I Promised to Pay (1961)
"Payroll" (original title)

A vicious gang of crooks plan to steal the wages of a local factory, but their carefully laid plans go wrong, when the factory employs an armoured van to carry the cash. The gang still go ... See full summary »

Director:

Sidney Hayers

Writers:

George Baxt, Derek Bickerton (novel)

Stars:

Michael Craig, Françoise Prévost, Billie Whitelaw

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Michael Craig	...	Johnny Mellors
Françoise Prévost	...	Katie Pearson
Billie Whitelaw	...	Jackie Parker
William Lucas	...	Dennis Pearson
Kenneth Griffith	...	Monty
Tom Bell	...	Blackie
Barry Keegan	...	Bert Langridge
Edward Cast	...	Detective Sergeant Bradden
Andrew Faulds	...	Detective Inspector Carberry
William Dexter	...	Harry Parker (as William Peacock)
Glyn Houston	...	Frank Moore
Joan Rice	...	Madge Moore
Vanda Godsell	...	Doll
Stanley Meadows	...	Bowen
Brian McDermott	...	Brent

Storyline

A vicious gang of crooks plan to steal the wages of a local factory, but their carefully laid plans go wrong, when the factory employs an armoured van to carry the cash. The gang still go ahead with the robbery, but when the driver of the armoured van is killed in the raid, his wife plans revenge, and with the police closing in, the gang start to turn on each other.

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Plot Keywords:

nudity | heist | british noir | female nudity | based on novel | 

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Taglines:

Brilliant... Brutal... Torn from tonight's headlines!

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Genres:

Crime | Drama

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 May 1962 (USA)

Also Known As:

I Promised to Pay

Filming Locations:

Gateshead, Tyne & Wear, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Lynx Films Ltd.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

117 min 117 min (uncut) 102 min (cut)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

Despite its Newcastle setting not one character has a genuine "Geordie" (Newcastle/Tyneside) accent.

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Connections

Featured in Oil City Confidential (2009)

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Soundtracks

"It Happens Every Day"
Written by Tony Osborne & Norman Newell
Sung by Eddie Ellis

User Reviews

Typically taut British heist movie!

When thieves fall out... somewhat formulaic story admittedly but very well done. Beautifully evocative b&w shots of early 60's Britain - sometimes think things really were b&w in those days. I think Craig is an excellent choice as the brooding Mellors and that Prevost was a much undervalued actress - very cool as the femme fatale.

Some of the "hi tech" stuff which looks so funny now was probably really cutting edge then. Check out the photocopier and the tape player.

This film really does go through some of the clichés but is none the worse off for doing so. It also showcases the overlooked talents of the leads as well as introducing us to Tom Bell, who went on to have a fine career and is best known for being the wry cynical sidekick to Helen Mirren in the excellent Prime Suspect.

Great music too!