The Day They Robbed the Bank of England
| The Day They Robbed the Bank of England | |
|---|---|
Poster
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| Directed by | John Guillermin |
| Produced by | Jules Buck |
| Written by |
Howard Clewes (screenplay and adaptation) Richard Maibaum (adaptation) John Brophy (novel) |
| Starring |
Aldo Ray Elizabeth Sellars Peter O'Toole |
| Music by | Edwin Astley |
| Cinematography | Georges Périnal |
| Edited by | Frank Clarke |
| Distributed by | Metro-Goldwyn Mayer |
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Release date
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17 May 1960 (UK) |
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Running time
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85 min. |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $457,000 |
| Box office | $805,000 |
The Day They Robbed the Bank of England is a 1960 British crime film directed by John Guillermin. It was written by Howard Clewes and Richard Maibaum and based upon a novel by John Brophy.
Peter O'Toole's role in the film led him to be cast as the lead in Lawrence of Arabia two years later.
The film is set in London at the turn of the 20th century, in 1901. While Ireland struggles for independence, Charles Norgate (Aldo Ray), an Irish-American, arrives in London after being recruited by Irish revolutionaries to undertake a robbery of the Bank of England. Iris Muldoon, the widow of a martyr in the Irish independence movement, had previously travelled to New York to hire Norgate on behalf of the movement. The Irish revolutionaries, led by O'Shea (Hugh Griffith), plan to rob a million pounds worth of gold bullion from the bank vaults as a political offensive. At first, the other revolutionaries are wary of Norgate but he gains their confidence by acknowledging his Irish lineage. Informed that the bank is considered impregnable, Norgate seeks a weakness in the Bank Picquet provided by the Brigade of Guards, which keeps watch on the gold.
After a visit to a local public house frequented by Her Majesty's Guardsmen, Norgate befriends Lt. Monte Fitch (Peter O'Toole) of the Guard. After expressing an interest in architecture, Fitch directs him to a museum that holds the original designs of the bank's architect. The following evening, Norgate breaks into the museum and traces the plans. Walsh (Kieron Moore), one of the revolutionaries that dislikes Norgate, is convinced that there is no weakness to be found in the bank's security. Walsh is enamored by Muldoon and attempts to persuade her to leave the movement and settle with him but she refuses. In addition, although Muldoon had an affair with Norgate in New York, she no longer wishes to be involved with him either.
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Wikipedia