The Day They Robbed the Bank of England

The Day They Robbed the Bank of England (1960) is a good, if fairly routine heist film. Mostly it's notable as Peter O'Toole's first major role, and he shines playing a very English army officer - an interesting contrast to his big break in Lawrence of Arabia two years later.

It's 1901, and a group of Irish rebels hire American crook Norgate (Aldo Ray) to help them rob the Bank of England. Norgate cases the joint, plans a way in and befriends Fitch (Peter O'Toole), the chummy Captain of the Guards, who unwittingly provides Norgate with key information. Norgate is also ensnared with Walsh (Kieron Moore) in a love triangle with pretty widow Iris (Elizabeth Sellars). The heist becomes problematic when cell leader O'Shea (Hugh Griffith) tries to call it off - just as they're tunneling into the bank vaults!

For most of its length, The Day They Robbed the Bank of England isn't anything special. It goes through the genre motions competently enough, and throws in a trite love triangle to mark time between the planning and the heist. However, it does have a few interesting features. The banter between Norgate and Fitch is a definite high-light, and a neat plot twist towards the end makes things deliciously complicated. The film downplays its political element, resulting in a unique impartiality that allows the viewers to cheer for either the Irish patriots or the affable Englishmen.

Aldo Ray (God's Little Acre) is good enough as the under-written lead. We don't get a strong sense of why this Yank is helping the Irish out but it's okay. Peter O'Toole steals the show as the genteel Fitch, a very likeable and unique antagonist. Kieron Moore and Elizabeth Sellars (55 Days at Peking) aren't very interesting as other points of the love triangle. There are some interesting faces in the supporting cast: Wolf Frees (Doctor Zhivago) as one of Norgate's colleagues, Andrew Keir (A Night to Remember) as Fitch's Sergeant, Erik Chitty (A Bridge too Far) as a bumbling clerk.

The Day They Robbed the Bank of England is a competent enough thriller with a few interesting frills. Anyone looking for an original heist film will be let down, but Peter O'Toole fans will be satisfied seeing him in one of his first parts.