Back in 1987 I used to occasionally pass Arsenal Station on my way to the Polytechnic of North London, and this film was over a quarter of a century old even then (yet with the office of a senior policeman already adorned with a portrait of the present Queen).
Despite the title this is not a comedy but a grim little caper film on which the Grand National logo from the 1930s is incongruously accompanied during the opening credits by the usual ubiquitous early sixties crime film jazz score from the days when people smoked constantly, they still hanged murderers and the ability to pay £6000 into your account attracted the interest of the authorities.
Although top-billed, William Hartnell appears only occasionally as the inspector investigating the case. Michael Ripper on the other hand has a much more substantial role than usual as a retired safecracker trying to go straight, but tempted back by the prospect of the then life-changing sum of a thousand pounds.
Despite the title this is not a comedy but a grim little caper film on which the Grand National logo from the 1930s is incongruously accompanied during the opening credits by the usual ubiquitous early sixties crime film jazz score from the days when people smoked constantly, they still hanged murderers and the ability to pay £6000 into your account attracted the interest of the authorities.
Although top-billed, William Hartnell appears only occasionally as the inspector investigating the case. Michael Ripper on the other hand has a much more substantial role than usual as a retired safecracker trying to go straight, but tempted back by the prospect of the then life-changing sum of a thousand pounds.