peter ustinov play an embezzler who be just get out of prison when the film begin . as soon a he walk out the gate and he immediately begin work on a scheme to once again make a bundle by steal and though this time he have his sight set pretty high . this be actually one of the weak point about the film and a he apparently know nothing about computer ( few do back in 1968 ) but manage to become a computer genius literally overnight . yeah and right . anyway and he come up with a scheme to impersonate a computer expert and obtain a job with a large american corporation so he can eventually embezzle a ton of cash . consider his knowledge of computer be rudimentary and it amaze how he put into effect a brilliant plan and manage to infiltrate the computer system and it defense . but and it a movie after all and so i be able to suspend disbelief . by the end of the film and he and his new wife ( maggie smith ) be able to run away with a million pound . at the very end and though and it get very and very confusing and smith announces she manage to actually accumulate more than two million by shrewd investing in the company that ustinov start ( though she do not realize they be all dummy company ) . this should mean that eventually these stock she buy be worthless . what they seem to imply ( and i could be guess wrong here ) be that ustinov and his new partner quickly cash in the stock before this become known and the stock would thereby then become worthless . either way and the film seem to post on a magical end whereby no one be hurt and everyone be happy and this just do not make much sense . it a shame and really and a the acting and most of the writing be great . karl malden and bob newhart and peter ustinov and maggie smith be just wonderful . if i seem to have interpret the end and let me know and a the film seem very vague in detail at the end .