Duffy (film)

Duffy is a 1968 British-American comedy crime film directed by Robert Parrish and starring James Coburn, James Mason, James Fox and Susannah York. Originally called "Avec-Avec", French for "with-it", according to 1967 press reports, Columbia Pictures changed the title of the movie, despite the protests of the stars.

Plot
Duffy is a cunning aristocrat of criminals who is hired by Stefane, a young playboy, to hijack a boat carrying several million dollars of his father's fortune. The plot succeeds, with a little help from Segolene, Stefane's girlfriend, but also with an unexpected, sudden turn of events.

Cast

 * James Coburn as Duffy
 * James Mason as Charles
 * James Fox as Stefane
 * Susannah York as Segolene
 * John Alderton as Antony Calvert
 * Guy Deghy as Captain Schoeller
 * Carl Duering as Bonivet
 * Tutte Lemkow as Spaniard
 * Marne Maitland as Abdul
 * André Maranne as Inspector Garain (credited as Andre Maranne)
 * Julie Mendez as belly dancer
 * Barry Shawzin as Bakirgian

Production
It was shot at Shepperton Studios and on location in Almería. The film's sets were designed by the art director Philip Harrison.

Critical response
The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "When hippydom gets the Midas touch from Hollywood finance, it's predictable that the result should be embarrassing, if not downright painful. Instead of developing an interesting plot or giving the characters plausibility, Robert Parrish's film moves jerkily through a succession of set pieces – like the white Mediterranean beach-club where everyone is coloured brown and drinks Cinzanos out of tall glasses, or Duffy's pad filled with pop-art assemblages. The waves of percussive sub-Nashville music merely add to the unfortunate impression of watching an advertisement for an international brand of tipped cigarette. Only James Coburn as Duffy is a cool enough actor to be able to remark "Just do your thing, baby" and get away with it. The rest of the cast – even James Mason as Calvert – succumb to the palpable inanity of the script."