Watch Robbery
- 1967
- 1 hr 50 min
-
6.9 (2,129)
Robbery from 1967 is a British crime drama film directed by Peter Yates. The movie is based on the real-life Great Train Robbery of 1963, in which a group of criminals hijacked a train carrying millions of dollars worth of cash. The film stars Stanley Baker as Paul Clifton, the mastermind behind the heist, Joanna Pettet as his girlfriend Kate, and James Booth as Robinson, one of the gang members.
The movie opens with Paul Clifton being released from prison after a ten-year sentence for armed robbery. He reunites with his girlfriend Kate, who is now working as a nightclub dancer. Paul is determined to pull off one last heist and retire to a life of luxury. He assembles a team of criminals, including Robinson and several other men with expertise in various fields. They plan to hijack a mail train carrying millions of dollars in cash, using insider information to know when and where to attack.
The heist itself is a meticulously planned operation, with the gang members wearing masks and using walkie-talkies to communicate with each other. They use explosives to derail the train and then quickly load the cash onto a waiting truck. However, things quickly go wrong when the police arrive sooner than expected. A dramatic chase scene ensues, culminating in a shootout in the streets of London.
The second half of the movie deals with the fallout from the heist. The police are determined to catch the perpetrators, and the gang members go into hiding. However, the authorities soon catch up with them, resulting in a tense standoff. The gang members face trial, and the movie ends with a shocking twist that leaves the viewer questioning everything they thought they knew about the heist.
Robbery is a well-made movie, with strong performances from its lead actors. Stanley Baker is excellent as Paul Clifton, conveying both his intelligence and his ruthless determination to succeed. Joanna Pettet is also good as Kate, although her character is somewhat underdeveloped. James Booth is memorable as Robinson, bringing a dangerous edge to his performance.
Director Peter Yates does an excellent job of building tension throughout the movie. The heist scene is particularly well executed, with the use of split-screen showing the various gang members going about their tasks. The chase scene in the second half of the film is also impressive, with Yates using handheld cameras to create a sense of immediacy and urgency.
One of the most interesting things about the movie is how it portrays the criminals. While they are obviously engaged in illegal activities, the audience is still able to sympathize with them to some extent. This is partly because the movie gives us some insight into their motivations and backgrounds. For example, we learn that Paul has a sick wife who needs expensive medical care. We also see that the gang members have a strong sense of loyalty to each other. This humanizes them to some extent, and makes it easier for the audience to invest in their story.
Overall, Robbery is a tense and compelling crime drama that is worth watching for fans of the genre. Its strong performances and tight direction make it a classic of British cinema. The movie is reminiscent of other high-profile heist movies such as Heat and The Italian Job. However, it also has a gritty realism that sets it apart from those films. If you are looking for a suspenseful crime drama with a twist ending, then Robbery is a movie that you should definitely check out.
Robbery is a 1967 crime movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 50 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.9.