Rent The League of Gentlemen (1960)
- General info
- Available formats
- Synopsis:
- After being 'retired' from the army, an ex-Colonel nurtures a bitter resentment at his country's ingratitude. Luckily for him he's not the only one and he assembles a small group of bankrupt or embittered ex-army officers in a bid to stage an ingenious bank robbery.
- Actors:
- Jack Hawkins, Nigel Patrick, Roger Livesey, Richard Attenborough, Bryan Forbes, Kieron Moore, Terence Alexander, Norman Bird, Robert Coote, Melissa Stribling, Nanette Newman, Lydia Sherwood, Doris Hare, David Lodge, Patrick Wymark, Gerald Harper, Brian Murray, Beverly Bennett, Marie Burke, Cyril Chamberlain
- Directors:
- Basil Dearden
- Producers:
- Michael Relph
- Writers:
- John Boland, Bryan Forbes
- Studio:
- VCI
- Genres:
- Action & Adventure, Classics, Thrillers
- Collections:
- Cinema Paradiso's 2023 Centenary Club: Part 1, Heist Movies: A 20-Year Stretch, Richard Attenborough: A Centenary Special Instant Expert's Guide, A Brief History of Film..., The Instant Expert's Guide, The Instant Expert's Guide to Basil Dearden
- BBFC:
- Release Date:
- 13/01/2020
- Run Time:
- 114 minutes
- Languages:
- English Dolby Digital 1.0, English LPCM Mono
- Subtitles:
- English
- Formats:
- Pal
- Aspect Ratio:
- Widescreen 1.75:1
- Colour:
- B & W
- BLU-RAY Regions:
- B
- Bonus:
- Theatrical Trailer
- The South Bank Show: Richard Attenborough
- Cinema: Bryan Forbes
- Image Gallery
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Reviews (3) of The League of Gentlemen
Classic British Crime Film - The League of Gentlemen review by GI
This is a nostalgic British heist film about a group of former and disaffected Army officers who plan and execute a bank robbery. There's a mild comedy feel to script and the great array of stalwart British actors, Jack Hawkins, Roger Livesey, Nigel Patrick, Richard Attenborough and Terence Alexander will be familiar to those of a certain age - keen viewers will also spot a very early appearance of Oliver Reed as a gay actor. Overall it's a wonderful story though, well scripted and with, for its time, a gritty robbery set piece at its heart. Hawkins is the leader who brings together a group of ex soldiers who all have financial problems and a history that makes them susceptible to committing the audacious crime. This is an enjoyable and interesting film, not only for it's nostalgic value, but also as a classic British crime film that is well worth seeking out.
NOTHING to do with Messrs Shearsmith, Gatiss, Pemberton and Dyson - The League of Gentlemen review by Tartanian
Like an episode of TV's 'Columbo' we know who the criminals are and how they carry out their crime - we are with them all along the way, through the formation of the gang, the planning and training for 'the job' and its execution. We can be fairly sure that the group of armed bank robbers will be caught - the morality of the day (1960) meant that, Raffles-aside, crooks could not be seen to prosper - but who or what will be the cause of their downfall?
A cast of well-known faces - some of the 'oh, I know him from somewhere' type and others (such as Richard Attenborough and the group's leader Jack Hawkins) who probably remain as well-known now as then - light up the screen with unflamboyant performances*, sympathetically directed by consummate professional Basil Dearden.
* A special mention has to go to the 'blink and you'll miss it' cameo by Oliver Reed as a camp (ballet?) dancer - well worth the price of admission.
'The League of Gentlemen' is the kind of film I would characterise as 'wet, weekday afternoon' viewing - meant as a compliment - where no frame is wasted and the end seems to arrive unexpectedly early (as in 'where did the last hour-and-a-half go?').
Dated - The League of Gentlemen review by H|
Quite entertaining when we first saw it decades ago. Fascinating views of central London when the traffic was so quiet. It really does look very dated now.