Strongroom *** (1962, Colin Gordon, Ann Lynn, Derren Nesbitt, Keith Faulkner) – Classic Movie Review 12,833

Director Vernon Sewell’s commendably tense and tight 1962 British heist thriller film Strongroom stars Colin Gordon, Ann Lynn, Derren Nesbitt, and Keith Faulkner.

Three small-time crooks – Griff (Derren Nesbitt), Len (Keith Faulkner) and Len’s brother Alec (W Morgan Sheppard) – plan a perfect robbery on a bank, just after closing time on the Saturday before an Easter Monday bank holiday.

But their actions take a potentially lethal turn when they are forced to imprison a couple of hostages in the vault – the stuffy bank manager Mr Spencer (Colin Gordon) and his secretary Rose (Ann Lynn). Conscience-stricken and scared of murder convictions because they realise the bank will be closed for days and the duo will suffocate, they decide to leave the vault keys in a phone booth and call the police…

Director Sewell keeps this very effective, sweaty-palm little British B-movie tense and tight. Nesbitt, Lynn and Faulkner perform particularly smartly. Commendably, Sewell brings a touch of realism and urgency to an essentially far-fetched plot, nevertheless well devised by Richard Harris.

It was shot at Twickenham Studios in late 1961 and released in May 1962 (UK).

Vernon Sewell reviewed his own film: ‘a terrific movie’.

Strongroom is directed by Vernon Sewell, runs 80 minutes, is made by Theatrecraft, is released by Bryanston Films (UK), is written by Max Marquis and Richard Harris, based on a story by Richard Harris, is shot in black and white by Basil Emmott, is produced by Guido Coen, is scored by Johnny Gregory, and is designed by Duncan Sutherland.

It cost only £17,000.

The cast are Derren Nesbitt as Griff, Colin Gordon as Mr Spencer, Ann Lynn as Rose Taylor, Keith Faulkner as Len Warren, W Morgan Sheppard [William Morgan Sheppard] as Alec Warren, Hilda Fenemore as charlady, Diana Chesney as charlady, Jack Stewart as Sergeant McIntyre, Colin Rix as P C Harper, Ian Colin as Creighton, John Chappell as John Musgrove, Pamela Conway as secretary, Colin Tapley as Haynes, Kevin Stoney as police sergeant, Duncan Lewis as mortuary attendant Charlie, John Dearth, and Lockwood West.

Derren Nesbitt and Keith Faulkner also appear in Vernon Sewell’s The Man In The Back Seat (1961).

Other Brit heist movies include The League of Gentlemen, A Prize of Arms, Cash on Demand, The Good Die Young, Robbery, Payroll, The Lavender Hill Mob, The Ladykillers, and The Duke.

© Derek Winnert 2024 – Classic Movie Review 12,833

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