Television series

It Takes a Thief

Name: It Takes a Thief
Genre: Action, Adventure
Released: 1968
Cast: Robert Wagner, Malachi Throne, Fred Astaire, Senta Berger, John Saxon

A stylish heist-spy hybrid where a debonair cat burglar trades prison for government work, stealing high-value targets under the guise of diplomatic missions and international espionage. It's James Bond filtered through Ocean's Eleven—elegant, lighthearted, and driven more by charm and ingenuity than violence. For anyone who loves a good con and doesn't need their TV to take itself seriously.

Should you watch it?

Watch it if you love caper stories built on elaborate, gadget-heavy heists, where the fun is watching a clever man talk his way past the security and a sly sense of mischief carries the hour.

Skip it if you need modern pacing and serialized tension, since the 1960s rhythm and episodic structure may feel slight next to today's dramas.

What it asks of you: Each hour is a self-contained job, so you can dip in and out, and the pace stays light and unhurried rather than urgent.

Not sure? Find tonight's pick in a minute.

If you liked this

Mission: Impossible1966

The blueprint for covert ops television: elaborate cons, disguises, teamwork, and the thrill of pulling off the impossible. Shares the same DNA of meticulous planning and theatrical flair that makes heists so satisfying to watch unfold.

But Dialogue-heavy and slower-paced than modern action; the gadgetry and spy craft can feel dated without the charm factor that carries It Takes a Thief.

The Saint1962

Simon Templar is charming larceny in human form—a gentleman rogue who operates in jet-set glamour and moral ambiguity. The same stylish irreverence and cat-and-mouse dynamic with authority that makes Al Mundy so watchable.

But Even more episodic and lighter on plot substance; if you want actual stakes rather than elegant puzzles, you'll find yourself impatient.

Maverick1994

The film version harnesses that same good-natured roguery and Con-man charm. Mel Gibson as a riverboat gambler schemes his way through Americana with style, humor, and zero genuine malice—it's what It Takes a Thief would be as a heist movie.

But It's much broader comedy than the show; if you prefer the spy-thriller elements, the poker-table tone might feel too frivolous.

Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from It Takes a Thief

The wildcard

Something you would not have found on your own.

Rififi1955

The architectural blueprint for heist narratives: both treat the theft itself as an elegant puzzle to be solved methodically, with the pleasure lying in watching expertise executed perfectly.

A legendary French heist film told with minimal dialogue during its centerpiece: a 30-minute silent sequence of a theft in progress. Pure visual storytelling of meticulous planning—it invented the template Al Mundy's TV schemes follow, and it's hypnotic.

But Black-and-white, French noir sensibility, no quips or charm—it's dead serious about the craft. If you want style without humor, this delivers; if you want both, it won't satisfy.

To Catch a Thief1955

Cary Grant and Grace Kelly set the template for the sophisticated thief narrative: wealthy, elegant, playing cat-and-mouse with beautiful people and high-stakes larceny. Pure escapism with real craft behind the planning.

But It's a Hollywood glamour film first and a heist second; expect romance and Riviera photography over intricate stolen-goods logistics.

The Persuaders1971

Two gentleman adventurers—Tony Curtis and Roger Moore—solve mysteries and outwit villains through charm and improvisation. Shares It Takes a Thief's tone: spy adventure without pretension, where wit matters as much as action.

But Even campier and more theatrical; if you want grounded storytelling, this veers hard into adventure-fantasy territory.

Hustle2004

A con-man team pulling sophisticated frauds in London, led by Marc Warren. Focuses on the intellectual pleasure of the scheme itself—how marks are read, how plans evolve, how timing matters. Scratches the same itch.

But Grittier and darker in tone; the Mundy show is sunnier, and Hustle's cynicism might feel like a different genre entirely.

The Italian Job1969

A heist film from the same moment in cinema where style trumps realism, and the team's charm is half the theft. Gold bullion, Mini Coopers, and a crew that enjoys the work—it's what It Takes a Thief celebrates in episode form.

But One self-contained story rather than episodic variety; limited cast and setting compared to the show's globe-trotting scope.

Ocean's Eleven1960

The Rat Pack heist original: impossible theft, impeccable execution, and people who genuinely like each other pulling it off. Looser and jazzier than you'd expect, with the same emphasis on clever planning and style over violence.

But More ensemble-focused and less character-driven; if you're watching for Al Mundy specifically, the diffused focus might frustrate.

The Man from U.N.C.L.E.1964

Spy adventure where the emphasis lands on charm, international intrigue, and the pleasure of watching skilled professionals work. Lighthearted Cold War escapism with genuine craft and elegance in how scenes are constructed.

But Archival television; the pacing and editing feel slower than anything you're used to, and the spy mechanics are intentionally secondary to vibe.

Topkapi1964

Both recognize that a beautiful theft, executed by people who enjoy the work, is entertainment in itself—the moral stakes are secondary to the pleasure of watching skilled people perform.

A Turkish heist film where an international crew schemes to steal a jeweled dagger from an Istanbul museum. Playful, character-driven, and genuinely funny—it treats the theft as a game to be enjoyed rather than a crime to hide.

But Deliberately theatrical and stagey; if you want realism or even plausible heist logic, it prioritizes charm and absurdity over mechanics.

Killer Joe2012

Both understand that the real reward isn't the object stolen but the satisfaction of executing a perfect scheme alongside someone you trust (or are learning to), where the game itself is the point.

A con-man romance: a former CIA agent and a con artist fall in love while running elaborate schemes against each other. Sexy, witty, and structured around the delight of watching smart people outwit each other for affection rather than money.

But It's a dramedy-romance hybrid, not an action show; if you're watching for espionage thrills, this pivots hard toward character and intimacy instead.