falk) are in a frantic rush to get to the bank, Penelope manages to escape in a red wig and yellow suit. In the guise she donates some of the stolen money to a Salvation Army worker and donates the suit to a second hand thrift shop. As she drops off the suit, two cunning con artists Sabada (Lila Kedrova) and her husband Ducky (Lou Jacobi) immediately recognize the suit as an original designer outfit from Paris, and manage to purchase it for a mere $7. Meanwhile, Penelope visits her psychiatrist, Gregory, (Dick Shawn) and tells him all about her latest criminal activities. At first he doesn't believe her, but then she shows him the money and he jumps in fright, telling Penelope she could go to jail if she is caught. He asks her how she was first introduced to stealing. Penelope tells him that it began in college (at which point we see a flashback), when a professor asked her to stay behind to discuss some mating customs of a non existent tribe. She quickly discovers that the professor was trying to rape her and after a comic chase scene, escapes the class wearing only her underwear. She notices that, during the chase, she had managed to steal an item of the Professor's, which she forgot to give back.
Cast:
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Natalie Wood
Penelope Elcott
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Ian Bannen
James B. Elcott
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Dick Shawn
Dr. Gregory Mannix
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Peter Falk
Lieutenant Horatio Bixbee
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Jonathan Winters
Professor Klobb
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Lila Kedrova
Princess Sadaba
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Lou Jacobi
Ducky
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Norma Crane
Mildred Halliday
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Arthur Malet
Salvation Army Major Higgins
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Jerome Cowan
Bank Manager
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Arlene Golonka
Honeysuckle Rose
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Amzie Strickland
Miss Serena
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Bill Gunn
Sergeant Rothschild
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Carl Ballantine
Boom Boom
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Iggie Wolfington
Store Owner
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Lewis Charles
Man Carrying Violin Case in Bank
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Ron Charles
Truck Driver
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John Daheim
Bank Guard
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Edith Evanson
Newsstand Proprietor
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Joey Faye
Spectator
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Fritz Feld
Penelope's Dance Partner
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George N. Neise
Mr. Halliday
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Bill Quinn
Bank Executive
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Christopher Riordan
Bank Customer
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Hope Summers
Shop Lady
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Joan Swift
Picasso Girl at Party