The League of Gentlemen (1960)

Director:

Basil Dearden

Writers:

John Boland (novel)
Bryan Forbes (screenplay)

Release Date:

22 August 1960 (Sweden)

Genre:

Adventure | Comedy | Crime | Drama

Plot:

A disgruntled veteran recruits a group of disgraced collegues to perform a bank robbery with military precision.

Plot Keywords:

Bank Robbery | Veteran | Planning | Raid | Explosive

Awards:

Nominated for BAFTA Film Award. Another 1 win

Cast

Jack Hawkins	...	Hyde
Nigel Patrick	...	Race
Roger Livesey	...	Mycroft
Richard Attenborough	...	Lexy
Bryan Forbes	...	Porthill
Kieron Moore	...	Stevens
Terence Alexander	...	Rupert
Norman Bird	...	Weaver
Robert Coote	...	Bunny Warren
Melissa Stribling	...	Peggy
Nanette Newman	...	Elizabeth
Lydia Sherwood	...	Hilda
Doris Hare	...	Molly Weaver
David Lodge	...	C.S.M.
Patrick Wymark	...	Wylie

Runtime:

116 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Colour:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:PG | Australia:G (DVD rating) | Iceland:L | UK:A (original rating) | UK:PG (video rating) | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | USA:Unrated | West Germany:12

Filming Locations:

Belgrave Mews, Belgrave Square, Belgravia, London, England, UK

Company:

Allied Film Makers (AFM)

Trivia:

Cary Grant turned down the role of Hyde.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When Elizabeth, played by Nanette Newman, is soaking, apparently naked, in a bubble bath and taunting her husband, the white strapless bra or swimsuit she is wearing can be seen when she moves her left arm.

Quotes:

Weaver: Nothing in the Stop Press?
Lexy: No, just a vicar on a rape charge.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Flawless (2007)

Enjoyable old film

An enjoyable effort in the Ealing vein, more specifically in the black comic vein of "Kind Hearts and Coronets" or "The Naked Truth", with fairly upper-class individuals gleefully straying from the straight and narrow. It is a mark of the film's whimsical success that one is made to sympathise with what is basically a gang of upper-class soldiers resorting to criminality. The wit, camaraderie and very subtle pathos of the ex-soldiers is very well worked - adrift as they are in peacetime, the planned heist provides some scope for their talents.

Most of the actors make their mark in some way - Roger Livesey, Nigel Patrick and particularly Jack Hawkins, are wonderful. Robert Coote is wonderfully spot-on in his late appearance as Brigadier Bunny Warren.

The script is finely crafted and while not up to the standard of "Kind Hearts...", this is quite a fine little film, always mildly winning in some way throughout its duration. Rating:- ****/*****