JohnHowardReid Associate producer: Anthony Nelson-Keys. Executive producer: Michael Carreras. A Hammer Film Production. A Columbia Release.Copyright 1 January 1962 by Woodpecker/Hammer Productions, released in the U.K. through BLC on 15 December 1963, in the U.S.A. through Columbia in February 1962. No New York opening. Australian release: 20 July 1962. Running times: 84 minutes (U.S.A.), 66 minutes (U.K.), 90 minutes (Aust.). (An excellent Sony DVD).SYNOPSIS: Posing as an insurance company investigator, Hepburn plans to loot the provincial bank managed by Fordyce, who is something of a martinet to his staff. Hepburn persuades Fordyce that, unless he assists in the robbery and getaway, his wife and son will come to a sorry end; thoroughly cowed, Fordyce agrees to help.COMMENT: Although its TV origins are obvious, suspenseful writing, concentrated playing and well-knit direction gives this modest Hammer thriller an edge over its contemporaries. — J.H.R. (reviewing the British version).OTHER VIEWS: Unlucky us, Columbia have released the complete 90- minute version in Australia. Admittedly, a must for Andre Morell and Peter Cushing devotees, but somewhat less palatable for the ordinary, fee-paying entertainment-seeker. - George Addison reviewing the Australian version.One of those pre-arranged robberies in which all the steps are plotted and planned and all work out nicely and smoothly until that unexpected slip-up, is what you get in this neat, unpretentious little British film ... The picture provides a few engaging moments of suspense and some modest exchanges of obvious humor between Mr. Morell, who is casual and dry, and Peter Cushing, who is pinch-faced and nervous as the cornered bank manager. — Bosley Crowther, reviewing the American version in The N.Y. Times.

LeonLouisRicci Stiff Suspense from Hammer Studios with a Good Cast Led by Peter Cushing and Andre Morell. It's all Tight and Closed In with the Camera Never Leaving the Confines of a Bank (unless you count the sidewalk out front) .It's Christmas Time so let's get the Dickens Comparisons going. The Film is Based on a Play and it Plays Out that way for the 80 Minute Duration.The Movie's Mania is Solidified by Morell's Character who is Increasingly Aloof and Off His Rocker. This Goofball has "Gone Fishing" by the Final Scenes. This is all Finely Contrasted by Cushing's Paranoia, Guilt, and Devotion to His Wife and Son and Plays it All as Serious as a Heart Attack.Overall, it's Good Stuff from Hammer. If it's a Hammer Film it's Worth a Watch.The British Studio could Do No Wrong it seems and Produced One Fine Production After Another. Monster Remakes and Follow Ups were Their Forte, but Occasionally Branched Out and Delivered Neat Little Gems in other Genres and Never seemed to Disappoint.No other Studio Made so many Fine Films with so Little Resources. Although to be Fair, for Comparison, in America, the Same could be said of Roger Corman.

Scott LeBrun December the 23rd. The City & Colonial Bank is visited by a charming stranger identifying himself as Col. Gore Hepburn (Andre Morell). He asks to speak with bank manager Harry Fordyce (Peter Cushing), who's a harsh, demanding, detail-oriented type who doesn't care to get to know his employees better. Soon Hepburn is revealed as a very clever and ruthless bank robber who forces Fordyce into being an accomplice by threatening Fordyces' wife and son. In a short span of time Fordyce shows a touch more humanity by revealing what it is in the world that he cares most about.Director Quentin Lawrence ("The Trollenberg Terror") does a creditable job with this meaty script, written by David T. Chantler and Lewis Greifer based on a play by Jacques Gillies. And one can tell that this is based on a play, with the accent on dialogue, but it's interesting and riveting all the way through, with very taut direction by Lawrence who gets superb performances out of his two talented leads. Cushing is a joy to watch as a man who becomes more sympathetic as the story plays out. And Morell is fun as the dapper, (mostly) calm thief. Solid support is provided by Richard Vernon as Pearson, the banks' second-in-command, Barry Lowe as the teller Harvill, and Kevin Stoney as Detective Inspector Mason.Also indicating a stage origin is a limited number of sets, but this only serves to give this superior film an intimate feel and help us to get completely involved in this twist-laden plot. And the story, which works as a variation on the classic Dickens tale "A Christmas Carol", is irresistible for its theme of a person in need of some redemption.Slickly made in every respect, this is among the best of the black & white Hammer thrillers.Eight out of 10.

Zar This is a brilliant film! A psychological thriller and also a clever variation on A CHRISTMAS CAROL. Peter Cushing, in perhaps his best performances ever captured on film (along with THE ABOMINABLE SNOWMAN, FRANKENSTEIN AND THE MONSTER FROM HELL and the BBC play "1984"), plays an unsympathetic bank manager blackmailed into robbing his own bank by cunning gentleman-thief Andre Morell (in a rock solid performance). The great moment comes when Cushing who has bullied his staff all the time must beg them to help him cover up the robbery - if not, his family will be killed. I won't reveal more, it would spoil the fun.