LOOPHOLE

UK, 1980, 105 minutes, Colour.
Albert Finney, Martin Sheen, Susannah York, Robert Morley, Jonathan Pryce, Colin Blakely.
Directed by John Quested.

Loophole is a British variation on the grand heist theme.

Martin Sheen plays an American architect in London, married to Susannah York. When his plans are put on hold and he doesn’t get a partnership, he is employed by a tycoon played by Albert Finney. However, appearances are deceptive – and what he is actually hired for is the plan to rob a bank vault.

The film is an interesting character study with a strong cast which includes Colin Blakely and Jonathan Price with Robert Morley as a banker. It shows the planning for the robbery, the approach through the sewers of London to the vault, the complications which naturally arise.

The film was directed by John Quested, an assistant director during the 1960s and who made the film version of Brian Friel’s Philadelphia Here I Come. However, he has acted mainly as a producer from the 70s to the early 21st century.

Not a film that has survived – but entertaining if an audience comes across it.

1. An enjoyable and satisfying robbery film? Atmosphere of realism in the execution of the crime? Fantasy in the magnitude of the crime accomplished?

2. Audience sympathy for the characters, for their crime? The morality of the film and final judgments? The reflection of contemporary morals, finance, crime? Unemployment? An amoral world? The tradition of justice being seen to be done and the ending of this film?

3. The British style and treatment - understatement, neat screenplay, editing? Well acted, brisk dialogue? The cliches of the genre transformed into effective entertainment?

4. The credits sequence and the robbery? The introduction to Mike Daniels and his group, skills, success? The initial impression of the group - antipathy towards them as criminals? Sympathy towards them as men? The personalities in the group? The contrast with Steven and his plane journey and loss of his job? Desperation? Return home and Dinah's surprise party? The jigsaw effect of the alternate focus on Daniels and Steven?

5. Daniels in himself? calm, competent, planner, ingenuity? His interview with Steven? At the elite club? At home? Motivation, drive, commitment to crime?

6. Steven and his how life, love for Dinah, the children? Affluence? Their own home? Schools? Dinah's plans for the business? The bank interviews and Robert Morley's humorous but threatening style? The possibilities for jobs, the interviews and his over qualification? The film's observation on employment and the work situation~ The successful interview, his taking on the job, achievement? His checking it out and discovery of the truth?

7. The sketch of Dinah wife, affluence, devotion to Steven, her plans, clash ?

8. Steven and the truth his rejection? Pressures from the bank, from Dinah? His decision to be involved and the understated way this was conveyed? His en3oyment of briefing the group? Involvement in all aspects of the robbery?

9. Daniels and his recruiting of his gang, getting the equipment ready, Steven's lecture? The ingenuity of the plan ? and the audience interest in it and liking of it and its smooth working?

10. The execution: the manhole, the equipment and the lowering into the sewers, the rats, the drain and the later flooding, the strict time element, the hard work, the gas and injury, claustrophobia, drilling, the risk in making a mistake? Intercutting the activities of Dinah, Daniel's wife, the cricket match, the rain? The member watching? The ban and the communications?

11. How well did the film generate suspense? The real dangers for the group underground? Drilling, blasting, gas, the rats, the flooding? The injured gang member and the decisions about going on? The success?

12. The trick with Steven trapped in the vault after the frenzied taking of the money and jewels? The group overwhelmed by the flood and being washed away? Audience expectation of failure? Steven in the bath and the truth of the success? The irony of Steven's success and Daniel's coming to meet him and propose a new job? The final credits with the two men and their shaking hands?

13. How satisfying the character sketch of the main characters, the gang members, family? Above average for this kind of robbery film?

14. Audience involvement? admiration of ingenuity and skill? Moral stances? The validity of the contemporary social comment?