The Wrong Arm of the Law
| The Wrong Arm of the Law | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster |
|
| Directed by | Cliff Owen |
| Produced by | E.M. Smedley Aston Aubrey Baring |
| Written by | John Antrobus Ray Galton Len Heath |
| Starring | Peter Sellers Lionel Jeffries Bernard Cribbins John Le Mesurier Bill Kerr |
| Music by | Richard Rodney Bennett |
| Cinematography | Ernest Steward |
| Editing by | Tristam Cones |
| Distributed by | British Lion Films |
| Release date(s) | 1963 |
| Running time | 94 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
The Wrong Arm of the Law is a 1963 British comedy film directed by Cliff Owen and starring Peter Sellers, Bernard Cribbins, Lionel Jeffries, John Le Mesurier and Bill Kerr. It was written in part by Ray Galton and Alan Simpson and made by British Lion Films.
Contents |
[edit] Plot
In London, a gang of criminals from Australia led by Jack Coombes (Bill Kerr) impersonate policemen to carry out robberies. Local gang leader "Pearly" Gates (Sellers), who operates from the cover of a French couturier, finds his takings cut severely, and blames rival crook "Nervous" O'Toole (Bernard Cribbins). When it emerges that they are both being scammed by the same gang, they join forces, along with Lionel Jeffries' Police Inspector "Nosey" Parker, to bring the so-called "I.P.O. mob" (I.P.O. - Impersonation of a Police Officer) to justice. Nanette Newman provides the love interest, the ubiquitous John Le Mesurier plays a senior policeman, and a young Michael Caine has a small and uncredited role as a young PC. Other uncredited roles include John Junkin (Maurice), Dennis Price (Educated Ernest), Cardew Robinson (Mailman), Dick Emery (Man in Flat 307), Mario Fabrizi (Van Driver), John Harvey (Police Station Sergeant), Harold Siddons (PC in Basement Garage), Jack Silk (Police Station PC), Derek Guyler (non-speaking PC at Scotland Yard), Gerald Sim (Airfield Official) and Marianne Stone (Woman in Front Row at Gangsters' Meeting).
[edit] Cast
- Peter Sellers as Pearly Gates
- Lionel Jeffries as Nosy Parker
- Bernard Cribbins as Nervous O'Toole
- Davy Kaye as Trainer King
- Nanette Newman as Valerie
- Bill Kerr as Jack Coombes
- Ed Devereaux as Bluey May
- Reg Lye as Reg Denton
- John Le Mesurier as Assistant Commissioner
- Graham Stark as Sid Cooper
- Martin Boddey as Superintendent Forest
- Irene Browne as Dowager
- Arthur Mullard as Brassknuckles
- Dermot Kelly as Misery Martin
- Vanda Godsell as Annette
- Tutte Lemkow as Siggy Schmoltz
- Barry Keegan as Mr. Pointer
[edit] Production
Many of the robbery scenes were filmed around Uxbridge Moor. The film features an Aston Martin DB4 GT.
[edit] Technical details, premiere dates and DVD release
The Wrong Arm of the Law was filmed in 1.66:1 aspect ratio on 35-millimeter film and had its London premiere in March 1963. It opened in New York City on April 2, 1963 and received a DVD release on February 24, 2004.
[edit] External links
|
||||||||||||||||||||
