Today's Special: Tax day heist movie quiz

Is the IRS making you feel a poorer? As today is tax day, Disc Dish is celebrating with some great films in which characters use not-so-legal ways to fill their wallets (not that we’re advocating any, but they’re so much fun to watch.)

The question is, how well do you know your cinematic capers? Below are some of the best heist movies.

How many film titles can you match with the prize the characters are trying to steal?  If you get tripped up, steal a peak at the answers.

The Movie The Loot
1. Larceny, Inc. (1942) – Ex-cons J. Chalmers Maxwell (Edward G. Robinson), Jug Martin (Broderick Crawford) and Weepy Davis (Edward Brophy) launch an elaborate scheme to get to this enticing jackpot. But there’s one problem —  the fake luggage shop they set up to mask their criminal goings-on is doing a booming business and taking them away from the task at hand. A. The bank — the whole freakin’ bank!  Of course, it’s a temporary mobile home, standing in while the real one is being built. But still… it’s the whole freakin’ bank!
2. The Killing (1956) – A ragtag gang of losers, led by Johnny Clay (Sterling Hayden), plots to steal this during a daring daytime robbery. B. $500,000 from a small Texas bank.  Even Dr. Evil would be underwhelmed.
3. The Pink Panther (1963) – Despite the extensive efforts of crack detective Inspector Jacques Clouseau (Peter Sellers), “The Phantom” a.k.a. Sir Charles Lytton (David Niven) manages to steal this one-of-a-kind treasure.

C. A shipment of gold bullion worth tens of millions — trust us, that’s a lot of bullion!

4. Topkapi (1964) – Sultry thief Elizabeth Lipp (Melina Mercouri) is so intent on lifting this tantalizing stash, she joins forces with her former partner and lover (Maximillian Schell) to devise a scheme to do so. D. The entire gate from an afternoon at the track. Odds are it’s $2 million.
5. The Getaway (1972) – In exchange for being paroled from prison, corrupt businessman Jack Beynon (Ben Johnson) forces “Doc” McCoy (Steve McQueen) to rob this.  When the plan goes horribly wrong, Doc and his wife Carol (Ali MacGraw) are forced to go on the lam. E. A bank vault filled with gold — the glitter alone is worth the effort.
6. The Bank Shot (1974) – Walter Upjohn Ballentine (George C. Scott) comes up with the idea to swipe this, one of the most unusual hauls in film history. F. All the money in the vault of The Bellagio, the Mirage and the MGM Grand casinos. We didn’t count it, but we hear it’s about $150 million.
7. Sneakers (1992) – Security specialist Martin Brice (Robert Redford) is blackmailed into stealing this, which may give its possessor the ability to control just about anything worth controlling. G. The largest diamond in the world with a most unusual flaw when you look deeply into it. And if we told you what it was called, we’d be giving away the answer.
8. The Usual Suspects (1995) – A motley crew of two-bit crooks team up to score this lucrative cache — that is, if the mysterious Keyser Soze doesn’t wipe out the gang first. H. A briefcase, the contents of which are so valuable both the Russians and the Irish Republican Army want it.  Vodka or whiskey?
9. Ronin (1998) – A crack team of retired special forces agents and intelligence operatives, including Sam (Robert De Niro) and Vincent (Jean Reno), are brought together to ambush a convoy and secure this lucrative loot. I. A “black box” decoder device that can crack any encryption.  Yeah, but can it help me with my taxes?
10. The Thomas Crown Affair (1999) – For Thomas Crown (Pierce Brosnan) the fun is all in the plotting of the crime. But this is what he gets for his efforts, and it’s not too shabby. J. Monet’s San Giorgio Maggiore at Dusk — valued at $100 million — and that’s without the frame.
11. Ocean’s Eleven (2001) – Danny Ocean (George Clooney), with the help of 10 loyal and extremely larcenous accomplices, sets his sights on stealing this most ambitious target. K. The emerald-encrusted dagger of Sultan Mahmud I. It’s a killer piece of jewelry.
12. The Italian Job (2003) – A trio of Mini Coopers and the mother of all Los Angeles traffic jams are two key elements to Charlie Croker’s (Marc Wahlberg) plan to rip off this. L. $91 million in cocaine — now that’s nothing to sniff at.

About Chris

Chris Koseluk has written about the entertainment industry for numerous magazines and newspapers including The Hollywood Reporter, Variety, Make-Up Artist Magazine, BackStage West, Premiere, Video Business, Movie Times, Newsday, The Chicago Tribune, The San Francisco Chronicle, the Portland Oregonian and the Houston Chronicle. He currently runs MediaMischief.com. As a partner in Never Dull Productions, Chris wrote and directed the feature documentary Sled Shots about the U.S. Paralympic Sled Hockey Team.