A gang leader dumps her criminal boyfriend when he is convicted of robbery, but he recovers the stolen loot once he's released. In retaliation, the gang kidnaps his son and demands the money as ransom.
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Title: It Takes a Thief (1960)
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Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Jayne Mansfield | ... | Billy | |
| Anthony Quayle | ... | Jim | |
| Carl Möhner | ... | Kristy | |
| Peter Reynolds | ... | Buddy | |
| John Bennett | ... | Spider | |
| Barbara Mullen | ... | Ma Piper | |
 |
Peter Pike | ... | 'Joey' / Joey |
| Robert Brown | ... | Bob Crowther | |
| Dermot Walsh | ... | Detective Sergeant Willis | |
| Edward Judd | ... | Detective Sergeant Gittens | |
| John Stratton | ... | Rick | |
| Patrick Holt | ... | Max | |
|
|
Lorraine Clewes | ... | Mrs. Rick |
| Percy Herbert | ... | Shop Steward | |
|
|
Liane Marelli | ... | Striptease Artiste |
Edit
Plot Summary
|
Add Synopsis
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Storyline
Billie and Kristy lead a gang of armed robbers who steal from banks, armoured cars, and the like. When Billie's lover, Jim, gets caught by the police after stashing a large amount of money, they wait for him to get out of jail. He does and has to deal with both the police and his ex-gang as they both need him to get what they want. Things become more complicated when Kristy kidnaps Jim's son and threatens to kill him if Jim doesn't come up with the buried loot. Written by Josh Pasnak <chainsaw@intouch.bc.ca>
Plot Keywords:
woman smoker | trumpet | smoking in bed | shooting gallery | saxophone |Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parents »
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See full technical specs »
Details
Country:
UKLanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
February 1961 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
It Takes a Thief See more »Company Credits
Show more on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Sound Mix:
Mono (RCA Sound Recording)Color:
Black and White
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Lyrics by Robert Halfin
Music by Bill McGuffie (as William McGuffie)
Performed by Jayne Mansfield (dubbed by Joan Small) (uncredited)
See more »
Did You Know?
Soundtracks
The ChallengeLyrics by Robert Halfin
Music by Bill McGuffie (as William McGuffie)
Performed by Jayne Mansfield (dubbed by Joan Small) (uncredited)
See more »
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One of the better London-based crime films of the 1950s/1960s to appear on the Talking Pictures channel. It was interesting to see Anthony Quayle as something of an underdog, and I always puzzle about Edward Judd's transformation as an actor. In "The Challenge", he looks a bit seedy, not helped by unflattering baldness, whereas after some 50 years I can still recall his screen presence in some TV series or other - helped by a toupee, a bit of burliness and a smart suit.
I have a feeling that, as with so many films, the regional railway stock and the London terminus didn't match. (And even in those days did drivers really leave ignition keys in their cars?) Despite what others have said, I thought that Jayne Mansfield was adequate, though I fast-forwarded through her song.
The poster for the film shown here on IMDb titillates misleadingly. I'm not sure who the cavorting lady is - Billy before she went blonde or the stripper whose act we never got to see completely?