The Great St. Louis Bank Robbery (1959)

A gang's plans for a St. Louis bank robbery are complicated when the sister of one of the thieves starts voicing her well-founded suspicions.

Directors:

Charles Guggenheim, John Stix

Writer:

Richard T. Heffron (screenplay)

Stars:

Steve McQueen, Crahan Denton, David Clarke

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Steve McQueen	...	George Fowler
Crahan Denton	...	John Egan
David Clarke	...	Gino
James Dukas	...	Willie
Molly McCarthy	...	Ann
Martha Gable	...	Eddie's Wife
Larry Gerst	...	Eddie
Boyd Williams	...	W.H. Dalton - Bank Officer
Frank Novotny	...	Pat - Ann's Boyfriend
Nell Roberts	...	Salvation Army Woman
Bob Holt	...	Police Dispatcher
May Kohn	...	Bank Cashier
Jay Elliot	...	Car Salesman
Robert Klauss	...	Phone Repairman
Barney Barnett	...	Policeman

Storyline

George Fowler is drawn into a gang planning to rob a bank in St. Louis that they expect will have a $100,000 on hand on an upcoming Friday. George is drawn into the plan as the gang's driver by Gino, an old girlfriend's older brother. As the gang goes about its planning, George and Gino have to find a way to live for the next two weeks and they turn to Gino's sister, Ann, for help. George is hoping to go back to college and the money he would make would go a long way to helping him do that. Not trusting George to keep his nerve, the gang's leader John Egan moves him to the inside, but the robbery doesn't go off as planned.

---

Plot Keywords:

gang | bank | planning | suspicion | homosexual villain | 

---

Taglines:

Never before in Police annals! Never before in film history!

---

Genres:

Crime | Drama

---

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 September 1959 (USA)

Also Known As:

Asalto al banco de St. Louis

Filming Locations:

Southwest Bank - 2301 S. Kingshighway Blvd. at Southwest Avenue, St. Louis, Missouri, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Charles Guggenheim & Associates, Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

89 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This story is based on a true incident. Many of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police officers and bank employees play themselves doing what they did during the actual robbery.

---

Connections

Referenced in Twelve Monkeys (1995)

---

Soundtracks

"Night Train"
By Bernardo Segall (as Bernardo Segáll) and Peter Udell

User Reviews

The Great Missed Opportunity

Heralded, "This story is based on a true incident. Men of the Saint Louis Police Department play the same parts they did in the actual crime," which is one of the less interesting elements about this film. Directors Charles Guggenheim and John Stix' documentary-style approach is more interesting. And, an early Steve McQueen stars; although, obviously, this is before he found a feature film persona that worked. Trumping all in the interest department, however, is the homosexual relationships between the characters, both real and imagined.

Mr. McQueen (as George Fowler) is a college drop-out, trying to lead the straight life. He is tempted into a life of crime, however, by ex-girlfriend Molly McCarthy (as Ann)'s brother David Clarke (as Gino). McQueen and Mr. Clarke have partnered up; but, the roommates have had a difficult time finding honest work. So, they involve themselves with a bank heist, masterminded by Crahan Denton (as John Eagan).

The fifth wheel in the cast is getaway driver James Dukas (as Willie). Mr. Dukas gives the film's best performance; and, he has the most interesting role. Dukas began with head honcho Denton when he was a younger, thinner "kid", a fact Denton cruelly enjoys mentioning; and, the two obviously became lovers. They have a terrific bickering scene, which ends with Denton ordering Dukas, "Go take a bath, Willie." Denton wants the younger McQueen to drive his getaway car, which makes Dukas very jealous.

Too bad that jukebox could only afford to play one record. With a bigger budget, "The Great St. Louis Bank Robbery" coulda been a contenda.