The Jokers **** (1967, Michael Crawford, Oliver Reed, Harry Andrews, James Donald, Daniel Massey, Michael Hordern, Gabriella Licudi, Frank Finlay) – Classic Movie Review 8329

Director Michael Winner’s 1967 British comedy The Jokers stars Michael Crawford and Oliver Reed as unlikely siblings, the Tremayne brothers, who, just for a lark and to make themselves famous, plan to rob Her Majesty the Queen’s Crown Jewels from the Tower of London and then put them back again.

This London-set comedy from the far-off Sixties heydays of Carnaby Street is a high spot for director Winner, with colourful playing from an entertaining cast, and a funny script by comedy experts Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais, based on a story by Michael Winner.

It all looks as though it exists on another planet, now, though, and perhaps, with the state of the planet currently, that is a good thing. It is one of Winner’s winners. Happy days!

The Jokers is one of nine films that Reed made with Winner, who seemed to love actors and gathers a ripe collection of them round him here. It is a virtual Who’s Who of British actors of the day, apart from those working on Carry On or Hammer movies.

Also in the cast are Harry Andrews as Inspector Marryatt, James Donald as Colonel Gurney-Simms, Daniel Massey as Riggs, Michael Hordern as Sir Matthew, Gabriella Licudi as Eve, Frank Finlay, Warren Mitchell, Rachel Kempson, Peter Graves, Edward Fox, Michael Goodliffe, Frieda Jackson, William Mervyn, Lotte Tarp, Ingrid Brett, Brian Wilde, William Devlin, Victor Kendall, Ken Colley, Charlotte Curzon, Mark Burns, Brook Williams, Brian Peck, Basil Dignam, John Kidd, Freda Jackson, Nan Munro, Peter Gilmore, Julian Holloway, Marianne Stone, Eric Thompson, Nicky Henson (as man at party with hunting horn) and Tony Armstrong.

It was nominated for a Golden Globe as Best English-Language Foreign Film.

The title song is performed by Peter and Gordon (Peter Asher and Gordon Waller), whose songs included their number one hit World Without Love written for them by John Lennon and Paul McCartney. Peter Asher is the older brother of actress Jane Asher. McCartney was engaged to Jane Asher at that time and wrote his song Yesterday during a stay at Peter’s home. In the Sixties, everybody knew everybody else.

 © Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 8329

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