Dead Heat on a Merry-Go-Round

This 1966 American crime film, written and directed by Bernard Girard, follows the story of Eli Kotch (James Coburn), a cunning con artist who seduces a prison psychologist to secure parole. Once free, he employs his skills in impersonation and charm to deceive various women, extracting money to purchase security plans for a bank located at Los Angeles International Airport. To finalize the deal, he needs to raise $85,000. In Boston, he marries secretary Inger Knudson (Camilla Sparv) and sends her to Los Angeles under the pretense of pursuing a literary career, while he continues his cons. Assembling a team, Eli orchestrates a bank heist timed with the arrival of the Soviet Premier to exploit the distraction. Using stolen costumes, the gang infiltrates the bank disguised as police officers and executes the robbery. After a successful escape to Mexico, Eli discovers that Inger has inherited $7 million from her former employer, a fact he was unaware of. The film is also notable for featuring Harrison Ford's film debut in a minor role as a bellhop.