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Amazon.co.uk Review
The League of Gentlemen is a sardonic crime drama in which Jack Hawkins plays an embittered retired army officer who recruits seven fellow ex-soldiers to carry out a bank raid with military precision. The film presents an England between post-war austerity and the more liberated 1960s where traditional moral certainties were rapidly being discarded; a London where ex-officers left on the scrapheap at war's end could justify turning their military experience to armed robbery. Unfortunately the tale is neither particularly amusing or thrilling, with an overlong central detour via an army camp prefacing the exciting heist and a largely anti-climactic ending. Nevertheless Hawkins effectively subverts his heroic officer type from The Cruel Sea (1953) and The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957), and there's excellent support from a great cast including Nigel Patrick, Richard Attenborough and Roger Livesey.
Bryan Forbes not only wrote the cynical screenplay but costarred with wife Nanette Newman in her first significant screen role. More influential than truly classic, The League of Gentlemen has lent its name to a modern BBC comedy, an "Extraordinary" comic strip-turned-movie, and proved the template for heist films ever since, including both versions of The Italian Job (1969 and 2003).
On the DVD:The League of Gentlemen is presented in an anamorphically enhanced 16:9 transfer from an excellent condition print and mostly looks and sounds fine. There's minimal print damage, though sadly Philip Green's ironically patriotic main title music suffers from significant distortion. The only extra is the original trailer, which is now something of a period piece itself. --Gary S Dalkin
Product Description
United Kingdom released, PAL/Region 2 DVD: LANGUAGES: English ( Mono ), WIDESCREEN (1.78:1), SPECIAL FEATURES: Commentary, Interactive Menu, Photo Gallery, Scene Access, Special Edition, Trailer(s), SYNOPSIS: 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. SCREENED/AWARDED AT: BAFTA Awards, San Sebastian International Film Festival, ...The League of Gentlemen (1960)
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
76 of 76 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
British cinema at its best, with the superb Jack Hawkins as the leader of a bunch of disgruntled ex-army specialists. Colonel Hyde (Hawkins) assembles his 'Dirty Eight' (pre-dating the concept of the Dirty Dozen by six years or so) for a bank heist in 1960 London. There are some great location shots of London for you nostalgia buffs and a winning cast, which includes the much underated Nigel Patrick at his urbane best and good old Dickie Attenborough. Based on the books by John Boland, Brian Forbes's screenplay is amusing, but has some excellent moments of poignancy particularly with Terence Alexander's character. This is British cinema all the way and they weren't even forced to take a down on his luck American actor to boost sales in the US!
33 of 33 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Wonderful film, wonderful director: Basil Dearden, who also made Sapphire, one of the first British films to deal with race relations (it's not available on DVD), and Victim, the film that helped change the homosexuality laws in Britain in the early 60s.
But "The League of Gentlemen" outdoes them all for its wit, it's story and its cast-Jack Hawkins as Colonel NJG Hyde "Just let me say that I outrank you," who sends a group of ex-army officers fallen on hard times copies of a cheap American thriller with the plot for what he feels is the perfect crime. He gets them to go along with his plan by inviting them to lunch (as befits officers and gentlemen) and springing the story on them there. (Watch for what has to be one of Oliver Reed's first screen appearances as the dancer who's auditioning upstairs for "Babes in the Woods"-priceless).The cast includes a young Richard Attenborough, Nigel Patrick, Bryan Forbes and a few other top-notch actors who proceed to pull a bank job in broad daylight. The ending has to be seen to be believed. It's on my top ten list of all time best crime films.
But "The League of Gentlemen" outdoes them all for its wit, it's story and its cast-Jack Hawkins as Colonel NJG Hyde "Just let me say that I outrank you," who sends a group of ex-army officers fallen on hard times copies of a cheap American thriller with the plot for what he feels is the perfect crime. He gets them to go along with his plan by inviting them to lunch (as befits officers and gentlemen) and springing the story on them there. (Watch for what has to be one of Oliver Reed's first screen appearances as the dancer who's auditioning upstairs for "Babes in the Woods"-priceless).The cast includes a young Richard Attenborough, Nigel Patrick, Bryan Forbes and a few other top-notch actors who proceed to pull a bank job in broad daylight. The ending has to be seen to be believed. It's on my top ten list of all time best crime films.
31 of 32 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
After 25 years of serving King and Country, Colonel Hyde is forced to retire because he is no longer needed. However before leaving he spend his time well in the records department and left with certain information that would prove useful. It was now time for "OPERATION GOLDEN FLEECE". Armed with the record he took from the Army, seven names are selected and sent an invitation to lunch. So the League of Gentlemen is formed
No special features, but then again with a film this good you don't need them.
(Not related in any way to the BBC2 series of the same name)
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
The League of Gentlemen
This is a gem. The black and white format perfectly suits the mood of the day post World War II. The cast of characters is a wonderful portrayal of a group of disaffected and... Read more
Published 17 days ago by al'Miral
Definitive English comedy
England in decline, slightly shabby but still fighting (in a manner of speaking), old darling. Should this sceptred isle ever face annihilation, please would the last person... Read more
Published 2 months ago by O tempora o mores
Got it for old times sake!
Loved this when it came out, paid to see it at the cinema and never fails to entertain amd made when films were films with a story line that you could follow but my reason for... Read more
Published 7 months ago by Johan Wood
Not the Royston Vasey one!
This is a wonderful old film. Jack Hawkins, sporting the famous British stiff upper lip, organises a number of ex-servicemen (it's the late '50s, the film having been released in... Read more
Published 11 months ago by P. Smith
Ahead of it's time
A film that was years ahead of it's time and Jack Hawkins line regarding his wife has to be a classic, Bryan Forbes screenplay is brilliant from start to finish but this line is... Read more
Published 13 months ago by Horley Boy
Excellent entertainment
This film is a great example of 50s/60s cinema.
Great entertainment, if you have never seen it; I envy you as it is excellent from start to finish.
Great entertainment, if you have never seen it; I envy you as it is excellent from start to finish.
Published on 29 Mar 2010 by CB Bexley
classic film
bought this dvd as a gift for relative -with all the extras it was abargain.
we have watched it several times over,really classic brit film
we have watched it several times over,really classic brit film
Published on 30 Oct 2009 by mikey
Excelent entertainment and value
It is very many years since I saw this film at a cinema so when chancing on it whilst browsing thought I would purchase, especially as it was reasonably priced! Read more
Published on 11 July 2009 by Alan Crosskill
The League of Gentlemen.
Excellent storyline, excellent cast and excellently paced film. They make it all seem so very easy. A really enjoyable and very British crime film.
Published on 9 July 2009 by Pontybodkin Pete
Outstanding in every way!
Perfection in the film-makers craft. This film is truly faultless. The screenplay is a masterpiece and the direction, black and white cinematography, music, casting and acting are... Read more
Published on 2 Jun 2009 by Ken Green
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