Yep, law students. Idiots. So when four think they are pulling off the perfect crime, we know carnage and imperfection will rule the day. Never mind one of the students is an unhinged psycho. Law students? Dullards, indeed. Hence Kim Novak as a sultry nightclub singer. Irrelevant to the plot? Hardly. In slinky evening gown and yearning for love, Kim Novak adds allure and seduction to the plot. Her chances of escaping this one with her perfect face and allure intact will be slim, but we will pull for her. Let us look at the casino-heist film, 1955's "5 Against the House," directed by Phil Karlson.
Al (Guy Madison) is home from Korea and the GI Bill is sending him to law school. His buddy Brick (Brian Keith), same deal. Brick saved Al's life in combat and got pretty messed up doing it. Just released from the psyche ward of an army hospital, Brick is now a law student prone to homicidal rages. They have two law student buddies, the young Roy (Alvy Moore) and Ronnie (Kerwin Mathews). Ronnie is a genius. The quartet drive to Reno and have a night at Harold's Club Casino. Ronnie scoped out the place and when he hears it is impossible to rob, he devises a plan. Okay, Al, back at law school, is romancing sultry nightclub singer Kay (Novak). Brick has a homicidal outburst, or two, and Al tries to get him to go back to the psyche ward. Ronnie thinks too much and now has a surefire plan to hit the casino and lets Roy and Brick in on it. Ronnie's plan to is to rob it, leave the money outside town, and call the casino to come get their money...proving only it can be done.
Brick has other motives and gets a gun. The trio need Al to go along with it, but know he won't. They invite him to go to Reno with them and spring it on him at the last moment. Al decides to marry Kay and bring her to Reno to get married. On the way, Al figures out what his buddies are up to and objects and refuses to be the fourth man. Brick threatens to murder Kay unless Al cooperates. Oh, that perfect plan... genius except for the fact it is so stupid. Brick gets more unhinged.
Will Kay make it to the end credits with her perfect face unmarred? Does Ronnie's perfect plan have any ounce of perfection in it? Will Kay ever get the hint and ditch the law student in favor of someone with earning power and personality? This is a good one and the contrast between psycho Brick and the nubile and glamorous Kay, both pulling at Al's heartstrings, is fascinating. See "5 Against the House" and be reminded those perfect plans you have...they probably stink.
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