The Wrong Arm of the Law

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isla s In this film Peter Sellers plays a cocky, rebellious cockney criminal/spiv type - he's wearing dark sunglasses to bed early on in the film. There are some cheesy/corny innuendos present and it did make me giggle a bit at times. Watching the characters interact with people in authority with them clearly judging them, was quite amusing - the dialogue is certainly entertaining. Also some of the characters have somewhat typical cockney type nicknames, like 'nosey'. The dialogue can be quite fast paced and contains cockney/Southern England type slang of its time (the 1960s) (e.g. Women are referred to as 'birds', 'I made one hundred (...) knicker', 'you thieving little nit' etc.) which may amuse you and thankfully the audio level was decent, so it wasn't especially an issue. Given its an old film, this isn't always the case. I had a bit of a laugh at the way the police officer talked, with lines such as 'the ground to be searched is in this area 'ere, what is covered by the circle you see before you'. It is rather stereotyped and I can't say whether people really talked like that at the time, as it was made before my time but I certainly found the film an easy and entertaining watch. Also I'd like to point out that it stars John Le Mesurier (more well known for playing sergeant Arthur Wilson, Captain Mainwaring's sidekick, in Dad's Army), plus Bernard Cribbins. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member A coppers and robbers movie that is amusing and family-friendly starring Peter Sellers. Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/12/23 Full Review Audience Member Great for Sellers fans, this black and white caper comedy has British accents/slang to deal with and not so amusing script to follow. Note: A young Michael Caine has a small and uncredited role as a young PC. [img]http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRWXhaR_Z610F6Nn7I9M7TignOGMzgZX2-aHEl6EMdBFY09X4td[/img] Before The Pink Panther series we have this Peter Sellers creation in 1963. Half way through the 90 minute film was awkward for me at best, tedious at worst. SEE the trailer here for an idea of the film: www.youtube.com/watch?v=NajbyyBbwfE [img]http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQktlUwBfKWfsqTWXqj-bhCcF_HlMRuimG9pAhVV7komFL_CjcQ[/img] Early Peter Sellers comedy who runs a burglery gang through his front as a French speaking shop owner for woman's gowns. Here we see the early idea of a French detective Closeau. But this time he is really gangleader Pearly Gates, who is a English burgler kingpin who fancies himself benevolent as a gang leader and wants to form a corporation of local criminals. [img]http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRMwI-gR176yLz5nqEpz5ZURuP8YkkUqJiAsj2G9js0-7EBGRF8[/img] But thats not enough to make this a rotten film. It isn't that its a bad film. It's no doubt quality made and acted. Rather, its a bit hard to dicypher the dialog of criminal slang of 1960's Britain society. [img]http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQuhJ4zJmq7-bWKnlUl_PB2vOuVHj7Ls7WEx9qd4fHuxDsGKBDDZg[/img] Plus, the story spends half the movie showing various skits where a gang moves into town and dresses as police only to run off with stolen jewels during various heists. SEE the film in its entirety here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEet2P4GItw [img]http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTPZgzz7YKPcV6od72Aqhd5gdRRWhYhPpIS8soBBFThHzk2t6aF[/img] NOTES: 1 The film was one of the 12 most popular movies at the British box office in 1963. 2 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. 4 A young Michael Caine has a small and uncredited role as a young PC. [img]http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSDstGToX_Mt_pba3YPUU4jVyfVPw_VMvSe1xBQAd8zsltMkoA5[/img] Scotland Yard's commisioner meets with the gangs on a carosel at the request of Pearly Gates (Sellers) to join forces 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 Directed by Cliff Owen Produced by E.M. Smedley Aston Aubrey Baring Written by John Antrobus Ray Galton Len Heath Music by Richard Rodney Bennett Cinematography Ernest Steward Editing by Tristam Cones Studio Romulus Films Distributed by British Lion Films (UK) Release date(s) March 1963 (UK) Running time 94 minutes Country United Kingdom Language English [img]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/8/8d/The_Wrong_Arm_of_the_Law_poster.jpg/220px-The_Wrong_Arm_of_the_Law_poster.jpg[/img] More to follow...... Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/19/23 Full Review Audience Member one of sellers best comedies,nice cast with good gags/lines Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/02/23 Full Review Audience Member no kind hearts... here in another Brit comedy about cops n robbers Rated 2.5/5 Stars •  Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 02/25/23 Full Review Audience Member Written by Ray Galton and Alan Simpson and John Antrobus and directed by Cliff Owen, this is an amusing yet harmless little farce with a very good British cast, and would help put it's star on the road to a brief but interesting shot at the big time, alot of people said 1963 and 64 were important years in Peter Sellers' life, this is one of those films that came out. It's a comedy crime caper where a bunch of Australian criminals, led by Jack Coombes (Bill Kerr), impersonate policemen to carry out crimes. Local gang leader "Pearly" Gates (Sellers), blames his local rival "Nervous" O'Toole (Bernard Cribbins). They eventually team up to bring down the Australian, but in order to do this, they need to co-operate with the real police, led by Police Inspector "Nosey" Parker (Lionel Jeffries). They come up with an elaborate plan to put a stop to this mob. However, it would appear that Gates has a secret agenda all of his own. It's enjoyable and has good performances. Even if Sellers plays a crook, he plays the part with relish. It has a good supporting cast, and has some good set pieces as each gang try to outwit one another. Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/05/23 Full Review Read all reviews

The Wrong Arm of the Law

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