Too Many Crooks: Difference between revisions
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{{Infobox film | {{Infobox film | ||
| image = Too Many Crooks.jpg | | image = Too Many Crooks.jpg | ||
| caption = | | caption = | ||
| director = [[Mario Zampi]] | | director = [[w:Mario Zampi|Mario Zampi]] | ||
| producer = Mario Zampi | | producer = Mario Zampi | ||
| writer = {{plainlist| | | writer = {{plainlist| | ||
* Jean Nery (story) | * Jean Nery (story) | ||
* [[Michael Pertwee]] | * [[w:Michael Pertwee|Michael Pertwee]] | ||
* [[Christiane Rochefort]] | * [[w:Christiane Rochefort]] | ||
}} | }} | ||
| narrator = | | narrator = | ||
| Line 15: | Line 13: | ||
* [[Terry-Thomas]] | * [[Terry-Thomas]] | ||
* [[George Cole (actor)|George Cole]] | * [[George Cole (actor)|George Cole]] | ||
* [[Brenda de Banzie]] | * [[w:Brenda de Banzie|Brenda de Banzie]] | ||
* [[Sid James|Sidney James]] | * [[Sid James|Sidney James]] | ||
* [[Bernard Bresslaw]] | * [[Bernard Bresslaw]] | ||
}} | }} | ||
| music = [[Stanley Black]] | | music = [[Stanley Black]] | ||
| cinematography = [[Stanley Pavey]] | | cinematography = [[w:Stanley Pavey|Stanley Pavey]] | ||
| editing = [[Bill Lewthwaite]] | | editing = [[w:Bill Lewthwaite|Bill Lewthwaite]] | ||
| distributor = [[Rank Film Distributors]] (UK) | | distributor = [[w:Rank Film Distributors|Rank Film Distributors]] (UK) | ||
| released = {{Film date|1959|3|8|UK|df=y}} | | released = {{Film date|1959|3|8|UK|df=y}} | ||
| runtime = 87 minutes | | runtime = 87 minutes | ||
| Line 30: | Line 28: | ||
| gross = | | gross = | ||
}} | }} | ||
'''''Too Many Crooks''''' is a 1959 British [[comedy film]] directed by [[Mario Zampi]]. The plot concerns a bunch of inept crooks who kidnap the wife of a shady businessman, only for him to decide he doesn’t want her back.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmovie.com/movie/too-many-crooks-v50399|title=Too Many Crooks (1958) - Mario Zampi - Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related - AllMovie|website=AllMovie}}</ref> It stars [[George Cole (actor)|George Cole]], [[Sid James|Sidney James]] and [[Bernard Bresslaw]] as members of the gang, alongside [[Brenda de Banzie]] as the victim and [[Terry-Thomas]] as her husband.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b6b8a5c63|title=Too Many Crooks (1959)|publisher=}}</ref> | '''''Too Many Crooks''''' is a 1959 British [[w:comedy film|comedy film]] directed by [[w:Mario Zampi|Mario Zampi]]. The plot concerns a bunch of inept crooks who kidnap the wife of a shady businessman, only for him to decide he doesn’t want her back.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmovie.com/movie/too-many-crooks-v50399|title=Too Many Crooks (1958) - Mario Zampi - Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related - AllMovie|website=AllMovie}}</ref> It stars [[George Cole (actor)|George Cole]], [[Sid James|Sidney James]] and [[Bernard Bresslaw]] as members of the gang, alongside [[w:Brenda de Banzie|Brenda de Banzie]] as the victim and [[Terry-Thomas]] as her husband.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b6b8a5c63|title=Too Many Crooks (1959)|publisher=}}</ref> | ||
==Plot== | ==Plot== | ||
| Line 37: | Line 35: | ||
Thinking she will do just as well, Fingers demands £25,000 ransom for her safe return. To his surprise, Gordon gleefully refuses. The philanderer has been carrying on an affair with his secretary and would like nothing better than to be rid of his dowdy wife. Fingers desperately lowers his price over and over again, finally offering to give her back for a mere £200, but is turned down. | Thinking she will do just as well, Fingers demands £25,000 ransom for her safe return. To his surprise, Gordon gleefully refuses. The philanderer has been carrying on an affair with his secretary and would like nothing better than to be rid of his dowdy wife. Fingers desperately lowers his price over and over again, finally offering to give her back for a mere £200, but is turned down. | ||
When Lucy learns of this, her love for her husband is extinguished. She decides to get revenge and soon takes charge of the gang (her wartime training in unarmed combat coming in handy). Knowing of Gordon's tax dispute with the [[Inland Revenue]] and his distrust of banks, she figures out where he has hidden much of his money. She leads the gangsters in stealing the cash and, for good measure, the furs and jewellery Gordon had lavished on his mistress, taking half of the proceeds for her share. On leaving Gordon's house through the bedroom window a lit cigarette is left, which unintentionally burns the house down. Gordon returns and, thinking his money is burning, repeatedly jumps into the burning building. | When Lucy learns of this, her love for her husband is extinguished. She decides to get revenge and soon takes charge of the gang (her wartime training in unarmed combat coming in handy). Knowing of Gordon's tax dispute with the [[w:Inland Revenue|Inland Revenue]] and his distrust of banks, she figures out where he has hidden much of his money. She leads the gangsters in stealing the cash and, for good measure, the furs and jewellery Gordon had lavished on his mistress, taking half of the proceeds for her share. On leaving Gordon's house through the bedroom window a lit cigarette is left, which unintentionally burns the house down. Gordon returns and, thinking his money is burning, repeatedly jumps into the burning building. | ||
By coincidence, the next day, the newspapers report a gruesome murder, just like the one Fingers had threatened. Gordon jumps to the wrong conclusion, and Lucy makes him pay some more for his mistake. She has Sid and Fingers impersonate policemen investigating her disappearance. Fingers extorts most of the rest of Gordon's ready cash in exchange for letting the matter drop. When a real [[Scotland Yard]] inspector shows up soon after, Gordon loses his temper and raises suspicions of murder. | By coincidence, the next day, the newspapers report a gruesome murder, just like the one Fingers had threatened. Gordon jumps to the wrong conclusion, and Lucy makes him pay some more for his mistake. She has Sid and Fingers impersonate policemen investigating her disappearance. Fingers extorts most of the rest of Gordon's ready cash in exchange for letting the matter drop. When a real [[w:Scotland Yard|Scotland Yard]] inspector shows up soon after, Gordon loses his temper and raises suspicions of murder. | ||
Desperate, he decides to flee the country. Fingers's ex-stripper girlfriend offers to provide a forged passport. He agrees to meet her later, after visiting his mother. Lucy guesses that he is going there to pick up a final stash of money. The gang shows up and finds him with a suitcase. When the police come to question Gordon further, Fingers takes the suitcase (containing £50,000) and leaves, Gordon being too afraid to raise a fuss. Then Lucy walks in on her now-penniless husband. | Desperate, he decides to flee the country. Fingers's ex-stripper girlfriend offers to provide a forged passport. He agrees to meet her later, after visiting his mother. Lucy guesses that he is going there to pick up a final stash of money. The gang shows up and finds him with a suitcase. When the police come to question Gordon further, Fingers takes the suitcase (containing £50,000) and leaves, Gordon being too afraid to raise a fuss. Then Lucy walks in on her now-penniless husband. | ||
| Line 48: | Line 46: | ||
*[[Terry-Thomas]] as William Delaney Gordon - "Bill" | *[[Terry-Thomas]] as William Delaney Gordon - "Bill" | ||
*[[George Cole (actor)|George Cole]] as Fingers | *[[George Cole (actor)|George Cole]] as Fingers | ||
*[[Brenda De Banzie]] as Lucy Gordon | *[[w:Brenda De Banzie|Brenda De Banzie]] as Lucy Gordon | ||
*[[Bernard Bresslaw]] as Snowdrop | *[[Bernard Bresslaw]] as Snowdrop | ||
*[[Sid James|Sidney James]] as Sid | *[[Sid James|Sidney James]] as Sid | ||
*[[Vera Day]] as Charmaine | *[[w:Vera Day|Vera Day]] as Charmaine | ||
*[[Delphi Lawrence]] as Beryl | *[[w:Delphi Lawrence|Delphi Lawrence]] as Beryl | ||
*[[John Le Mesurier]] as Magistrate | *[[John Le Mesurier]] as Magistrate | ||
*[[Sydney Tafler]] as Solicitor | *[[Sydney Tafler]] as Solicitor | ||
| Line 59: | Line 57: | ||
*[[Terry Scott]] as Fire Policeman | *[[Terry Scott]] as Fire Policeman | ||
*Vilma Ann Leslie as Girl Journalist | *Vilma Ann Leslie as Girl Journalist | ||
*[[Edie Martin]] as Gordon's mother | *[[w:Edie Martin|Edie Martin]] as Gordon's mother | ||
*[[Tutte Lemkow]] as Swarthy Man | *[[w:Tutte Lemkow|Tutte Lemkow]] as Swarthy Man | ||
*[[John Stuart (actor)|John Stuart]] as Inspector Jensen | *[[w:John Stuart (actor)|John Stuart]] as Inspector Jensen | ||
*[[Joe Melia]] as Whisper | *[[w:Joe Melia|Joe Melia]] as Whisper | ||
*[[Arthur Brough]] as beggar (uncredited) | *[[Arthur Brough]] as beggar (uncredited) | ||
*[[Sam Kydd]] as tramp (uncredited) | *[[Sam Kydd]] as tramp (uncredited) | ||
*[[Howard Pays]] as policeman at traffic lights (uncredited) | *[[w:Howard Pays|Howard Pays]] as policeman at traffic lights (uncredited) | ||
*[[Victor Brooks (actor)|Victor Brooks]] Court Usher (uncredited) | *[[w:Victor Brooks (actor)|Victor Brooks]] Court Usher (uncredited) | ||
==Critical reception== | ==Critical reception== | ||
In ''[[The New York Times]]'', [[Bosley Crowther]] described the film as "a good, crazy, brisk farce comedy."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=980DE5DC1E3FE53BBC4D51DFB2668382649EDE|title = Movie Reviews|newspaper = The New York Times|date = 11 November 2021}}</ref> | In ''[[w:The New York Times|The New York Times]]'', [[w:Bosley Crowther|Bosley Crowther]] described the film as "a good, crazy, brisk farce comedy."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=980DE5DC1E3FE53BBC4D51DFB2668382649EDE|title = Movie Reviews|newspaper = The New York Times|date = 11 November 2021}}</ref> | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
| Line 75: | Line 73: | ||
==External links== | ==External links== | ||
*{{tcmdb title|17814}} | * {{tcmdb title|17814}} | ||
* {{IMDb title|0052301}} | * {{IMDb title|0052301}} | ||
* | * [https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/too%20many%20crooks Too Many Crooks on Rotten Tomatoes] | ||
[[Category:1959 films]] | [[Category:1959 films]] | ||
[[Category:1950s crime comedy films]] | [[Category:1950s crime comedy films]] | ||
[[Category:British crime comedy films]] | [[Category:British crime comedy films]] | ||
[[Category:British comedy films]] | |||
[[Category:British black comedy films]] | [[Category:British black comedy films]] | ||
[[Category:British black-and-white films]] | [[Category:British black-and-white films]] | ||
Latest revision as of 14:07, 23 November 2022
| Too Many Crooks | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Mario Zampi |
| Written by |
|
| Produced by | Mario Zampi |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Stanley Pavey |
| Edited by | Bill Lewthwaite |
| Music by | Stanley Black |
| Distributed by | Rank Film Distributors (UK) |
Release date |
|
Running time | 87 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
Too Many Crooks is a 1959 British comedy film directed by Mario Zampi. The plot concerns a bunch of inept crooks who kidnap the wife of a shady businessman, only for him to decide he doesn’t want her back.[1] It stars George Cole, Sidney James and Bernard Bresslaw as members of the gang, alongside Brenda de Banzie as the victim and Terry-Thomas as her husband.[2]
Plot
The members of a gang, especially Sid, grow impatient as their incompetent leader, Fingers, botches the robbery of a fur store, the latest in a series of disasters. Fingers then comes up with the idea of robbing businessman William Gordon. Gordon bluffs them into believing the police are on their way. Fingers refuses to give up, plotting to kidnap Gordon's daughter. However, he errs yet again and ends up with Gordon's meek wife Lucy instead.
Thinking she will do just as well, Fingers demands £25,000 ransom for her safe return. To his surprise, Gordon gleefully refuses. The philanderer has been carrying on an affair with his secretary and would like nothing better than to be rid of his dowdy wife. Fingers desperately lowers his price over and over again, finally offering to give her back for a mere £200, but is turned down.
When Lucy learns of this, her love for her husband is extinguished. She decides to get revenge and soon takes charge of the gang (her wartime training in unarmed combat coming in handy). Knowing of Gordon's tax dispute with the Inland Revenue and his distrust of banks, she figures out where he has hidden much of his money. She leads the gangsters in stealing the cash and, for good measure, the furs and jewellery Gordon had lavished on his mistress, taking half of the proceeds for her share. On leaving Gordon's house through the bedroom window a lit cigarette is left, which unintentionally burns the house down. Gordon returns and, thinking his money is burning, repeatedly jumps into the burning building.
By coincidence, the next day, the newspapers report a gruesome murder, just like the one Fingers had threatened. Gordon jumps to the wrong conclusion, and Lucy makes him pay some more for his mistake. She has Sid and Fingers impersonate policemen investigating her disappearance. Fingers extorts most of the rest of Gordon's ready cash in exchange for letting the matter drop. When a real Scotland Yard inspector shows up soon after, Gordon loses his temper and raises suspicions of murder.
Desperate, he decides to flee the country. Fingers's ex-stripper girlfriend offers to provide a forged passport. He agrees to meet her later, after visiting his mother. Lucy guesses that he is going there to pick up a final stash of money. The gang shows up and finds him with a suitcase. When the police come to question Gordon further, Fingers takes the suitcase (containing £50,000) and leaves, Gordon being too afraid to raise a fuss. Then Lucy walks in on her now-penniless husband.
Fingers and his gang decide to keep all of this last windfall and not split it with Lucy, but as they drive away, the suitcase pops open unnoticed and the money is scattered on the road.
Cast
- Terry-Thomas as William Delaney Gordon - "Bill"
- George Cole as Fingers
- Brenda De Banzie as Lucy Gordon
- Bernard Bresslaw as Snowdrop
- Sidney James as Sid
- Vera Day as Charmaine
- Delphi Lawrence as Beryl
- John Le Mesurier as Magistrate
- Sydney Tafler as Solicitor
- Rosalie Ashley as Angela Gordon
- Nicholas Parsons as Tommy Weston
- Terry Scott as Fire Policeman
- Vilma Ann Leslie as Girl Journalist
- Edie Martin as Gordon's mother
- Tutte Lemkow as Swarthy Man
- John Stuart as Inspector Jensen
- Joe Melia as Whisper
- Arthur Brough as beggar (uncredited)
- Sam Kydd as tramp (uncredited)
- Howard Pays as policeman at traffic lights (uncredited)
- Victor Brooks Court Usher (uncredited)
Critical reception
In The New York Times, Bosley Crowther described the film as "a good, crazy, brisk farce comedy."[3]
References
- ^ "Too Many Crooks (1958) - Mario Zampi - Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related - AllMovie". AllMovie.
- ^ "Too Many Crooks (1959)".
- ^ "Movie Reviews". The New York Times. 11 November 2021.
External links
- Articles with short description
- 1959 films
- Template film date with 1 release date
- 1950s crime comedy films
- British crime comedy films
- British comedy films
- British black comedy films
- British black-and-white films
- Films about kidnapping
- Films shot at Pinewood Studios
- Films directed by Mario Zampi
- 1950s black comedy films
- 1959 comedy films
- 1959 drama films
- 1950s English-language films
- 1950s British films
