The Wrong Arm of the Law (Original title)
Dates: 1962 (Copyright), 22 April 1963 (Release)Country: United KingdomDirected by: Cliff Owen
Synopsis: The London gangs are controlled on Welfare State principles by Pearly Gates, who is also a couturier. They run into opposition from three Australian crooks who, informed by Pearly's girl friend, Valerie, let the English plan and execute a robbery and then drive up in a squad car, arrest them and take the booty. Pearly negotiates a twenty-four hour truce with Scotland Yard to catch them. They fail to do so and organise another robbery with police co-operation. After much bungling the police and rival gangs converge on an airfield, Pearly escapes with Valerie and Inspector Parker, handcuffed to the money box, to the South Seas.
Genres: Comedy, Police drama
Subjects: Gangsters, Organised crime
Releases
Date: 1962Country: United KingdomRelease type: unknownFormat: 35mm Film - Black and White - SoundRuntime: 94 mins Length: 8534 FeetDialogue (original): English
Title: ReviewsAuthor: MACNAB, Geoffrey Article type: DVD ReviewLanguage: English
In: Classic Television n5 Jun/Jul 1998 Pages: 10-25
Title: British Film: The Classic Television top 100Article type: ArticleLanguage: English
Description: A brief history of British film and Classic Television read- ers' 100 British films. Films listed with short synopses.
In: Sight and Sound v4 n3 March 1994 Page: 63
Title: [Sight and Sound - v4 n3 March 1994: no known title]Article type: NoteLanguage: English
Description: Video note
In: British National Film Catalogue v1 1963
Title: [British National Film Catalogue - v1 1963: no known title]Language: English
In: Motion Picture Herald v229 n8 17 Apr 1963 Page: 795
Title: [Motion Picture Herald - v229 n8 17 Apr 1963: no known title]Language: English
In: Film and TV Technician v29 n225 October 1963 Page: supplement
Title: [Film and TV Technician - v29 n225 October 1963: no known title]Article type: CreditsLanguage: English
In: Monthly Film Bulletin v30 n352 May 1963 Page: 62
Title: [Monthly Film Bulletin - v30 n352 May 1963: no known title]Language: English
In: Kine Weekly n2888 7 Feb 1963 Page: 8
Title: [Kine Weekly - n2888 7 Feb 1963: no known title]Language: English
In: The Daily Cinema n8721 6 Feb 1963 Page: 12
Title: [The Daily Cinema - n8721 6 Feb 1963: no known title]Language: English
In: Variety 13 Feb 1963
Title: [Variety - 13 Feb 1963: no known title]Language: English
In: Sight and Sound v32 n2 Spring 1963 Page: 94
Title: [Sight and Sound - v32 n2 Spring 1963: no known title]Language: English
In: The Film Daily v122 n70 11 Apr 1963 Page: 6
Title: [The Film Daily - v122 n70 11 Apr 1963: no known title]Language: English
Film, Video or Digital materials held in BFI National Archive(7)
Accessible materials to view(1)
Description: 35mm BW PositiveBase: SafetySound: CombinedLength: 8527 FeetBFI identifier: C-198299
Status: Viewing - Film print can be requested for access (servicing required)
Video materials(2)
Description: VHS cassetteBFI identifier: C-593079
Status: Status pending - Material requires inspection to determine preservation or access status
Description: Digital BetacamBFI identifier: N-376243
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved videotape
Film materials(5)
Description: PositiveBFI identifier: C-198298
Status: Status pending - Material requires inspection to determine preservation or access status
Description: 16mm BW PositiveBase: SafetySound: CombinedBFI identifier: C-964541
Status: Status pending - Material requires inspection to determine preservation or access status
Description: 35mm BW PositiveBase: SafetySound: CombinedLength: 8465 FeetStock date: 1962BFI identifier: C-198297
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved film
Description: 35mm BW PositiveBase: SafetySound: CombinedBFI identifier: C-1236058
Status: Status pending - Material requires inspection to determine preservation or access status
Description: 35mm BW PositiveBase: SafetySound: CombinedLength: 8527 FeetBFI identifier: C-198299
Status: Viewing - Film print can be requested for access (servicing required)
Dates: 1962 (Copyright), 22 April 1963 (Release)Country: United KingdomDirected by: Cliff Owen
Synopsis: The London gangs are controlled on Welfare State principles by Pearly Gates, who is also a couturier. They run into opposition from three Australian crooks who, informed by Pearly's girl friend, Valerie, let the English plan and execute a robbery and then drive up in a squad car, arrest them and take the booty. Pearly negotiates a twenty-four hour truce with Scotland Yard to catch them. They fail to do so and organise another robbery with police co-operation. After much bungling the police and rival gangs converge on an airfield, Pearly escapes with Valerie and Inspector Parker, handcuffed to the money box, to the South Seas.
Genres: Comedy, Police drama
Subjects: Gangsters, Organised crime
Releases
Date: 1962Country: United KingdomRelease type: unknownFormat: 35mm Film - Black and White - SoundRuntime: 94 mins Length: 8534 FeetDialogue (original): English
Credits
(48)
©/Production Company: Robert Velaise Productions, Presents: Romulus Films, [Production] in asssociation with: M. Smedley Aston, Executive Producer: Robert Velaise, Produced by: Aubrey Baring, Associate Producer: Cecil F. Ford, [Production Secretary]: Golda Offenheim, Assistant Director: Roy Baird, [Assistant Director (2nd)]: John Stoneham, [Assistant Director (3rd)]: Brian Lipman, Ross Devenish, Continuity: Angela Martelli, [Casting]: Dorothy Holloway, Written by: Ray Galton, Written by: Alan Simpson, John Antrobus, From a Screenplay by: John Warren, Len Heath, Original Story by: Ivor Jay, William Whistance Smith, Director of Photography: Ernest Steward, Camera Operator: Godfrey Godar, [Focus puller]: David Kelly, [Stills]: Ray Hearne, [Back Projection]: Charles Staffell, Film Editor: Tristam Cones, [Assistant Editor]: Graham Harris, [Assistant Editor (2nd)]: Edward Rooth, Art Director: Harry White, [Assistant Art Director]: Jean Peyre, [Draughtsman]: Nigel Curzon, David Mintey, [Scenic Artist]: Peter Melrose, Wardrobe: Jimmy Smith, Make-up: Stuart Freeborn, Hair Stylist: Eileen Bates, Titles Designed by: Robert Ellis, Music Composed by: Richard Rodney Bennett, [Music] Conducted by: John Hollingsworth, Sound Recordist: Bill Howell, Sound System: RCA, [Boom Operator]: Tony Cripps, Re-recording: Anvil Films, Sound Editor: Allan Morrison, [Assistant Sound Editor]: Wally Nelson, [Publicity]: Maureen Gregson, Made at: Beaconsfield Studios
Cast
(24)
Peter Sellers (Pearly Gates), Lionel Jeffries (Inspector Fred 'Nosey' Parker), Bernard Cribbins (Nervous O'Toole), Davy Kaye (Trainer King), Nanette Newman (Valerie), Bill Kerr (Jack Coombes), John Le Mesurier (assistant police commissioner), Irene Browne (dowager), Martin Boddey (Superintendent J.S. Forest), Arthur Mullard (Brassknuckles), Ed Devereaux (Bluey May), Reg Lye (Reg Denton), Dermot Kelly (Misery Martin), Graham Stark (Sid Cooper), Vanda Godsell (Annette), Tutte Lemkow (Siggy Schmoltz), Barry Keegan (Alf), Cardew Robinson ([mailman]), John Junkin ([Maurice]), Marianne Stone ([woman in front row at the meeting]), Dennis Price ([Educated Ernest]), Dick Emery ([man in flat 307]), Gerald Sim ([airfield official]), Michael Caine ([])
Articles held in BFI Reuben Library
(12)
In: Sight and Sound v12 n12 December 2002 Page: 66Title: ReviewsAuthor: MACNAB, Geoffrey Article type: DVD ReviewLanguage: English
In: Classic Television n5 Jun/Jul 1998 Pages: 10-25
Title: British Film: The Classic Television top 100Article type: ArticleLanguage: English
Description: A brief history of British film and Classic Television read- ers' 100 British films. Films listed with short synopses.
In: Sight and Sound v4 n3 March 1994 Page: 63
Title: [Sight and Sound - v4 n3 March 1994: no known title]Article type: NoteLanguage: English
Description: Video note
In: British National Film Catalogue v1 1963
Title: [British National Film Catalogue - v1 1963: no known title]Language: English
In: Motion Picture Herald v229 n8 17 Apr 1963 Page: 795
Title: [Motion Picture Herald - v229 n8 17 Apr 1963: no known title]Language: English
In: Film and TV Technician v29 n225 October 1963 Page: supplement
Title: [Film and TV Technician - v29 n225 October 1963: no known title]Article type: CreditsLanguage: English
In: Monthly Film Bulletin v30 n352 May 1963 Page: 62
Title: [Monthly Film Bulletin - v30 n352 May 1963: no known title]Language: English
In: Kine Weekly n2888 7 Feb 1963 Page: 8
Title: [Kine Weekly - n2888 7 Feb 1963: no known title]Language: English
In: The Daily Cinema n8721 6 Feb 1963 Page: 12
Title: [The Daily Cinema - n8721 6 Feb 1963: no known title]Language: English
In: Variety 13 Feb 1963
Title: [Variety - 13 Feb 1963: no known title]Language: English
In: Sight and Sound v32 n2 Spring 1963 Page: 94
Title: [Sight and Sound - v32 n2 Spring 1963: no known title]Language: English
In: The Film Daily v122 n70 11 Apr 1963 Page: 6
Title: [The Film Daily - v122 n70 11 Apr 1963: no known title]Language: English
Film, Video or Digital materials held in BFI National Archive(7)
Accessible materials to view(1)
Description: 35mm BW PositiveBase: SafetySound: CombinedLength: 8527 FeetBFI identifier: C-198299
Status: Viewing - Film print can be requested for access (servicing required)
Video materials(2)
Description: VHS cassetteBFI identifier: C-593079
Status: Status pending - Material requires inspection to determine preservation or access status
Description: Digital BetacamBFI identifier: N-376243
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved videotape
Film materials(5)
Description: PositiveBFI identifier: C-198298
Status: Status pending - Material requires inspection to determine preservation or access status
Description: 16mm BW PositiveBase: SafetySound: CombinedBFI identifier: C-964541
Status: Status pending - Material requires inspection to determine preservation or access status
Description: 35mm BW PositiveBase: SafetySound: CombinedLength: 8465 FeetStock date: 1962BFI identifier: C-198297
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved film
Description: 35mm BW PositiveBase: SafetySound: CombinedBFI identifier: C-1236058
Status: Status pending - Material requires inspection to determine preservation or access status
Description: 35mm BW PositiveBase: SafetySound: CombinedLength: 8527 FeetBFI identifier: C-198299
Status: Viewing - Film print can be requested for access (servicing required)