This story British film noir is a surprise to find, a dark caper film along the lines of Stanley Kubrick's "The Killing". There's Laurence Harvey, Richard Basehart, John Ireland and Stanley Baker, for men in younique indifferent stations in life, joined together for a crime that the audience knows will take them down. Their women are Gloria grahame, Joan Collins, Renee Ray and Margaret Leighton, and of the four women, only Collins and Ray are decent while the other two are either self-centered or deadly. Collins is faced with an aging, suicidal mother (Freda Jackson) who keeps spoiling her attempts to be with the man she loves, while Grahame is a self centered film star stepping out on her man. When he captures her, it's a hysterical seeing that literally will leave her in cold water.
For the first hour of this film, we are led to believe through flashbacks that's something dangerous is about to happen, but other than the opening segment of the four men gathered together and showing their weapons are we aware that they are up to no good. These revelations are important to move the story along, and the film is not boring at all in telling these pre crime happenings. The last half-hour is where the film really hits a top-notch speed, and it is a race to the finish line for all of them as they are able to get the crime done but their own greed is destined to do them in. one ironic moment has a final grin of one of the men as he takes care of another one, and it is quite ironic.
The cleverness of the script makes this very intriguing, and the fast pacing even in the non-criminal flashback scenes will keep you engrossed. There's a cameo by Robert Morley as well. By mixing an American and British cast, this has historical value as well, and the lovely Collins certainly will turn your head.
For the first hour of this film, we are led to believe through flashbacks that's something dangerous is about to happen, but other than the opening segment of the four men gathered together and showing their weapons are we aware that they are up to no good. These revelations are important to move the story along, and the film is not boring at all in telling these pre crime happenings. The last half-hour is where the film really hits a top-notch speed, and it is a race to the finish line for all of them as they are able to get the crime done but their own greed is destined to do them in. one ironic moment has a final grin of one of the men as he takes care of another one, and it is quite ironic.
The cleverness of the script makes this very intriguing, and the fast pacing even in the non-criminal flashback scenes will keep you engrossed. There's a cameo by Robert Morley as well. By mixing an American and British cast, this has historical value as well, and the lovely Collins certainly will turn your head.