ComedyCrime

The League of Gentlemen

- What is the league ... Who are the gentlemen ?

Involuntarily-retired Colonel Hyde recruits seven other dissatisfied ex-servicemen for a special project. Each of the men has a skeleton in the cupboard, is short of money, and is a service-trained expert in his field. The job is a bank robbery, and military discipline and planning are imposed by Hyde and second-in-command Race on the team, although civilian irritations do start getting in the way.

Release Date : 1960-04-15

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Allied Film Makers

Production Country : United Kingdom

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Character Name : Hyde

Original Name : Jack Hawkins

Gender : Male

Character Name : Race

Original Name : Nigel Patrick

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mycroft

Original Name : Roger Livesey

Gender : Male

Character Name : Lexy

Original Name : Richard Attenborough

Gender : Male

Character Name : Porthill

Original Name : Bryan Forbes

Gender : Male

Character Name : Stevens

Original Name : Kieron Moore

Gender : Male

Character Name : Rupert

Original Name : Terence Alexander

Gender : Male

Character Name : Weaver

Original Name : Norman Bird

Gender : Male

Character Name : Bunny Warren

Original Name : Robert Coote

Gender : Male

Character Name : Peggy

Original Name : Melissa Stribling

Gender : Female

Character Name : Elizabeth

Original Name : Nanette Newman

Gender : Female

Character Name : Hilda

Original Name : Lydia Sherwood

Gender : Female

Character Name : Molly Weaver

Original Name : Doris Hare

Gender : Female

Character Name : C.S.M.

Original Name : David Lodge

Gender : Male

Character Name : Wylie

Original Name : Patrick Wymark

Gender : Male

Character Name : Captain Saunders

Original Name : Gerald Harper

Gender : Male

Character Name : Grogan

Original Name : Brian Murray

Gender : Male

Character Name : Chorus Boy (uncredited)

Original Name : Oliver Reed

Gender : Male

Character Name : Chorus Boy (uncredited)

Original Name : Roger Hammond

Gender : Male

Character Name : Porthill's Blonde (uncredited)

Original Name : Claire Gordon

Gender : Female

Character Name : Soldier (uncredited)

Original Name : Terence Plummer

Gender : Male

Character Name : Small Girl (uncredited)

Original Name : Susanne Gibbs

Gender : Female

Character Name : Mrs Boyle (uncredited)

Original Name : Marie Burke

Gender : Female

Character Name : Kissing Man in Truck (Uncredited)

Original Name : Nigel Green

Gender : Male

Character Name : Young Man in Gym (uncredited)

Original Name : Dinsdale Landen

Gender : Male

Character Name : AA Patrolman (uncredited)

Original Name : Cyril Chamberlain

Gender : Male

Character Name : Staff Sergeant Hall (uncredited)

Original Name : Norman Rossington

Gender : Male

Character Name : Young Girl (uncredited)

Original Name : Beverly Bennett

Gender : Male

Character Name : Young PC (uncredited)

Original Name : Terence Edmond

Gender : Male

Character Name : Soldier (uncredited)

Original Name : Ernest Fennemore

Gender : Male

Character Name : Soldier (uncredited)

Original Name : Joe Dunne

Gender : Male

Character Name : Sergeant (uncredited)

Original Name : Patrick Jordan

Gender : Male

Character Name : Police Superintendent (uncredited)

Original Name : Ronald Leigh-Hunt

Gender : Male

Character Name : Waiter (uncredited)

Original Name : Gerry Judge

Gender : Male

Character Name : Head Waiter (uncredited)

Original Name : Tony Thawnton

Gender : Male

Character Name : Patrolman (uncredited)

Original Name : Bruce Seton

Gender : Male

Character Name : Elizabeth's Lover (uncredited)

Original Name : John Richardson

Gender : Male

Character Name : Bank Official (uncredited)

Original Name : Ned Lynch

Gender : Male

Character Name : Bank Official (uncredited)

Original Name : Fred Machon

Gender : Male

Character Name : Bank Official (uncredited)

Original Name : Cecil Paul

Gender : Male

Character Name : Security Van Driver (uncredited)

Original Name : Joe Wadham

Gender : Male

Character Name : Constable (uncredited)

Original Name : Pat Ryan

Gender : Male

Character Name : Army Switchboard Operator (uncredited)

Original Name : Tony Wager

Gender : Male

Character Name : Cafe Royal Manager (uncredited)

Original Name : Norman Morris

Gender : Male

Character Name : Policeman (uncredited)

Original Name : Mike Conner

Gender : Male

Character Name : Lady on Street (uncredited)

Original Name : Pearl Walters

Gender : Male

Reviews

John Chard

@John Chard

2024-05-16

These Gentlemen are indeed extraordinary. The League of Gentlemen is directed by Basil Deardon and adapted to screenplay by Bryan Forbes from the novel written by John Boland. Forbes himself stars alongside Jack Hawkins, Nigel Patrick, Richard Attenborough, Roger Livesey, Kieron Moore, Terence Alexander, Norman Bird and Robert Coote. Music is by Philip Green and cinematography by Arthur Ibbetson. Splendid old chap, darn fine British entertainment as a roll call of Brit thesps and grafters enact a crime caper full of drama, sexual suggestion, humour and action. Plot is simple, Lieutenant-Colonel Norman Hyde (Hawkins), embittered after his decades of service to the army has counted for nothing, gathers up a band of not so merry men to enact a daring bank robbery. The men, all gentlemen scallywags with chequered pasts, have been selected for their various skills that were acquired during their own service to the forces. If they can pull it off, they will be made for life… Once the initial build up of character introductions and their respective lives has been cemented, film kicks on with a tale of men from different walks of life trying to bond together as one. They have to trust each other immeasurably, all the time while adhering to the regimental regime laid out by Hyde. The planning is intricate and fun, and this as some of the men try to balance matters of the heart back in their own homes, then it’s on to the action (which is two-fold Dirty Dozen style) and the subsequent aftermath. All of which leads to a bittersweet finale that’s simply joyous. There’s funny asides to army life and the food that dwells in the service! There’s machine gun etiquette and dangerous dames, choice dialogue and even an Oliver Reed cameo where he gays up! Older British movie fans will rejoice at seeing some of the location shots, and the use of the BSA motorcycle, while it’s always great to hear the word clot used as an insult. It’s a terrific caper movie awash with excellent character playing by a stoic and committed bunch of Briters. 8.5/10