A NIGHTINGALE SANG IN BERKELEY SQUARE

UK, 1979, 102 minutes, Colour.
Richard Jordan, Oliver Tobias, David Niven, Elke Sommer, Gloria Grahame, Richard Johnston.
Directed by Ralph Thomas.

A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square sounds better than the actual film! This is a fairly routine caper story with quick sketches of characters, situations of security breach and robbery. It is done in that gung-ho, British happy go lucky style. David Niven, towards the end of his career, appears as Ivan (the Terrible), a sadistic, wealthy criminal. The heroes are Richard Jordan and Oliver Tobias. Direction is by Ralph Thomas who made so many of the entertaining British comedies and dramas of the '50s and '60s, including the Doctor in the House series.

1. An entertaining robbery caper film? Audience expectations of the genre, conventions? Any distinguishing features?

2. Atmosphere of London, security, offices and banks? The editing and pace for the robbery sequences? Special effects? Musical score?

3. The use of the title? irony, sentiment?

4. Pinky and his experience in jail, release. relationships, his mother and her glamour? Attempts to get a job? Security? The links with his friends, with Ivan? The pressure on him to breach security? His ideas? The execution of the plan? The cover up? Investigations and chases?

5. Pinky and his friend, the fast food stand? Comparisons between the two, mutual support?

6. David Niven as Ivan, his wealth, range of firms, background? Sadistic touches? Hold over Pinky? The execution of the plan? The investigations? An unsympathetic portrait?

7. The background of London in the early '80s? Prisons, jobs. unemployment, security, banks. officials. police? The sketch of Pinky's mother?

8. Audience enjoyment of caper films? The good delineation of characters? Potential situations? The planning and execution of robberies? Justice being seen to be done - or not done?