Getting away with it!

[GRAEME]

Most heist movies end with poetic justice - and the shattered plans of the criminal mastermind behind the robbery. No matter how brilliant - everything conspires to rob them of the loot in the end.



Loot is one of course, through the agency of a satirically corrupt copper. But usually it ends in disaster... Think - The League of Gentlemen or The Italian Job.



Are there any films where the robbers get to keep their spoils? What's the earliest film where people get away with a crime unpunished? And, do you think it is morally dangerous for crime to be seen to pay in the cinema - or does it just reflect real-life?

[Windthrop]

name='GRAEME']Most heist movies end with poetic justice - and the shattered plans of the criminal mastermind behind the robbery. No matter how brilliant - everything conspires to rob them of the loot in the end.



Loot is one of course, through the agency of a satirically corrupt copper. But usually it ends in disaster... Think - The League of Gentlemen or The Italian Job.



Are there any films where the robbers get to keep their spoils? What's the earliest film where people get away with a crime unpunished? And, do you think it is morally dangerous for crime to be seen to pay in the cinema - or does it just reflect real-life?

Up to a certain date crime could not be shown to have paid. T.E.B. Clarke talked about his disapointment that Alec Guinness had to get his just deserts at the end of The Lavender Hill Mob. I don't know at what point this changed - 60s maybe ?

[dremble wedge]

name='GRAEME']

Are there any films where the robbers get to keep their spoils? What's the earliest film where people get away with a crime unpunished?

Not British but Kelly's Heroes?

[DB7]

Wasn't it government/censor policy that crime couldn't be portrayed as paying until the mid 60s?



I suppose Robbery with Stanley Baker? It's loosely-based on the great train robbery and some of the crooks from that heist certainly evaded the police with a portion of the loot.

[GRAEME]

name='dremble wedge']Not British but Kelly's Heroes?

Funny film! "This is my other dog impression..."



My Uncle Donald was great as Oddball - and he had an early start in Brit movies and TV.



And director Brian Patten must be at least an honourary Brit for directing Where Eagle's Dare!



And the movie was written by none other than our very own Troy Kennedy Martin - co-creator of Z-Cars and writer of Edge of Darkness, The Italian Job and many others.

[GRAEME]

name='DB7']Wasn't it government/censor policy that crime couldn't be portrayed as paying until the mid 60s?

What was the legal position - I know British movies weren't covered by the Hays Code, but if they wanted US distribution maybe they had to toe that line?



I just imagine in a more deferrential age - seeing criminals getting away with it was anathema to most viewers, it wouldn't be until the 50s/60s that folks started cheering for anti-establishment ne'erdowells.

[silverwhistle]

Not British, but Bound had our intrepid heroines, Corky and Violet, making off with the mobsters' money, to start a new life together. You wanted them to succeed, because Cesare and his Mafia pals were cruel and nasty, and it was ill-gotten gains to start with. It puzzled me that Thelma and Louise was hyped more as a "feminist adventure film": Bound struck me as far more radical, as not only were the girls lovers, but they triumphed in the end.

[batman]

name='silverwhistle']Not British, but Bound had our intrepid heroines, Corky and Violet, making off with the mobsters' money, to start a new life together. You wanted them to succeed, because Cesare and his Mafia pals were cruel and nasty, and it was ill-gotten gains to start with. It puzzled me that Thelma and Louise was hyped more as a "feminist adventure film": Bound struck me as far more radical, as not only were the girls lovers, but they triumphed in the end.

Great film .... a pity that the Wachowskis haven't done anything near as good since.



Bats.

[Freddy]

name='DB7']Wasn't it government/censor policy that crime couldn't be portrayed as paying until the mid 60s?

I was under that impression as well, my parents used to mention it.

name='DB7']I suppose Robbery with Stanley Baker? It's loosely-based on the great train robbery and some of the crooks from that heist certainly evaded the police with a portion of the loot.

The same can be said for The First Great Train Robbery 1979. Sean Connery was captured but managed to escape and they all kept the loot. This was also based on a true story.

[fooboo]

The Italian Job 2003 they keep the loot eventually

[knobbykins]

PERFECT FRIDAY with the perfect Ursula Undressed!!!

[batman]

name='fooboo']The Italian Job 2003 they keep the loot eventually

Cheers .... I taped that the other night and haven't watched it yet!



Bats.

[GRAEME]

name='knobbykins']PERFECT FRIDAY with the perfect Ursula Undressed!!!

Thanks for that! 1970 same year as Loot.



Any earlier than that or is there a kind of moral/censorship watershed operating around 1970?

[silverwhistle]

name='GRAEME']Thanks for that! 1970 same year as Loot.



Any earlier than that or is there a kind of moral/censorship watershed operating around 1970?

I think the Hays Code finally bit the dust c. 1966.