Documentary about the 1990 Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum Heist
Brief Review by Travis Simpkins
Directed by Rebecca Dreyfus, Stolen (2005) is a documentary that focuses on the March 18, 1990 heist at Boston's Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum… during which two thieves, disguised as Boston police officers, gained access to the museum, tied-up the security guards and stole 13 valuable works of art including masterpieces by Vermeer and Rembrandt. The case remains unsolved 25 years later, and is the largest property theft in history, with the missing works valued at $500 Million. In addition to describing the robbery, the film focuses on the efforts of the late detective Harold Smith and others, whose obsession with finding the stolen masterworks is contagious. Being 10 years old, some parts of the film are outdated at this point, particularly in regard to James "Whitey" Bulger having had some involvement (not likely)… at the time of filming, Bulger was still a long-elusive fugitive and an easy target for speculation. Entertaining insights are offered by well-known figures in the Art Crime world, including Boston Herald reporter Tom Mashberg, thieves William Youngworth and Myles Connor, Scotland Yard's Dick Ellis and former-thief Paul "Turbo" Hendry. Various authors give their thoughts as well, such as Tracy Chevalier, Anthony Bailey, Douglass Shand-Tucci, Susan Vreeland and Katherine Weber. Of particular interest, are the poignant sentiments that come courtesy of a teary-eyed long-time Gardner Museum Gallery Attendant, Frank DiMaria. By no means a definitive source on the subject, the film does however provide an enjoyable 90-minute respite involving one of the most compelling mysteries of the art world.
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum: Stolen. 2005 Documentary
Isabella Stewart Gardner: Stolen. 2005 Documentary
The Concert by Vermeer: Stolen. 2005 Documentary
Frank DiMaria, Gallery Attendant: Stolen. 2005 Documentary
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum: Stolen. 2005 Documentary
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum's Stolen Art: Stolen. 2005 Documentary
Harold Smith: Stolen. 2005 Documentary
$5 Million Reward: Stolen. 2005 Documentary
Tom Mashberg: Stolen. 2005 Documentary
Tom Mashberg, Boston Herald: "We've Seen It!": Stolen. 2005 Documentary
Anthony Bailey: Stolen. 2005 Documentary
Frank DiMaria, Gallery Attendant: Stolen. 2005 Documentary
Greg Smith: Stolen. 2005 Documentary
Katherine Weber: Stolen. 2005 Documentary
Myles Connor: Stolen. 2005 Documentary
Myles Connor: Stolen. 2005 Documentary
Greg and Harold Smith: Stolen. 2005 Documentary
Eli Kirtz, former Gardner Museum Security Guard: Stolen. 2005 Documentary
Isabella Stewart Gardner: Stolen. 2005 Documentary
Dick Ellis: Stolen. 2005 Documentary
Myles Connor: Stolen. 2005 Documentary
Paul "Turbo" Hendry: Stolen. 2005 Documentary
Paul "Turbo" Hendry: Stolen. 2005 Documentary
Tracy Chevalier: Stolen. 2005 Documentary
Tom Mashberg: Stolen. 2005 Documentary
William Youngworth: Stolen. 2005 Documentary
Frank DiMaria, Gallery Attendant: Stolen. 2005 Documentary
Douglass Shand-Tucci: Stolen. 2005 Documentary
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum: Stolen. 2005 Documentary
Michael Sullivan: Stolen. 2005 Documentary
FBI Special Agent Charles Prouty: Stolen. 2005 Documentary
Harold Smith: Stolen. 2005 Documentary
Harold Smith and Paul "Turbo" Hendry: Stolen. 2005 Documentary
Paul "Turbo" Hendry: Stolen. 2005 Documentary
William Youngworth: Stolen. 2005 Documentary
William Youngworth: Stolen. 2005 Documentary
Tracy Chevalier: Stolen. 2005 Documentary
James "Whitey" Bulger: Stolen. 2005 Documentary
Susan Vreeland: Stolen. 2005 Documentary
William Youngworth and Harold Smith: Stolen. 2005 Documentary
Ron Gollobin: Stolen. 2005 Documentary
Paul "Turbo" Hendry: Stolen. 2005 Documentary
Harold Smith: Stolen. 2005 Documentary
Frank DiMaria, Gallery Attendant: Stolen. 2005 Documentary
In his ambitious 2011 book, Hot Art: Chasing Thieves and Detectives Through the Secret World of Stolen Art, Joshua Knelman offers new insights and projects studied focus on the illicit undercurrent of art theft… estimated to cause $4 to $6 Billion a year in losses worldwide. The tome looks at a series of passionate figures in the Art Crime field. Detective Donald Hrycyk heads the Art Theft Detail in the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), the only Municipal art theft unit in the United States, and took Knelman along on investigations and offered a unique look at the often-uphill battle he faces in tracking stolen works of art. Paul "Turbo" Hendry, a former Brighton "knocker" and stolen art middleman gives an insider's look and expert advice on theft: "Stay under the radar." Hendry's popular blog, Art Hostage, is noted and many entertaining tales are woven in charismatic fashion in the many pages dedicated to him. Former FBI Agent and Art Crime Team founder, Robert K. Wittman, provides his expertise in a brief interlude (Wittman had not yet retired and was quite busy at the time). Dick Ellis of Scotland Yard's Art and Antiques Squad offers his unique perspective on strategies to recover stolen art. Agencies such as the Art Loss Register and INTERPOL are prominently featured as well. Well-researched and expertly-written, Hot Art serves as an intriguing guide book to the world of Art Theft… an area that is altogether fascinating, entertaining and disturbing on a global level.
