Robbery

[bigshot]

I screened Robbery last night. Great action heist film! Very exciting and brilliantly shot and edited. The transfer is perfect too with sharp image and clear sound. It was dirt cheap at Amazon UK so I blind bought it. Glad I did.

[saltysam]

yes an excellent film that seems to have gone under the radar.it's got a good review on here i think.

[Indiana Jonezzz...]

Yes, this is a cracking British film, blind bought it on its release, and loved it. The train robbery itself and the planning leading up to it are superb, as well as the cracking car chase at the beginning. It was because of that chase, apparently, that Steve McQueen chose the director for Bullitt.

[Jack.A.Napes]

Another fan here. Makes a great Stanley Baker double bill paired with HELL DRIVERS.

[CV19]

Yes, I recently bought this film too and a cracking film it is with a very decent transfer as well. A worthy addition for any fan of Stanley Baker.

[RCRochester]

Good film and good blu-ray too. I enjoyed the car chase as well, it's a much different dynamic than American films with their big cars and big roads. I also liked the the train robbery sequence which I believe was an accurate depiction of the real train robbery, even though the rest of the film was fictionalized.

I also enjoyed the scenes filmed at Brisbane Road, love seeing old football grounds in the terracing days.

[The_Donster]

Damn, saw the post, but apparently this isn't available here in the US

[edmonddantes]

whats the best version to buy, the kino or network's?

I already bought network's, havent watched it yet, but I just discovered kino also has a version, which is no biggy because between kino and british labels, particularly for british films, I prefer british labels, and I think network has more extras than kino's?

[justwannaboogie]

Originally Posted by edmonddantes

whats the best version to buy, the kino or network's?

I already bought network's, havent watched it yet, but I just discovered kino also has a version, which is no biggy because between kino and british labels, particularly for british films, I prefer british labels, and I think network has more extras than kino's?

Double dip if you want the Nick Pinkerton commentary, otherwise the Network is all you need. One of their best releases.

[edmonddantes]

Watched it and liked it a lot. Impressed with network, what other releases would you guys recommend from them? nice transfer, very good extras

As for the movie I loved the professionalism of both the police and robbers. Usually in these films they take away from one of the parts to make the other look better, its also easier for the writers, but in this both parties are good professionals. Love the military efficiency with which they conducted the robbers, the assault and afterwards is like a ballet, so precise, beautifully timed, many parts working in conjunction.

Liked the understated performance from james booth, an actor Ive always liked. Also joanna pettet is one of the most beautiful women Ive ever seen.

I really like these movies with an eye for detail, there are so few of them.

[GlacierTuba]

Posted this on my Letterboxd page not so long back but thought to share my (sub par) thoughts about this fillum here too so folks on the fence about it might be persuaded to give it a shot (in a non-shilling, "i'm super excited to watch this" unboxing *proceeds to toss it on a shelf to gather dust foever more*, don't forget to like, subscribe and smash the living bejeezus out of that bell icon way).






So after a weekend rewatching two 'comfort favourites'. Michael Sheen as Brian Clough in The Damned United, and Steve McQueen in (my opinion) Le Mans, the greatest motor racing film of all (or indeed any) time; I settled down yesterday to another blind buy from those buxom young pups at Network On Air. I got a handful of Network Blu's recently and watched Small Town Story not long back. Next it was the turn of 1967 heist thriller, Robbery.

This film is based on the story of a true event, The Great Train Robbery, and was filmed only 4 years after the event actually happened. Potential for a film cash-in perhaps?

The film opens with, what is for me, probably the highlight of the entire production. An intense, butt-clenching car chase through the streets of London at absolutely bezerk speeds and in cars that were clearly not designed to be ragged around in such a way (there's actually a moment in the chase that I think is a mistake as one of the cars slams against a kerbside, or sidewalk for our North American chums).

The whole sequence is shot in such a way that the entire event leaves you genuinely breathless. There's a moment towards the end of the chase sequence (and I won't spoil it) that quite literally had me putting my foot out in front of me to stamp on a brake pedal that didn't exist! It's genuinely exhilarating, absolutely perfectly shot and a true testament to the skill of drivers and crew involved. Honestly at one point I had to check my sofa as I thought poo came out and I was drenched in sweat, for a moment I thought I'd done a buy one get one free and both pissed and shat myself!

Post-chase, the film then puts the building blocks in place with a mildly Ocean's 11-esque planning stage to get us aquainted with the forthcoming major event and to get to know the criminals a little better. It doesn't delve in to the granular detail, it's quite breezy in fact and doesn't really impede the near-2 hour run time.

I very much enjoyed the way Robbery was shot. Director Peter Yates (the same Peter Yates that directed Bullitt, hence the opening car chase in Robbery is absolutely sensational) has a real eye for framing. There's a wonderful mixture of sweeping shots, guerilla-Greengrass shaky cam and claustrauphobia sprinkled throughout. Even post-robbery and at the films climax, there's some great helicopter shots to add a heavy air of tension and dread. And here comes the I promise I'm not a shill piece, strap yourselves in! I'm a broken record I know, but for crying out loud, the picture quality on this Blu is fantastic. According to the booklet and restoration notes, Network used the original camera negative but also took things a step further. The film is presented for the very first time in it's correct AR and has also had some footage that was previously cut, restored for the very first time. Audio is very good too, no need to enable Clear Voice here. You also get a great selection of extras on the disc, including a making of featurette, cast and crew interviews and galleries but also a full-length documentary on the actual great train robbery. Oh, and the standard Network pack-in booklet and reverse sleeve notes. So decent value then.

Robbery is a very entertaining heist film. Two hours flew by but it's that opening chase sequence that really not only helps the film set it's stall out early, but unknowingly set a precedent and a platform for cinema car chases forever. Yates would go on to direct Bullitt the following year, and we all know about the car chase in that film! On the chase sequence alone, Robbery stands head and shoulders above many films, but the film as a whole is equally a very enjoyable and thrilling experience and one I will certainly revist again for repeated viewings.

TOP TIP: Before watching this film, maybe cover your sofa in a plastic sheet, or invest in a decent pair of incontinence pants. You'll need them for the opening car chase.



Side note: This Blu is one that is absolutely worth your time. Don't bother with the DVD or any prior releases on other formats (VHS etc), they are all in the wrong AR and incomplete. Go for the Network Blu for the most complete version with the correct AR and a bundle of extras.

[harry o]

Watched part of that glorious car chase being filmed back in the day as a boy ,Warwick estate paddington being the location a wonderful time capsule moment and of course an excellent movie.

[GlacierTuba]

Originally Posted by harry o

Watched part of that glorious car chase being filmed back in the day as a boy ,Warwick estate paddington being the location a wonderful time capsule moment and of course an excellent movie.

Blimey. I'd say that was quite the spectacle to see in person. Lucky you!

I'll probably get dragged out to the car park and have my head kicked in for this, but I think the opening car chase in Robbery is better than what Yates went on to make in Bullitt.

Not slating Bullitt here, far from it. But I meant what I wrote in my drivel, that at a particular moment in that car chase sequence, I genuinely instictively stuck my foot out to stamp on an imaginary brake pedal!

I think half of it was just subliminally thinking how decent a driver you'd need to be to drive those huge Jags at those speeds, the lack of power steering and so on. It was just a really masterfully made car chase. The rest of the film was a treat to watch.

Sure while on the subject of chase sequences, I'd throw Puppet On A Chain in the mix too for having one of the all-time greatest chase sequences (except with a twist ). Never mind your French Connection 1 & 2 and Bullitt, give me the lesser known stuff!

[harry o]

Originally Posted by GlacierTuba

Blimey. I'd say that was quite the spectacle to see in person. Lucky you!

I'll probably get dragged out to the car park and have my head kicked in for this, but I think the opening car chase in Robbery is better than what Yates went on to make in Bullitt.

Not slating Bullitt here, far from it. But I meant what I wrote in my drivel, that at a particular moment in that car chase sequence, I genuinely instictively stuck my foot out to stamp on an imaginary brake pedal!

I think half of it was just subliminally thinking how decent a driver you'd need to be to drive those huge Jags at those speeds, the lack of power steering and so on. It was just a really masterfully made car chase. The rest of the film was a treat to watch.

Sure while on the subject of chase sequences, I'd throw Puppet On A Chain in the mix too for having one of the all-time greatest chase sequences (except with a twist ). Never mind your French Connection 1 & 2 and Bullitt, give me the lesser known stuff!

I totally agree with you the car chase in "robbery" has far more tension and I love how it all unfolds plus those sixties London locations look splendid thanks to the good folk at network.

[alexrinse]

Was blown away by this film a few weeks back, can't recommend it enough.

[WaverBoy]

From the director of Bullitt and Krull! I really need to pick this up, haven’t watched it since my VHS days many years ago.

[GlacierTuba]

Originally Posted by WaverBoy

From the director of Bullitt and Krull! I really need to pick this up, haven’t watched it since my VHS days many years ago.

Pick a pack of these up while you're at it, for the opening car chase.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Incontinenc.../dp/B0BMGC593G

[Lord-Oakbeard]

Originally Posted by WaverBoy

From the director of Bullitt and Krull! I really need to pick this up, haven’t watched it since my VHS days many years ago.

Me too! I must get hold of Robbery. I loved another heist/robbery Film Stanley Baker starred in called A Prize Of Arms (1962).

Baker was a very good actor, I liked him in The Criminal (1960) and The Sands Of Kalahari (1965) to name just two.

I don’t care much for Bond films much except for a couple with Roger Moore but Stanley Baker would’ve made a fine 007.


* Edit: Couldn’t resist so Ive just ordered the Network Blu-ray of Robbery.

Haven’t ordered the pants yet though …