The Wrong Arm of the Law

The Wrong Arm of the Law
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Cliff Owen
Produced by	E.M. Smedley Aston Aubrey Baring
Written by	John Antrobus Ray Galton Len Heath
Starring	Peter Sellers Lionel Jeffries Bernard Cribbins John Le Mesurier Bill Kerr
Music by	Richard Rodney Bennett
Cinematography	Ernest Steward
Edited by	Tristam Cones
Production company	Romulus Films
Distributed by	British Lion Films (UK)
Release date	14 March 1963 (London, West End)
Running time	94 minutes
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English

The Wrong Arm of the Law is a 1963 British comedy film directed by Cliff Owen and starring Peter Sellers, Bernard Cribbins, Lionel Jeffries, John Le Mesurier and Bill Kerr. It was written in part by Ray Galton and Alan Simpson and made by Romulus Films.

The film opened at the Warner Theatre in London's West End on 14 March 1963.

In London, a gang of criminals from Australia led by Jack Coombes (Bill Kerr) impersonate policemen to carry out robberies. Local gang leader "Pearly" Gates (Sellers), who operates from the cover of a French couturier, finds his takings cut severely, and blames rival crook "Nervous" O'Toole (Bernard Cribbins). When it emerges that they are both being scammed by the same gang, they join forces, along with Lionel Jeffries' Police Inspector "Nosey" Parker, to bring the so-called "I.P.O. mob" (I.P.O. - Impersonating a Police Officer) to justice. Nanette Newman provides the love interest, the ubiquitous John Le Mesurier plays a senior policeman, and a young Michael Caine has a small and uncredited role as a young PC. Other uncredited roles include John Junkin (Maurice), Dennis Price (Educated Ernest), Cardew Robinson (Mailman), Dick Emery (Man in Flat 307), Mario Fabrizi (Van Driver), John Harvey (Police Station Sergeant), Harold Siddons (PC in Basement Garage), Jack Silk (Police Station PC), Derek Guyler (non-speaking PC at Scotland Yard), Gerald Sim (Airfield Official) and Marianne Stone (Woman in Front Row at Gangsters' Meeting).