The Wrong Arm of the Law (1963)

Wonderful Movie

People are voting emotionally.

The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

THE WRONG ARM OF THE LAW is an ensemble British comedy courtesy of writers Galton and Simpson, the duo most famously responsible for STEPTOE AND SON. It features Peter Sellers as the leader of a gang of robbers who are being driven to distraction by the arrival of some newcomers who have been dressing up as policemen in order to carry off their too-successful raids.This is a farcical black-and-white comedy in which everybody is a rival and even your own gang members can't be trusted. Sellers holds the thing together but the one who really shines here is Lionel Jeffries as the stuffy copper who becomes an unlikely ally during an uneasy alliance. The film is chock full of famous faces like Bernard Cribbins, Nanette Newman, John Le Mesurier, Arthur Mullard and Graham Stark, and they all seem to be having a good time. You will too.

Amusing comedy has Aussie swindlers trio being chased by Scotland Yard as well as thieves because they have been posing as policemen and confiscating pillage from apprehended robbers . The Australian bunch being informed by Valerie(Nanette Newman), fiancée of Pearly (Peter Sellers), the leader of a group of inept crooks . Then the criminals organize a convention among the main robbers (Peter Sellers, Bernard Cribbins) and scheme a plan. After that , there happens a meeting between chief thieves and cops (Lionel Jeffries, John Le Musurier) which takes place at a merry-go-round. Later on, they set up a trap to track them down.Agreeable spoof comedy in ¨Ealing¨ style packs some very funny and wacky moments . This is a classic British comedy of the 60s in the wake of ¨ Lavender hill mob¨ that is clearly its inspiration . Enjoyable argument divides his satirical jibes between the underworld crooks and police . It contains sympathetic performance of Peter Sellers , Bernard Cribbins and special mention for Lionel Jeffries as unfortunate cop. Secondary intervention by Dennis Price as educated crook and cameo role by Michael Caine in the Police Station. Furthermore Graham Stark as likable thief , formerly becoming into usual 'Pink Panther' series. Atmospheric score by Richard Rodney Bennett with jazzy sound in the main titles. Appropriate cinematography in black and white by Ernest Steward. The picture is well and originally directed by Cliff Owen. He is a habitual director for television and an expert on comedy as he proved in ¨ No sex please : we're British¨, ¨The bawdy adventures of Tom Jones¨ , ¨A man could get killed¨ and several others. The flick will appeal to Peter Sellers fans and Brit comedy enthusiast . Rating : Good and better than average English comedy. This is one of the few enduringly funny films in British cinema of the 60.

Channel Four in the UK showed it this afternoon, and...I may have seen it years ago, but as I watched it.. wondered if it was an Ealing.Was the airfield Elstree.. didn't know. I was always a Sellers fan. Of course he was a performer, on TV chat shows as well as films. I strongly disagree he wasn't funny on TV chat shows. Parkinson was always good with him on. I want those shows on DVD, and am asking a friend in BBC archives, did they escape tape scrub? Hendrix on Lulu show was apparently one that survived as a technician checked it before scrub.. and made a phone call. So.. the film is an utter delight. Very silly of course, and yes, the 'going wrong' set up robbery near the end hilarious. I love these films as they still give a reminder, or an idea what life was like back then. If one can recognise locations, even better. My DVD collection is growing way too fast with these films being shown. Ronnie Corbet reminded us the other night when they made their TV shows.. they were never rushed. Rehearsed to perfection.. and it showed. Well,the old films still have charm and are a good reminder of life in those days. I didn't know Cliff was Mr. Bongo in Expresso Bongo! We need this escapism even more these days. New films with cgi are all very well.. but these comedies were straight up, almost reality.

This is an absolutely hilarious comic crook caper, very much in the style of THE LAVENDER HILL MOB, THE Italian JOB and CROOKS & CORONETS. It's one of those stories where the crooks are pleasant people, with the traditional "honor amongst thieves" motto, who only steal from the very rich, and never actually cause anyone physical harm.(Slight spoiler warning)Then a new mob arrives in London Town from Australia (yes, the Aussies are the real villains in this - sob, sob); and don't play fairly. This affects the status quo, so the General Council of Crims and the Police Force join forces to stop them.With great comic stars like Peter Sellers, Bernard Cribbins (of "Right Said Fred" novelty song fame), Lionel Jeffries, and John Le Mesurier (most memorable as Wilson of the old UK comic series DAD'S ARMY); as well as great Aussie stars Ed Devereaux and a quite young Bill Kerr (who's really seedy in this), I was totally hooked. As it made my top 100, you could say I'm very fond of this uproarious effort.