‘How To Steal a Million’: 8 Fantastic Facts About the Adventurous Audrey Hepburn Film

Imagine teaming up with a burglar to help steal back a fake painting your father accidentally sold to the Paris museum, but in the process you end up falling in love with him. Sounds like an epic love adventure, right? Maybe one that Audrey Hepburn would star in? Well, she did in the 1966 hit film How to Steal a Million. But the plot isn't the only thing that’s adventurous. These eight facts about the film are just as wild and crazy. 

1. Peter O'Toole and Audrey Hepburn got really close while filming 

After their sizzling chemistry on screen in How to Steal a Million, it’s no surprise that Hepburn and Peter O’Toole (who plays burglar Simon Dermott) became very close friends after filming wrapped. In fact, they were so close that rumors began to swirl suggesting that the two were having an affair. This was quickly shut down, though, and the two remained friends until Hepburn’s death in 1993. 

2. ‘How a Steal a Million’ had a code name 

While the film was in pre-production, it was called Venus Rising. This is quite common in Hollywood and is often used to prevent news regarding highly anticipated films filled with A-listers from leaking to the press too early. A very well-known recent example is Avengers Infinity War and Endgame, which were both filmed under the name Mary Lou.

3. The composer of ‘How a Steal a Million’ had a very special connection to Audrey Hepburn

How to Steal a Million composer John Williams also worked on Hepburn’s last film, Always (1989). His name is John Williams, the same guy who would go on to score Jaws, Star Wars, Superman: The Movie, Raiders of the Lost Ark, E.T.,  Jurassic Park, Harry Potter and on and on.

4. Audrey Hepburn outshined the other women in the film in more ways than one 

Not only was Hepburn the lead actress in How to Steal a Million, but she was also the only female actress to have any lines in the film. Additionally, her name came first in the credits and was noticeably bigger than the rest of the cast and crew, including co-stars Eli Wallach, Charles Boyer and Hugh Griffith as well as director William Wyler. . 

5. ‘How a Steal a Million’ inspired this popular TV show

How to Steal a Million would serve as the inspiration for the hit 1968 TV show It Takes a Thief, which ran for 66 episodes, won an Emmy and starred Malachi Throne, Robert Wagner, Edwarn Binns, Fred Asitre and Susan Saint James. 

6. ‘How a Steal a Million’ referenced a few other Audrey Hepburn films 

During the scene where Simon (O’Toole) bursts into the house, and viewers see Nicole (Hepburn) lying in bed, she is reading an Alfred Hitchcock book. This mirrors a scene in Roman Holiday (1953), where she is seen reading a book about Hitchcock. Additionally, there were numerous Hitchcock references in her 1963 film Charade, which Hepburn worked on with Jacques Marin. 

The other Hepburn film reference was Sabrina (1954). About one hour into the film,  Simon does an impression of actor Humphrey Bogart, who had co-starred with Hepburn in Sabrina. 

7. Hubert de Givenchy was referenced 

After dressing up as a cleaning lady, Nicole (Hepburn) asks Simon (O’Toole) how she looks, to which he replies, “For one thing, it gives Givenchy a night off.” 

Hubert de Givenchy worked as Hepburn's costume designer on this film and Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961). He also famously styled Grace Kelly and Jackie Kennedy Onassis. 

8. Eli Willach wasn’t the original choice for Davis Leland 

20th Century Studios originally wanted Walter Matthau to play Davis, but his fee was too high. Then they asked George C. Scott — who Hepburn adored — but on his first day of shooting, he disappeared after lunch, so they fired him. Finally, they hired Wallach. 

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