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| budget =£233,570<ref name="money">Chapman, J. (2022). The Money Behind the Screen: A History of British Film Finance, 1945-1985. Edinburgh University Press p 360</ref>
| budget =£233,570<ref name="money">Chapman, J. (2022). The Money Behind the Screen: A History of British Film Finance, 1945-1985. Edinburgh University Press p 360</ref>
}}
}}
'''''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]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmovie.com/movie/the-wrong-arm-of-the-law-v55625/cast-crew|title=The Wrong Arm of the Law (1963) - Cliff Owen - Cast and Crew - AllMovie|website=AllMovie}}</ref> It was partly written by [[Galton and Simpson|Ray Galton and Alan Simpson]] and made by [[John and James Woolf|Romulus Films]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b6bb3d137|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171122151844/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b6bb3d137|url-status=dead|archive-date=22 November 2017|title=The Wrong Arm of the Law (1963)}}</ref>
'''''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]].<ref name="BFIsearch">{{Cite web |title=The Wrong Arm of the Law |url=https://collections-search.bfi.org.uk/web/Details/ChoiceFilmWorks/150056219 |access-date=27 January 2024 |website=British Film Institute Collections Search}}</ref> It was written by [[John Antrobus]], John Warren, Len Heath, [[Ray Galton]] and [[Alan Simpson (scriptwriter)|Alan Simpson]], and made by [[John and James Woolf|Romulus Films]].

⚫
The film opened at the [[Vue West End|Warner Theatre]] in London's West End on 14 March 1963.<ref>The Times, 14 March 1963, Page 2</ref>


==Plot==
==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 ([[Peter Sellers|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. - Impersonating a Police Officer) to justice. [[Nanette Newman]] provides the love interest, [[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]] (Postman), [[Dick Emery]] (Man in Flat 307), [[Mario Fabrizi]] (Van Driver), [[John Harvey (actor)|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]] (“The bird in the front row” at Gangsters' Meeting).
In [[London]], a gang of criminals from [[Australia]] led by Jack Coombes impersonate policemen to carry out robberies. Meanwhile, local gang leader "Pearly" Gates, who operates with the front of a French [[couturier]] in a fashion house, finds his criminal takings cut severely, and initially blames rival crook "Nervous" O'Toole. However, when it emerges that they are both being scammed by the same gang, they join forces, along with Police Inspector "Nosey" Parker, to bring the so-called "I.P.O. mob" (Impersonating a Police Officer) to justice.


==Cast==
==Cast==
Line 47: Line 45:
* [[Tutte Lemkow]] as "Siggy" Schmoltz
* [[Tutte Lemkow]] as "Siggy" Schmoltz
* Barry Keegan as Mr. Pointer
* Barry Keegan as Mr. Pointer
* [[Michael Caine]] as Extra In Battersea Park Funfair Scene (uncredited)
* [[Michael Caine]] as extra at Battersea Park funfair (uncredited)
* [[Dick Emery]] as Man In flat 307 (uncredited)
* [[Dick Emery]] as man In flat 307 (uncredited)
* [[John Junkin]] as Maurice (uncredited)
* [[John Junkin]] as Maurice (uncredited)
* [[Cardew Robinson]] as Mailman (uncredited)
* [[Cardew Robinson]] as mailman (uncredited)
* [[Dennis Price]] as Educated Ernest
* [[Mario Fabrizi]] as van driver
* [[John Harvey (actor)|John Harvey]] as police station Sergeant
* [[Harold Siddons]] as PC in basement garage
* Jack Silk as police station PC
* [[Derek Guyler]] as PC at Scotland Yard
* [[Gerald Sim]] as airfield official
* [[Marianne Stone]] as girl at gangsters' meeting
}}
}}


==Production and reception==
==Production==
Many of the robbery scenes were filmed around [[Beaconsfield]] and [[Uxbridge]]. Filming locations include; the early Post Office robbery at Burkes Parade/Post Office Lane Beaconsfield, the gang meeting at Havens Court, Ealing, the Bullion Transport robbery at Cowley Mill Road/Waterloo Road Uxbridge combined with Bushy Park Road Teddington, and the escape flight from [[Denham Aerodrome]].
Many of the robbery scenes were filmed around [[Beaconsfield]] and [[Uxbridge]]. Filming locations include: the early Post Office robbery at Burkes Parade/Post Office Lane Beaconsfield, the gang meeting at Havens Court, Ealing, the Bullion Transport robbery at Cowley Mill Road/Waterloo Road Uxbridge combined with Bushy Park Road Teddington, and the escape flight from [[Denham Aerodrome]].{{Citation needed|date=January 2024}}

⚫
Peter Sellers loved the 1961 [[Aston Martin DB4#DB4 GT|Aston Martin DB4 GT]] so much that he bought the car after shooting the film, contingent on the engine being replaced with a 4.0-litre Lagonda Rapide.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Edsall |first1=Larry |title=Movie star, movie car: Sellers' DB4GT heading to auction |url=https://journal.classiccars.com/2018/05/13/movie-star-movie-car-sellers-db4gt-heading-to-auction/ |website=The ClassicCars.com Journal |date=14 May 2018 |access-date=8 November 2018}}</ref>

== Release ==
⚫
The film opened at the [[Vue West End|Warner Theatre]] in London's West End on 14 March 1963.<ref>The Times, 14 March 1963, Page 2</ref>

== Reception ==

⚫
=== Box office ===
It was one of the 12 most popular films at the British box office in 1963.<ref>"Most Popular Films Of 1963." Times [London, England] 3 Jan. 1964: 4. The Times Digital Archive. Web. 11 July 2012.</ref>


=== Critical reception ===
The film features an [[Aston Martin DB4#DB4 GT|Aston Martin DB4 GT]].
''[[The Monthly Film Bulletin]]'' wrote: "Cliff Owen's considerable competence shows in the way he takes good and bad jokes equably in his stride, cutting sharply as soon as a comedy point has been made, getting pretty well every ounce of value out of his script.&nbsp;... Lionel Jeffries, desperately eager and despairingly confused in the pursuit of crime, John Le Mesurier, a Scotland Yard official lightly disguised as an ice-cream salesman but clinging to the dignity of his Whitehall hat, Peter Sellers, training his gang by way of home movies and pampering them with holidays on the Costa Brava, are at their accomplished best."<ref>{{Cite journal |date=1 January 1963 |title=The Wrong Arm of the Law |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/1305824390/FD5B8A4295E4F71PQ/1 |journal=[[The Monthly Film Bulletin]] |volume=30 |issue=348 |pages=62 |via=ProQuest}}</ref>


''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' wrote: "A slightweight cops and robbers idea has been pepped up into a briskly amusing farce thanks to a combo of deft direction, thesping and writing.&nbsp;... Cliff Owen has directed with verve. Locations and all technical credits help to give polish to a breezy, likeable comedy."<ref>{{Cite journal |date=13 February 1963 |title=The Wrong Arm of the Law |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/1017099601/896AD10F36A742E0PQ/1 |journal=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |volume=229 |issue=12 |pages=6 |via=ProQuest}}</ref>
⚫
Peter Sellers loved the 1961 Aston Marton DB4GT so much that he bought the car after shooting the film—contingent on the engine being replaced with a 4.0-litre Lagonda Rapide.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Edsall |first1=Larry |title=Movie star, movie car: Sellers' DB4GT heading to auction |url=https://journal.classiccars.com/2018/05/13/movie-star-movie-car-sellers-db4gt-heading-to-auction/ |website=The ClassicCars.com Journal |date=14 May 2018 |access-date=8 November 2018}}</ref>


⚫
In ''[[The New York Times]]'', [[Bosley Crowther]] wrote: "It is strictly lightweight clowning, longer on plot than on wit and wholly dependent on the archness of Mr. Sellers to give it a cachet. Others in the cast are amusing, especially Mr. Jeffries as the cop, but the enterprise stands by the stiffening of Mr. Sellers's cunning roguishness."<ref>{{cite news|last=Crowtherr|first=Bosley|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1963/04/03/archives/screen-sellers-keeps-crime-rate-upwrong-arm-of-law-opens-at-coronet.html|title=Sellers Keeps Crime Rate Up:'Wrong Arm of Law' Opens at Coronet|work=The New York Times|date=3 April 1963|access-date=26 November 2019}}</ref>
⚫
==Box office==
It was one of the 12 most popular films at the British box office in 1963.<ref>"Most Popular Films Of 1963." Times [London, England] 3 Jan. 1964: 4. The Times Digital Archive. Web. 11 July 2012.</ref> According to ''Kine Weekly'' the four most popular films at the British box office in 1963 were ''From Russia With Love'', ''Summer Holiday'', ''Tom Jones'' and ''The Great Escape'', followed by, in alphabetical order, ''Doctor in Distress'', ''The Fast Lady'', ''Girls! Girls! Girls!'', ''Heaven's Above'', ''Jason and the Argonauts'', ''In Search of the Castaways'', ''It Happened at the World's Fair'', ''The Longest Day'', ''On the Beat'', ''Sodom and Gomorrah'', ''The V. I. Ps'', and ''The Wrong Arm of the Law''.<ref>{{Cite thesis|url=https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/42604873.pdf| page=288|year=1985|publisher=University of York|title=CLASS, SEXUALITY AND THE*BRITISH CINEMA 1956-63|first=William John|last=Hill}}</ref>


''The [[Radio Times]] Guide to Films'' gave the film 4/5 stars, writing: "Peter Sellers is at his funniest as a cockney criminal mastermind who uses a West End dress salon as a front for the illegal activities of his inept gang. He's up against inspector Lionel Jeffries, whose bungling would give the future [[Inspector Clouseau]] a run for his money. Cliff Owen directs the marvellously inventive script with due care as Scotland Yard and Sellers decide to co-operate to apprehend a bunch of Australian crooks posing as policemen."<ref>{{Cite book |title=Radio Times Guide to Films |publisher=[[Immediate Media Company]] |year=2017 |isbn=9780992936440 |edition=18th |location=London |pages=1041}}</ref>
⚫
In a positive review in ''[[The New York Times]]'', [[Bosley Crowther]] concluded, "Of course, it is strictly lightweight clowning, longer on plot than on wit and wholly dependent on the archness of Mr. Sellers to give it a cachet. Others in the cast are amusing, especially Mr. Jeffries as the cop, but the enterprise stands by the stiffening of Mr. Sellers's cunning roguishness."<ref>{{cite news|last=Crowtherr|first=Bosley|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1963/04/03/archives/screen-sellers-keeps-crime-rate-upwrong-arm-of-law-opens-at-coronet.html|title=Sellers Keeps Crime Rate Up:'Wrong Arm of Law' Opens at Coronet|work=The New York Times|date=3 April 1963|access-date=26 November 2019}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
Line 74: Line 90:
* {{Amg movie|55625}}
* {{Amg movie|55625}}
* {{Screenonline title|1144191}}
* {{Screenonline title|1144191}}
* [https://www.reelstreets.com/films/wrong-arm-of-the-law-the/ ''The Wrong Arm of the Law''] then-and-now location photographs at [https://www.reelstreets.com/ ReelStreets]


{{Galton and Simpson}}
{{Galton and Simpson}}

Latest revision as of 15:51, 28 June 2024

The Wrong Arm of the Law
Theatrical release poster
Directed byCliff Owen
Written byJohn Antrobus
Ray Galton
Alan Simpson
John Warren
Len Heath
Produced byE.M. Smedley Aston
Aubrey Baring
StarringPeter Sellers
Lionel Jeffries
Bernard Cribbins
John Le Mesurier
Bill Kerr
CinematographyErnest Steward
Edited byTristam Cones
Music byRichard Rodney Bennett
Production
company
Distributed byBritish Lion Films (UK)
Release date
  • 14 March 1963 (1963-03-14) (UK)
Running time
94 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
Budget£233,570[1]

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.[2] It was written by John Antrobus, John Warren, Len Heath, Ray Galton and Alan Simpson, and made by Romulus Films.

Plot

[edit]

In London, a gang of criminals from Australia led by Jack Coombes impersonate policemen to carry out robberies. Meanwhile, local gang leader "Pearly" Gates, who operates with the front of a French couturier in a fashion house, finds his criminal takings cut severely, and initially blames rival crook "Nervous" O'Toole. However, when it emerges that they are both being scammed by the same gang, they join forces, along with Police Inspector "Nosey" Parker, to bring the so-called "I.P.O. mob" (Impersonating a Police Officer) to justice.

Cast

[edit]

Production

[edit]

Many of the robbery scenes were filmed around Beaconsfield and Uxbridge. Filming locations include: the early Post Office robbery at Burkes Parade/Post Office Lane Beaconsfield, the gang meeting at Havens Court, Ealing, the Bullion Transport robbery at Cowley Mill Road/Waterloo Road Uxbridge combined with Bushy Park Road Teddington, and the escape flight from Denham Aerodrome.[citation needed]

Peter Sellers loved the 1961 Aston Martin DB4 GT so much that he bought the car after shooting the film, contingent on the engine being replaced with a 4.0-litre Lagonda Rapide.[3]

Release

[edit]

The film opened at the Warner Theatre in London's West End on 14 March 1963.[4]

Reception

[edit]

Box office

[edit]

It was one of the 12 most popular films at the British box office in 1963.[5]

Critical reception

[edit]

The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "Cliff Owen's considerable competence shows in the way he takes good and bad jokes equably in his stride, cutting sharply as soon as a comedy point has been made, getting pretty well every ounce of value out of his script. ... Lionel Jeffries, desperately eager and despairingly confused in the pursuit of crime, John Le Mesurier, a Scotland Yard official lightly disguised as an ice-cream salesman but clinging to the dignity of his Whitehall hat, Peter Sellers, training his gang by way of home movies and pampering them with holidays on the Costa Brava, are at their accomplished best."[6]

Variety wrote: "A slightweight cops and robbers idea has been pepped up into a briskly amusing farce thanks to a combo of deft direction, thesping and writing. ... Cliff Owen has directed with verve. Locations and all technical credits help to give polish to a breezy, likeable comedy."[7]

In The New York Times, Bosley Crowther wrote: "It is strictly lightweight clowning, longer on plot than on wit and wholly dependent on the archness of Mr. Sellers to give it a cachet. Others in the cast are amusing, especially Mr. Jeffries as the cop, but the enterprise stands by the stiffening of Mr. Sellers's cunning roguishness."[8]

The Radio Times Guide to Films gave the film 4/5 stars, writing: "Peter Sellers is at his funniest as a cockney criminal mastermind who uses a West End dress salon as a front for the illegal activities of his inept gang. He's up against inspector Lionel Jeffries, whose bungling would give the future Inspector Clouseau a run for his money. Cliff Owen directs the marvellously inventive script with due care as Scotland Yard and Sellers decide to co-operate to apprehend a bunch of Australian crooks posing as policemen."[9]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Chapman, J. (2022). The Money Behind the Screen: A History of British Film Finance, 1945-1985. Edinburgh University Press p 360
  2. ^ "The Wrong Arm of the Law". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 27 January 2024.
  3. ^ Edsall, Larry (14 May 2018). "Movie star, movie car: Sellers' DB4GT heading to auction". The ClassicCars.com Journal. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
  4. ^ The Times, 14 March 1963, Page 2
  5. ^ "Most Popular Films Of 1963." Times [London, England] 3 Jan. 1964: 4. The Times Digital Archive. Web. 11 July 2012.
  6. ^ "The Wrong Arm of the Law". The Monthly Film Bulletin. 30 (348): 62. 1 January 1963 – via ProQuest.
  7. ^ "The Wrong Arm of the Law". Variety. 229 (12): 6. 13 February 1963 – via ProQuest.
  8. ^ Crowtherr, Bosley (3 April 1963). "Sellers Keeps Crime Rate Up:'Wrong Arm of Law' Opens at Coronet". The New York Times. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  9. ^ Radio Times Guide to Films (18th ed.). London: Immediate Media Company. 2017. p. 1041. ISBN 9780992936440.
[edit]
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