KALEIDOSCOPE (1966)

Above: Kaleidoscope patterns introduce this great caper

Kaleidoscope is by any means, a film that is enjoyable if one is prepared to enter and indulge one’s sense of the sixties as a free-wheeling time of groovy mod chicks, trips to Monte Carlo, London and other cosmopolitan places, and dastardly villains that use firethrowers to dispose of poor-functioning insubordinates all the while comfortably ensconsed in their castle. Luckily for the reader, this reviewer is more than prepared to do so! Adding to the fun is a groovy, sitar-laden soundtrack by Stanley Meyers (recently re-released as a limited edition CD) and psychedelic kaleidoscope transitions to this enjoyable jet-set caper flick from the sixties.

Warren Beatty plays Barney Lincoln, a professor of some sorts who is introduced to the viewer in the same way as many a cat-burglar – while scaling the rooftops of London. Barney’s plan is to modify the kaleidoscope pattern on the back of playing cards so he can read the cards and beat the odds – and the casinos.

Barney (Warren Beatty) scaling the Kaleidoscope company's building to change the card pattern - in his favor

Traveling all over Europe to earn his ingenious’ plan winnings, Barney falls for Angel McGinnis (Suzannah York), a fashion designer. Unfortunately for Barney, her father "Manny" McGinnis (Clive Revill) is an inspector at Scotland Yard who offers Barney a choice – get caught with his scheme or play Harry Dominion (Eric Porter), a drug trafficker with his own high-stakes poker game for rich European playboys. While Barney attempts to get out of the situation, he finally accepts that he has to play Harry at his own game.

Above: Barney (Warren Beatty) scours the Monte Carlo Casino

Initially, the poker game (of course) features Barney’s winning cards, but quite a lot of tension is built up when Barney (and the viewer) find out that his cards are being exchanged for other playing cards (which foils Barney and Manny’s plan) and Barney has to bluff his way through the game. The ensuing ending has Barney chase Harry down to his medieval-style castle (something which is quite unusual in caper and heist flicks) to save Angel, who has seemingly gone with Harry of her own volition but is actually being used as collateral by Harry.

Dastardly Drug Trafficker Harry (Eric Porter) is an ace shot

Quite a lot of fun can be had with this one, but for now, Kaleidoscope can only be found as an expensive German import (titled “Der Gentleman Zinker”) from Xploitedcinema.com, but is highly recommended if you enjoy the more outrageous examples of why sixties European cult cinema can be a lot of fun (read: groovy chicks, time-shots of various European cosmopolitan cities, and outrageous fashions).