MovieChat Forums > Payroll (1962) Discussion > Great brutal British crime film

Great brutal British crime film

posted 16 years ago by gonog998
7 replies | jump to latest

I really can't let Mr GarryO get away with his trashing of this film.
Its available at the moment on DVD so check it out for yourself.Ignore what he says about this film being boring. He couldn't be more wrong. This is a rough tough heist flick that takes no prisoners. The robbery itself is superbly staged by director Sidney Hayers ( Cirus of Horrors, Night of the Eagle). And the vicious follow up where thieves fall out over the spoils and start knocking each other off is as nasty as some of the stuff in Resevoir Dogs. Also - quite unusually for the time - the lead woman played by the great Billie Whitelaw takes up the main action by tracking down the gang herself because the police aren't up to the job!
A top notch crime film which shows that us brits can do this kind of thing as well as the Yanks when we want to.

[–] screenman 16 years ago

I quite agree, mate. Although I haven't seen this movie for years, my recollection is of a very well-presented and gritty (for its time) crime drama. This is especially true of the ram-raid attack on the security van.

It's all too easy to forget in this ruthlessly violent age of `Blair World', that a robbery of this kind and the slaughter depicted in it was extremely rare and shocking in 1961. Just look at the prison terms that were handed down to the `Great Train Robbers' - 30 years, and that without murder. Today, they'd probably get 10 and serve just 5, and bellyache about their human rights.

It's just not possible to judge the social mores of 40 years ago by those of today.

And wasn't the theme music good as well?

[–] andyg35 16 years ago

I agree - a very entertaining film, just seen it now on DVD for the first time. Great performances from most of the cast (despite the lack of Geordie accents, as pointed out in the review) and a nice, tight script that only loses it's way a little bit towards the end.

I love to watch old British films as they remind me what the country was like when I was a little 'un...it is sad that this film (and the crime that it portrays) would almost fail to raise an eyebrow in 2008 - not everything has changed for the better, that's for sure.

I wonder whatever happened to the uncut version though ?

AndyG

[–] wmjahn 16 years ago

Thanx for the info, mate, I am going to get me that DVD ! Love old brit-crime !!

[–] Xcalat3 14 years ago

Great Film overall

When there's no more room in hell, The dead will walk the earth...

[–] screenman 13 years ago

Just got the DVD - still impressed and recommend a purchase. But watch the price; at Amazon it's been as little as £4.99 (what I paid) and as much as £14.99. Optimum have done a decent job; print and sound are still clear. Great varied character ensemble in the gang. Enjoyed seeing all those old cars and vans that populated British streets when I was a kid. We din't just make good movies then; we made plenty of good rides as well.

[–] SueBee55 10 years ago

Agree with all the above. One of the best British crime films of the 1960's. Just one quibble - I question whether the security guard in the rear of the van would be permitted to carry a double barrelled shotgun! Maybe the gun laws were more lax in those days but I've never known anyone permitted to carry firearms legally in the UK apart from police.

[–] jdforyou1983 (1469) 3 years ago

Great film
my rating 7/10