THE GREAT BANK ROBBERY

US, 1969, 98 minutes, Colour.
Zero Mostel, Kim Novak, Clint Walker, Claude Akins, Akim Tamiroff, Sam Jaffe.
Directed by Hy Averback.

The Great Bank Robbery is an ambitious comedy which tends to fall somewhat flat on its face. The star ingredients are quite good, especially Zero Mostel. There is some satire on western conventions, on robbery films. There are also some funny lines as well as farcical situations. The film is played very broadly and would appeal to those who like their comedy fairly unsubtle. Hy Averback has had mixed success with his comedies like Where Were You When the Lights Went Out?, Suppose They Gave a War and Nobody Came, I Love You Alice B. Toklas.

1. What is the main appeal of a comedy western? The conventions? How successful this film?

2. The film as a big budget western comedy, the use of colour and widescreen, locations, songs and music? The overall effect?

3. The details of the spoof of westerns? The spoof of robbery films? The structure of the three gangs, their Interlocking in the plan to rob the bank?

4. Comment on the comedy styles and their successes the songs, Of dances, burlesque, dialogue, sight gags.

5. Pious Blue as the central character? His character, charm, hypocrisy? The greed and the use of religion? Lydia as his associate? Her hypocrisy, background, capacity for tricking people? Laughing at the foibles of these characters? Yet the achievement of a happy ending for each of them?

6. Ben Quick and his gang? His Chinese associates? The comedy in the workings of this gang? Quick's slowness, as dumb, the seduction, drugs? The humour of digging the wrong tunnel? Again the happy ending?

7. The success of the comedy with Papa Pedro? His son? The outlandish nature of his attack?

8. The contribution of Slade and Jeb? A comedy pair, yet Slade's sudden killing of Jeb?

9. The importance of the people of the town? The mayor and the other officials, the people and their reaction to Pious Blue? In their celebrations?

10. The outlandish ending? The spectacle and the farce? Appropriate for this film? The value of the film as a spoof of genre?