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Penelope

1966 1h 37m Comedy List
Reviews 63% Audience Score 500+ Ratings
When Penelope (Natalie Wood) gets married to banker James Elcott (Ian Bannen), she finds him too preoccupied with work to pay much attention to her, so she robs his bank while in disguise. After she confesses to her psychiatrist, Greg Mannix (Dick Shawn), he offers to return the money for her, as he is secretly in love with her. However, he abandons the money when the police approach. Penelope becomes determined to admit to the crime, but neither James nor the police believe her story. Read More Read Less

Critics Reviews

View All (2) Critics Reviews
Danielle Solzman Solzy at the Movies Penelope, starring Natalie Wood in the title role, is a hysterical caper comedy... Rated: 3.5/5 Jul 20, 2020 Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy Marginally buoyed by the efforts of its leading lady and one particular supporting player. Rated: 2.5/4 Feb 9, 2020 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Steve D Completely forgets to be funny despite Wood's fun work. Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 07/27/23 Full Review Frances H I saw this movie on TV when I was young and thought it was very funny and charming. still think so even so many years later. I was surprised that it was a box office flop when released and Natalie Wood didn't make another film for the next three years! I still like it! Rated 4 out of 5 stars 05/05/20 Full Review Audience Member Natalie Wood is lovely is this comic misfire directed by Arthur Hiller. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 02/27/23 Full Review Audience Member Bland heist comedy with a game cast (Natalie Wood, Dick Shawn) and a solid director, Arthur Hiller, but sadly this film forgot to be funny, charming, or entertaining. Wood plays a bored wife of a banker who decides to rob her husband's band. Meh. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 01/31/23 Full Review Audience Member This 1966 comedy is campy, silly, and a bit ridiculous, but on the other hand, it has Natalie Wood, and that rounds it up to an almost passable film - and if you adore her as I do, worth watching, maybe lightly, in the background while reading. She is absolutely beautiful in the role of an irrepressible housewife who turns to robbery because her husband doesn't pay enough attention to her. Jesus, talk about a plot hole right there. :P Peter Falk is good as the detective on her trail, and it was interesting to see Jonathan Winters in a small part as well (he's a sex-crazed professor who chases her around until her clothes rip off and she's left capering about in her underwear ... not exactly politically correct). On a more somber note, it's sad to think of the troubles this 5' tall daughter of Russian immigrants had in her life, ultimately leading to her creepy drowning death at the age of 43. She took several years off from acting after making this film which speaks to some of the turmoil she was going through, and it's jarring to understand that in light of just how airy this film is, and how happy she seems to be in it. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 01/13/23 Full Review Audience Member Penelope is one of those 'feel good' comedies, so lighthearted that you can't help but cheering for this wacky but adorable character played by Natalie Wood. The movie had bad reviews back in 1966 but as for now I think it's save to say that is a fine looking comedy and it will surely make you laugh. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/04/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Penelope

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Movie Info

Synopsis When Penelope (Natalie Wood) gets married to banker James Elcott (Ian Bannen), she finds him too preoccupied with work to pay much attention to her, so she robs his bank while in disguise. After she confesses to her psychiatrist, Greg Mannix (Dick Shawn), he offers to return the money for her, as he is secretly in love with her. However, he abandons the money when the police approach. Penelope becomes determined to admit to the crime, but neither James nor the police believe her story.
Director
Arthur Hiller
Producer
Arthur M. Loew Jr.
Screenwriter
George Wells
Production Co
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Genre
Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Mar 2, 2021
Runtime
1h 37m