CROOKS IN CLOISTERS
UK, 1964, 97 minutes, Colour.
Ronald Fraser, Barbara Windsor, Bernard Cribbins, Davy Kaye, Wilfrid Bramell, Melvyn Hayes, Gregoire Aslan, Joseph O’ Conor, Corin Redgrave, Francesca Annis, Patricia Laffan.
Directed by Jeremy Summers.
Crooks in Cloisters is a mild variation on the Carry On films. However, it shows a group of rather unexpected but successful train robbers who decide that they have to hide out for some time. Their leader, Walt, played by Ronald Fraser, decides that they should go to an abandoned friary off the coast of Cornwall. There they impersonate a community – with the jokes about criminals being monks and friars, including Bikini (Barbara Windsor) who has to learn to cook. They actually take to the monastic life with some zest and enjoy their remoteness. However, Bernard Cribbins has a gambling habbit and by placing bets leads the police to them.
The film has a variety of English comics including Bernard Cribbins, Davy Kaye and Wilfrid Brambell, pre-Steptoe, as a sailor who is involved in smuggling. Francesca Annis plays his niece. This was the first feature film for Corin Redgrave and there is a glimpse of Patricia Laffan, Poppeia in Quo Vadis, as a rich lady.
The comedy is mild – and more or less expected when one accepts that the group has decided that they like it and the monastic life. The friars come back for a visit – and, as the criminals escape, they leave money for the restoration.
1.An entertaining British comedy? Of its period? The period of the Carry On films?
2.The premise: train robbers, their success, hiding out, imitating friars, learning their way of life, accommodating?
3.Colour photography, the island, the friary, the musical score?
4.Seeing the group in action, their success? Their meetings and discussions? Walt as leader? Bikini with him? The age and range of the other members of the group? Their being summoned? Squirts and his gambling? Specs? Lorenzo with Lady Florence? Young Willy? Their discussions, working as a group, going to the island?
5.The comedy on the island, Walt as superior, the habits, the kitchen and Bikini, Walt’s room, the work in the grounds, Walt acting as their superior? Their reactions, cooperation, criticisms? Their interactions with each other? Lorenzo as the intellectual expert?
6.Phineas and his boat, the tourists arriving, his agreeing to participate in the smuggling? The trips, the confrontations with the group?
7.June, at the shop, Squirts and his placing bets? Willy and the attraction? June and her helping out?
8.The arrival of Father Septimus, Brother Lucius, their friendliness, the discussions with the community? The memories of the past? Their hopes for the future – and receiving the money?
9.The police, the investigations, the greyhound bet check? Interrogation of the man at the shop? Finding out the truth?
10.The crooks and their escape, to new adventures? And their graciously leaving the money for the friars?
