The Great Bank Robbery

Anyone who was not in stitches after watching this movie should take another look. This was quite simply one of the best comedies ever made. Hopefully, someday the powers that be will recognize the worth of this film and release it on DVD. Fans of Clint Walker and Kim Novak owe it to themselves to have this movie as a part of their collection, because the scope of their careers and the range of their abilities can not be adequately represented without it.

John Anderson has come up with a great idea in The Great Train Robbery. He has a bank in the town of Friendly, Texas that caters to bank robbers who want to hide their loot. People like the James Brothers, the Daltons, the Youngers all swear by him and it's a pretty secure facility. In effect Anderson has invented money laundering.

The big gangs avoid this place especially since Claude Akins gang is responsible for security. But a Mexican gang headed by father and son Akim Tamiroff and Larry Storch want to take it down.

And also there's a gang of confidence men disguised as clergy people and Zero Mostel heads it as the new town preacher. Other members are Peter Whitney, John Fiedler, Sam Jaffe, and Kim Novak. They've got a rather involved scheme to rob this place.

Before there was Blazing Saddles there was The Great Bank Robbery. Maybe this could have used the touch of Mel Brooks, but it's funny enough for me.

Best scene for me is Kim Novak exposed to peyote and then treating Texas Ranger Clint Walker. Walker is busy satirizing the cowboy hero myth and what peyote does to a cowboy hero is something to see.

Lots of laughs in this forgotten comedy.

Warner Bros made a great PR note that Kim Novak was to star in her first Warner Bros film The Great Bank Robbery. At first when I heard it I was dismayed because Kim Novak took second billing to Zero Mostel who true to his name the fine actor had 'Zero' box office, and also because I believe Kim replaced Melina Mecouri, not a good sign for a major star of the then magnitude of Kim Novak's stardom. Also Kim Novak had just starred in the flop The Legend of Lylah Clare at MGM and I thought Kim took the first big paycheck offered to her; I was wrong. Ms Novak is gorgeous and delightful in this zany comedy directed by Hy Averback and co starring WB rugged Clint Walker along with a cast of fine character actors. This film is a delightful surprise.

This was an excellent "escape" movie. I mean, if you wanted to escape reality for a couple of hours...this is a humorous way to escape. It truly was almost a laugh a minute. You could keep ahead of the action and guess what was coming. It did not disappoint you! It was a FUNNY movie. With all the chases going on and so many main characters to follow; it truly kept your mind occupied and kept you following the ever-changing plot lines. The inter-mingling of so many sub-plots just added to the overall effect of the movie. Just when you thought you had seen the end of the plot line, there was even more intermingling between the various groups involved in "Harmony". Does anyone know where I can buy a copy for home viewing? DC III

I actually enjoyed this. Saw it on TCM and was glad I stumbled upon it flicking the channels.

It's fun.

It's not as slapstick as BS as I said, but it entertains, and is a little deeper comedy wise than some folk give it credit for. It's meant to be very stereotypical... the story line, characters etc Only the song in the Church i felt was not needed... felt a little Disney-ish.

The lead actress Kim Novac is absolutely stunning, worth watching just to see her. Will def be looking in to other films she made. Reminded me a bit of a cross between Doris Day and Goldie Hawn.