The painting, known as the "Rokeby Venus" is by Velazquez and is his only known nude. It moved to England in 1813 to hang in Rokeby Park, Yorkshire. The painting was purchased by National Art Collections Fund in 1906 for the National Gallery, London. The suffragette Mary Richardson attacked and badly damaged the painting in 1914, but it was restored and returned to display.
This was adapted from Richard Condon's first novel, "The Oldest Confession", which is, especially in its later stages, considerably more serious in tone than this light-hearted caper movie. Condon hated this movie and made no secret of the fact. It was a big box-office flop.
In 1960, a contestant on the NBC game show "The Price Is Right" named Eileen Oar won a trip to Spain, which would include being an extra in this picture (under its working title "Once a Thief"). It has never been determined if she is indeed in the finished film. According to the actual 1961 Price is Right episode, the winner was Mrs. Helen Appleberg, who won the 12 or 13 piece luggage set and got the extra part in the movie and the trip to Spain as a bonus. Mrs. Oar won a 3 piece 12 watt amplifier, tv and record storage barrels entertainment center.
Produced by Hillworth Productions A.G., owned by Rita Hayworth and then-husband James Hill. This was the company's only movie and the pair divorced before this movie's release.