The League of Gentlemen (1960)

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

Director:

Basil Dearden

Writers:

John Boland (novel), Bryan Forbes (screenplay)

Stars:

Jack Hawkins, Nigel Patrick, Roger Livesey

Nominated for 1 BAFTA Film Award. Another 1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jack Hawkins	...	Col. John George Norman Hyde
Nigel Patrick	...	Maj. Peter Graham Race
Roger Livesey	...	Capt. Mycroft
Richard Attenborough	...	Lt. Richard Lexy
Bryan Forbes	...	Capt. Martin Porthill
Kieron Moore	...	Capt. Stevens
Terence Alexander	...	Maj. Rupert Rutland-Smith
Norman Bird	...	Capt. Frank 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

Storyline

Involuntarily-retired Colonel Hyde recruits seven other dissatisfied ex-servicemen for a special project. Each of the men has a skeleton in the cupboard, is short of money, and is a service-trained expert in his field. The job is a bank robbery, and military discipline and planning are imposed by Hyde and second-in-command Race on the team, although civilian irritations do start getting in the way.

---

Plot Keywords:

bank robbery | veteran | planning | hiding | caper comedy | 

---

Genres:

Adventure | Comedy | Crime | Drama | Thriller

---

Certificate:

Unrated

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 August 1960 (Sweden)

Also Known As:

Banken sprænges kl. 11

Filming Locations:

Fleet Street, Holborn, London, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Allied Film Makers (AFM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

116 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The raid on the City and County Bank Ltd. takes place on Friday 18th.

---

Goofs

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

Mycroft: [playing a Brigadier inspecting the training camp in response to some private who has 'complained to his MP' regarding the food]
[enters Mess Hall]
Mycroft: Carry on eating. Any complaints here?
Captain Saunders: Come along now. Answer the Brigadier.
Other Private in Mess: No, Sir.
Mycroft: You're, um, quite satisfied with the food. You can speak quite freely.
Chunky Grogan: Well, er, no, Sir. Not always, Sir.
[CSM gives a menacing look]
Mycroft: What exactly don't you like about it?
Chunky Grogan: Well, er, they sometimes give you good grub, sir, but, er, they mess it about like.
[...]

---

Connections

Featured in Fifties British War Films: Days of Glory (2013)

---

Soundtracks

"The Soldiers of the Queen"
(uncredited)
written and composed by Leslie Stuart

User Reviews

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:- ****/*****