When Penelope gets married to banker James Elcott, she finds him too preoccupied with work to pay much attention to her, so she robs his bank in disguise. After she confesses to her psychiatrist, Greg Mannix, 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.
Costume
Natalie Wood's disguises are worth the price of admission alone.
Acting
Peter Falk playingagainst type as the exhausted detective.
Director
Arthur Hiller
Natalie Wood
Penelope
Ian Bannen
James B. Elcott
Dick Shawn
Dr. Gregory Mannix
Peter Falk
Lt. Horatio Bixbee
Jonathan Winters
Professor Klobb
Lila Kedrova
Princess Sadaba
Lou Jacobi
Ducky
Norma Crane
Mildred Halliday
Arthur Malet
Major Higgins
Jerome Cowan
Bank Manager
Arlene Golonka
Honeysuckle Rose
Amzie Strickland
Miss Serena
Bill Gunn
Sgt. Rothschild
Carl Ballantine
Boom Boom
Iggie Wolfington
Store Owner
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
This was Natalie Wood's attempt to break from serious dramatic roles; she reportedly hated the finished film and it flopped spectacularly.
The 'neglected wealthy wife' trope peaked in 1960s cinema as a way to critique consumerism while indulging in it—Penelope both robs and shops as rebellion.
US
