Maroc 7 (1968)

While it is a pity that the story wasn't told with more visual finesse, this is trivial compared to our real-world problems. It takes a good movie to put that into perspective.

A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

This comes under the heading of 'could have', 'should have' been a decent movie. Instead, it is a catalog of wasted opportunities.Specifics: leading man Gene Barry acts like he would have been happier beating up suspects rather than romancing a bevy of beautiful babes.Speaking of babes, this was filmed during the 'swinging 60s' - so it wouldn't have hurt to have shown some of the great legs and/or cleavage. What was the point of casting the gorgeous girls if you were going to keep them covered up? There seems to have been a lack of energy among the movie-makers - caused by the heat of the location? When the hero pulls his car off the road (to avoid pursuers right behind him), there is a great cloud of dust which the bad guys would have seen - but didn't. A small detail - but indicative of the phone-it-in attitude of the production crew.

Considering that "Maroc 7" has an overall IMDb score of 4.6, I sure expected it to be a bad film. While in theory, a 5.0 would indicate an average film, here on IMDb the number is probably closer to 6.5--and 4.6 strongly indicates BAD. But, I was surprised--the film was actually a decent little film--not a work of genius but well worth seeing.The film begins with a guy, Simon Grant (Gene Barry) approaching a woman (Cyd Charisse) who owns a studio that photographs pretty models. He's come to tell her he KNOWS her secret--that she is a world-class thief AND that he's planning on coming with her on her next caper. This takes her and her groups of models to Morocco. But WHAT is the item she plans to steal? And how much do the ladies and their photographer know? And, just who is Grant--who is he working for and what is HIS motivation? While not a brilliant caper film, it is nice and benefits from nice scenery and pretty ladies. It's interesting and well worth your time--especially if you are in the mood for a bit of escapism.

Three things stand out in this film. The filming on location - including interior scenes, the Moroccan desert, and the wonderful 1960s fashions/hairstyles. An enjoyable film only marred by the weak storyline and implausible ending. I wish that more films would make use of real locations for interior scenes. Actually seeing the real world out of the hotel room window, hearing the echo in voices due to being in a small room, genuine ambient background sound - all these ingredients help to 'put you there'. If this film had been made in the mid 70s or later it would be completely forgettable. But being made in the swinging 60s gives it something... Worth a look.

Although by no means a spy thriller ,"Maroc 7" has its eye on Hitchcock and too many James Bond movies.The action takes place in Morroco ,like the first part of "the man who knew too much" and the final scene between Gene Barry and Elsa Martinelli resembles a "North by Norwest" in miniature ,complete with (Morrocan ) rocks.Martinelli,Cyd Charisse and Alexandra Stewart are given here the royal treatment of beauties in the tradition of the James Bond Girls.Gene Barry,although American, looks very British ,like Sean Connery ,and he does not take seriously this story of an invaluable medallion (which used to belong to none other than Cleopatra 's and Marc Antony's daughter Salome no less).No masterpiece ,but fun to watch ,and Morocco is the real star of the film.