The League Of Gentlemen (1960)

Inspired by an American crime novel, an ex-Army officer (Jack Hawkins) plots to rob a bank. But first, he lures seven other men, who for various reasons are in need of financial help, to assist him in his plan with the money to be split eight ways. Based on the novel by John Boland and directed by Basil Dearden (VICTIM). Everyone loves a good heist movie, right? I certainly do but this B&W heist action movie with comedic touches is dead on arrival. They forgot to add the excitement to this larceny soup. It's very tasteful in its execution with its proper Brits lowering themselves to rob a bank but who wants a restrained armed robbery action movie? Anglophiles may find it right up their BBC alley but fans of heist films like THE KILLING, THE THOMAS CROWN AFFAIR, RESERVOIR DOGS or OCEAN'S ELEVEN (either version) to name a handful are bound to be disappointed. Dull and predictable. With Richard Attenborough, Roger Livesey, Nigel Patrick, Kieron Moore, Oliver Reed (as a gay chorus boy!), Nanette Newman, Nigel Green and Bryan Forbes, who also wrote the screenplay.