The Great Diamond Robbery

The Great Diamond Robbery is a 1954 American comedy film directed by Robert Z. Leonard and starring Red Skelton, James Whitmore, Cara Williams and Reginald Owen. It was produced and distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.

The Great Diamond Robbery
DVD Cover
Directed by	Robert Z. Leonard
Written by	László Vadnay Martin Rackin George Oppenheimer
Produced by	Edwin H. Knopf
Starring	Red Skelton James Whitmore Cara Williams Reginald Owen
Cinematography	Joseph Ruttenberg
Edited by	George White
Music by	Rudolph G. Kopp
Production company	Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Distributed by	Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Release dates	January 8, 1954 (1954-01-08) (Premiere-Los Angeles)[1] January 29, 1954 (1954-01-29) (US)[1]
Running time	70 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$858,000[2]
Box office	$702,000[2]

Plot

A diamond potentially worth $2 million, the "Blue Goddess," must be cut. A New York City jeweler, Bainbridge Gibbons, has an expert lined up, but his own diamond cutter, Ambrose C. Park, strongly urges Gibbons to let him do the cutting.

On a park bench, Ambrose explains to a stranger that he places a newspaper ad once a year, on his birthday, and sits here hoping to be reunited with the parents who abandoned him in this very spot as an infant. He doesn't even know his real name; he was dubbed "Ambrose Central Park" at an orphanage.

Ambrose is arrested after inadvertently becoming drunk in public. A shyster lawyer, Remlick, offers to help for $400, then takes a greater interest when Ambrose offers to pay much more if his parents could be located. A couple of con artists become involved, with nightclub dancer Maggie Drumman and her mother Emily hired to pretend to be Ambrose's real sister and mom.

After the crooks try to steal the diamond, Ambrose accidentally cuts it in half, perfectly. He swallows one half, Maggie the other. As the crooks are taken away, Ambrose and Maggie go to have their stomachs pumped. A romantic attraction develops and all is forgiven.

Cast

• Red Skelton as Ambrose C. Park
• Cara Williams as Maggie
• James Whitmore as Remlick
• Kurt Kasznar as Tony Midelli/Louie
• Dorothy Stickney as Emily
• George Mathews as Duke Fargoh
• Reginald Owen as Bainbridge Gibbons
• Harry Bellaver as Herb
• Connie Gilchrist as Blonde
• Steven Geray as Van Goosen
• Sig Arno as Mr. Sahutsky
• Olan Soule as Mr. Heinsdorfer
• Jean Fenwick as Secretary
• Matt Moore as Preacher
• Anna Q. Nilsson as Nurse
• Pat O'Malley as Policeman

Reception

According to MGM records the movie earned $501,000 in the US and Canada and $201,000 elsewhere, making a loss to the studio of $426,000.^[2]