Band of Thieves ** (1962, Acker Bilk, Jimmy Thompson, Jennifer Jayne) – Classic Movie Review 12,645

A band of ex-jailbirds get together to play jazz and commit crimes in the daft but mildly diverting 1962 musical crime film Band of Thieves starring clarinettist Acker Bilk.

Director Peter Bezencenet’s 1962 British musical crime film Band of Thieves stars Acker Bilk, Jimmy Thompson, Jennifer Jayne, Geoffrey Sumner, and Maudie Edwards. A band of ex-jailbirds get together to play jazz and commit crimes in this daft but mildly diverting musical-cum-action crime drama. It was produced by Filmvale Productions as a second feature to cash in on the trad jazz craze, shot at Pinewood Studios and released in a double bill by Rank Film Distributors.

In the story by the film’s executive producer Harold Shampan, members of a prison jazz band fronted by Acker Bilk are released from jail and perform a series of concerts but they are soon in the crime business again, pleasing the jazz-loving prison governor (Geoffrey Sumner).

Clarinettist Acker Bilk, whose instrumental single ‘Stranger on the Shore’ was in the hit parade for a record 55 weeks, stars as his loveable self, with his distinctive goatee, bowler hat and striped waistcoat.

Newsreader Peter Haigh and Recording Engineer Norrie Paramor receive ‘Guest Appearances’ credits.

Band of Thieves is directed by Peter Bezencenet, runs 69 minutes, is made by Filmvale Productions, is released by Rank Film Distributors, is written by Lyn Fairhurst, from an original story by Harold Shampan, is shot by Nicolas Roeg, is produced by Lance Comfort, William G Chalmers [Bill Chalmers] (executive producer) and Harold Shampan (executive producer), and scored by Acker Bilk amd Norrie Paramor (music director / composer additional music).

Bernard Stanley ‘Acker’ Bilk MBE (28 January 1929 – 2 November 2014). The nickname ‘Acker’ comes from Somerset slang for ‘mate’.

It was released on 30 August 1962 in London as the support feature to Life For Ruth.

The cast are Acker Bilk as Self, Colin Smith as Flash, Jonathan Mortimer as Fingers, Ronald McKay as Scouse, Roy James as Dippy, Stan Greig as Haggis, Ernest Price as The Mole, Geoffrey Sumner as The Governor, Jimmy Thompson as Dandy, Jennifer Jayne as Anne, Maudie Edwards as The Duchess, Charmian Innes as Mrs Van Der Ness, Arthur Mullard as Getaway, Michael Peake as Chief Warder, Totti Truman Taylor as Woman, Marianne Stone as Cleaner, Eleanor McCready as Girl, Norrie Paramor as Self – Recording Engineer, Peter Haigh as Self – Newsreader, Acker Bilk’s Paramount Jazz Band as Themselves, and Carol Deene as Self – guest singer.

© Derek Winnert 2023 – Classic Movie Review 12,645

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