A threadbare and absurd storyline, third rate dialogue and acting which can be best described as wooden, renders this film unwatchable! The film is essentially a homage to 'trad jazz' with a contrived, cobbled together story. There is little action and without any stand out personalities, the film ends up a real bore! It has a curiosity value, as 'trad jazz' bands like Acker Bilk and Kenny Ball, gained a substantial degree of commercial success in the charts between 1960 & 1962. However, by the autumn of 1963, that was all set to change with the arrival of the Beatles and other pop groups, who offered teenagers a far more exciting and vibrant style of music. 'Band of Thieves' when it was released in 1962, looks and sounds like a cheaply made film, quickly released to capitalise on the passing trad jazz fad! This film should be consigned to the museum of low budget early pop 60's films!
Review of Band of Thieves
