THE BIG JOB

UK, 1965, 89 minutes, Colour.

Sid James, Sylvia Syms, Dick Emery, Joan Sims, Lance Perceval, Jim Dale, Deryck Guyler, Reginald Beckwith,

Directed by Gerald Thomas.

It looks as though that in the middle of making all the Carry On films, Gerald Thomas and many of his stars decided to have something of a break, restrain, somewhat more respectable, British comedy. And this was the mid-1960s.

One might say that this Big Job is a series of robbery muddles, all kinds of tangles. It is 1950. Sid James is the leader of a motley group, Lance Perceval as the member of the group who is not the sharpest, Sylvia Sims offering the touch of glamour and romance, and, particularly effective, Dick Emery before his television show.

All of these muddles this are presented in a farcical style, especially the initial robbery, everything going wrong that could, then a whole lot of opportunities for success, and escape, travelling in a hearse, mourning cars following, but eventually cornered by the police and throwing a bag of the loot into a hollow tree.

Then, prison, 15 years, out they come to retrieve the money, teaming up with Sylvia Sims again who has her eye on marriage. However, Sid James can say all the words but one might say he is completely asexual, no romance, nothing erotic… Just complete dedication to get the money back.

As they work out where they were arrested and go back, all kinds of complications and funny situations, a housing settlement being built up rather than the open countryside, the tree now within the precincts of the local police station, the hiring rooms opposite with an overview of the tree and the station, even stealing a telescope to keep watch. There is also some romance with the lady of the house where they rent, a widow, but casting her eye on Dick Emery. And, the guest living there is one of the local young policeman, Jim Dale.

So, a whole lot of shenanigans, mostly impossible, especially the digging of a huge tunnel from under the house, under the Street, the police station.

And, when they do get the bag back – a surprise for them as well as for the audience! And the double life of the landlady!

A film to gauge the popular response of the wide audience to this kind of British comedy in the 1960s.