Loot (1970)

Director:

Silvio Narizzano

Writers:

Ray Galton (writer)
Joe Orton (play)

Release Date:

21 January 1972 (Denmark)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

Based on the play by 'Joe Orton' this film follows the adventures of two pals who have pulled off a bank robbery and have to hide the loot...

Plot Keywords:

Coffin | Bank Robbery | Nurse | Loot | Beautiful Woman

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Richard Attenborough	...	Inspector Truscott
Lee Remick	...	Nurse Fay McMahon
Hywel Bennett	...	Dennis
Milo O'Shea	...	Mr. McLeavy
Roy Holder	...	Hal
Dick Emery	...	Mr. Bateman
Joe Lynch	...	Father O'Shaughnessy
John Cater	...	Meadows
Aubrey Woods	...	Undertaker
Enid Lowe	...	W.V.A. Leader
Harold Innocent	...	Bank Manager
Kevin Brennan	...	Vicar
Andonia Katsaros	...	Policewoman
Jean Marlow	...	Mrs. McLeavy
Robert Raglan	...	Doctor

Runtime:

101 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | UK:X | USA:R | UK:15 (re-rating) (1989)

Filming Locations:

Bear Road, Brighton, East Sussex, England, UK

Company:

Performing Arts

Trivia:

The Broadway production of "Loot" written by Joe Orton opened at the Biltmore Theater in New York on March 18, 1968 and ran for 22 performances.

Movie Connections:

References The Public Enemy (1931)

The wit of spoken word and situation survive the awful music

I wonder if it would be possible to re-edit this comic gem to eliminate the dreadful backing song(s). Its a play in which the absurdity of conventional attitudes is lampooned and the stirling performances by Milo O'Shea and Attenborough carry it off in the larger style required for big screen. It may mystify those hooked on two modern types of comedy film: those which mock the people who don't conform and those which don't ever rise beyond crude vaudeville. Loot sympathises with those who defy and subvert social codes. It has more in common with the intelligent humour of Harold and Maude or The Producers than with the raucous Eddie Murphy / Chevvy Chase shout-fests. Of course, its difficult. The hard of thinking may have to replay some of the one liners to appreciate the ironies - the targets are attitudes rather than personal blemishes. This is not the world of Joan Rivers either - there is no bitchy 'humour' Orton, while deliberately offending against 'good taste' never sets his sights on anything quite so grubby. The cast are all likable but absurd. Even in Orton's more bitchy plays like 'What the Butler Saw' he doesn't aim at vindictiveness - its the institution he undermines. Loot is satire, not sarcasm. The well paced direction and the crisp, non-self-indulgent acting make this a forgotten treat which should be revived, as it has been for such diverse actors as Leonard Rossiter and Kenneth Williams on stage within living memory.