The Wrong Arm of the Law (1963)

The crooks in London know how it works. No one carries guns and no one resists the police. Then a new gang appears that go one better. They dress as police and steal from the crooks. This ... See full summary »

Director:

Cliff Owen

Writers:

Ray Galton, Alan Simpson,

Stars:

Peter Sellers, Lionel Jeffries, Bernard Cribbins

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Peter Sellers	...	Pearly Gates
Lionel Jeffries	...	Inspector Fred 'Nosey' Parker
Bernard Cribbins	...	Nervous O'Toole
Davy Kaye	...	Trainer King
Nanette Newman	...	Valerie
Bill Kerr	...	Jack Coombes
Ed Devereaux	...	Bluey May
Reg Lye	...	Reg Denton
John Le Mesurier	...	Assistant Commissioner
Graham Stark	...	Sid Cooper
Martin Boddey	...	Superintendent J.S. Forest
Irene Browne	...	Dowager
Arthur Mullard	...	Brassknuckles
Dermot Kelly	...	Misery Martin
Vanda Godsell	...	Annette

Storyline

The crooks in London know how it works. No one carries guns and no one resists the police. Then a new gang appears that go one better. They dress as police and steal from the crooks. This upset's the natural order of the police/criminal relationship and the police and the crooks join forces to catch the IPOs (Impersonating Police Officers), including an armored car robbery in which the police must help the gangs to set a trap.

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Plot Keywords:

police | robbery | policeman | funfair | london england | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime

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Certificate:

Unrated

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 June 1963 (Sweden)

Also Known As:

Gentlemenkillers

Filming Locations:

Battersea Fun Fair, Battersea Park, Battersea, London, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Robert Velaise Productions, Romulus Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

94 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Did You Know?

Trivia

The part of Siggy Schmoltz, played by Tutte Lemkow, is voiced by Peter Sellers.

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Goofs

In the first bank robbery, the robbers drive away from the bank, but in the next shot they are seen approaching the bank again from the opposite direction as the IPO mob divert them down a side street where they are lined up against a wall directly opposite the bank.

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Quotes

Jack Coombes: They shipped enough crooks out to Australia. It's about time they had a few back here!

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Connections

References The Day They Robbed the Bank of England (1960)

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Soundtracks

"Oh Charley, Take It Away"
(uncredited)
Written by Arthur Le Clerq, Frederick Malcolm and Elvin Hedges

User Reviews

Locations

This is one of my favourite films - although I agree Peter Sellers does not steal the show (for once), its the whole cast and their interaction which makes this film so special.

Lionel Jeffries gives a brilliant performance as an inept policeman and Bernard Cribbins role as 'Pearly Gates' gang-lord rival is superb. The plot is well covered on this site, but I would like to add that the robbery on the security van was filmed in Mill Rd, Uxbridge (by the canal bridge - the shop&pub are still there) and I think the airfield was Denham (again nr. Uxbridge).

A brilliant film - They just don't make 'em like that anymore!

On a similar thread I would recommend Norman Wisdom in 'On the Beat'- one of his best performances in my opinion, and Sellers again in 'Two-way stretch' if you're looking for a good laugh.