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Make Like a Thief

Name: Make Like a Thief
Director: Palmer Thompson, Åke Lindman
Released: 1964
Duration: 88 min

Representation Score

1.6/10

Minimal

1964

Director

Palmer Thompson, Åke Lindman

Runtime

88 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

Make Like a Thief is a mid-century crime thriller that adheres closely to the genre conventions of its time. The plot emphasizes individualist adventure and the pursuit of a fugitive businessman, avoiding any deep social or systemic exploration. The film's character dynamics are grounded in traditional frameworks. While the female lead demonstrates persistence, the narrative remains centered on male-driven action and conventional romantic expectations. Ultimately, the work functions as a standard Western thriller. It lacks depth in representing diverse identities and focuses on established Eurocentric storytelling.

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Category Breakdown

Does Make Like a Thief have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film does not depict any LGBTQ+ identities or same-sex relationships. The romantic dynamics focus on heterosexual relationships.

How does Make Like a Thief portray gender?

Fair

The male characters primarily drive the plot. Marja Salo plays a significant role but her motivations align with conventional romantic expectations.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Make Like a Thief?

Limited

The story centers around an American adventurer and a Finnish con artist. It maintains a Eurocentric perspective without showcasing a diverse cast.

How does Make Like a Thief represent religion and culture?

Limited

The narrative follows a typical crime-thriller structure emphasizing individual heroism and traditional views of law and capitalism.

Does Make Like a Thief include disability representation?

Minimal

There are no visible or invisible disabilities depicted among the main characters.

Present on Screen

The inclusion of an American expatriate adds a cross-cultural element within the Finnish setting.

Limited or Absent

The film relies on traditional gender clichés and lacks diverse representation of identity.
The narrative lacks systemic critique, focusing instead on individualistic heroism and standard legal frameworks.

Official Synopsis

Arrested for a murder he didn't commit, American adventurer Bart Lanigan is about to be deported from Finland on a freighter. In the Helsinki harbor, he himself becomes a target for a hit man but manages to escape back to land. Lanigan contacts Arvo Mäki, a womanizing local con man recommended to him as a man he could trust. Lanigan is in Finland to catch an American millionaire businessman, Leonard Weston alias Lawrence Walker, who has fled the USA with the company's monies and begun investing them in Finland. Looking for the mysterious L.W. character while trying to get rid of various hit men, Lanigan and Mäki travel around picturesque southern Finland, joined by a pretty night club singer Marja Salo who won't leave Lanigan alone and insists on marrying him.

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