“Faced
with the seemingly-unsolvable
problem of moving stolen gold from
England to France, a timid gold bullion
bank transfer agent enlists the help of
a souvenir maker and two professional
criminals in order to achieve his aim
of a wealthy retirement in The Lavender
Hill Mob...”
DETERMINED TO FULFIL A LIFELONG AMBITION to escape his humdrum job as a bank
transfer agent delivering gold bullion — a position he has held
loyally for twenty years for a meagre £8.15s a week — mild-mannered
Henry "Dutch" Holland (Alec Guinness) plans to steal a consignment
and retire in comfort to Rio de Janeiro.
There is just one problem: how to move the gold once it is in his possession.
It can only be sold across the Channel on the Continent, but Henry cannot think
of an effective way to get it to France.
When absent-minded souvenir maker Alfred Pendlebury (Stanley Holloway) arrives
at the London hotel in Lavender Hill belonging to Miss Evesham (Edie Martin)
where he lives, Henry invites him to become his partner in crime, hatching an
idea to use Alfred's smelting works to make miniature Eiffel Towers with gold
rather than lead before smuggling the gold into France — where it would
fetch more than twice its price on the black market.
The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry; and Henry's luck turns bad
when his boss Mr Turner (Ronald Adam) gives him promotion, thereby bringing
the planned robbery forward. Having run out of time, Henry and Alfred must urgently
employ the services of two professional criminals and concoct a plan to ensnare
them.
Nothing short of a miracle will make things go according to plan as Lackery
Wood (Sid James) and Shorty (Alfie Bass) are quickly enlisted, becoming The
Lavender Hill Mob. While Henry is finally able to go ahead with the gold
robbery, the plan is fraught with complications, not least of which is training
Shorty to become a pavement artist and teaching Lackery to ride a bicycle!
The Lavender Hill Mob is full of twists and turns as the four lurch from
one crisis to another both before and after the robbery, involving a police
chase and confusion over languages, resulting in one of the golden Eiffel Towers
falling into the wrong hands. There is much truth in the police observation
"anyone who trafficks in stolen gold will find it's too hot to handle".
Don't miss this golden opportunity to get The Lavender Hill Mob and enjoy
the thrill of the chase and light-hearted banter. The perfect classic for any
collection, with the superb Alec Guinness heading a fine cast of actors that
includes Stanley Holloway, Sid James, Alfie Bass and the fabulous Edie Martin.
The Lavender Hill Mob also features: Marjorie Fielding as Mrs Chalk;
John Gregson as Farrow; Clive Morton as the Station Sergeant; Sydney Tafler
as Clayton; John Salew as Parkin; Moultrie Kelsall as Detective Superintendent;
and the divine Audrey Hepburn in a minor role as Chiquita.
Original Screenplay is by T E B Clarke; Director of Photography is Douglas Slocombe;
Associate producer is Michael Truman; Music is by Georges Auric and is Played
by The Philharmonia Orchestra Conducted by Ernest Irving; Produced by Michael
Balcon and Directed by Charles Crichton.
• Digitally
restored and back in cinemas for its 60th anniversary on 22 July 2011, The
Lavender Hill Mob won a BAFTA for Best British Film and an Oscar for Best
Screenplay and will be released on DVD and Blu-ray on 1 August 2011. Certificate:
U | Total Running Time: 80 Minutes Approximately | B&W PAL | Catalogue Number:
OPTD1926 | RRP: £15.99. Blu-ray: Catalogue Number: OPTBD1926 | RRP: £19.99.
Extras: Behind The Scenes Stills Gallery | HOH Subtitles | Introduction
by Martin Scorsese | Excerpt from BECTU History Project Interview with Charles
Crichton | Restored Trailer | Good Afternoon: Mavis Interviews TEB Clarke.
"Don't miss this golden opportunity to get The Lavender Hill Mob and
enjoy the thrill of the chase and light-hearted banter" — Maggie Woods,
MotorBar
“Faced
with the seemingly-unsolvable