Jules de Londres

The Wrong Arm of the Law:A charming evocation of a kind of reassuring never-neverland, populated by loveable rogues and dimwitted but honest cops. Of course the crime underworld was never like this, but when the horrors of the modern world seem to crowd in on me, this is just the kind of amusing escapist whimsy I love to take solace in.

. .....and clever! A band of crooks are dressing up as police and stealing the booty from other crooks who are on the job. The criminal underground are outraged and of course the real police are none too happy that there are crooks out there impersonating them. So together they plot to capture these uncouth brigands. Practically every scene is hilarious, and there's lots of fun movie references (such as an instructional movie viewing session for the criminals that includes such caper classics as RIFIFI and THE LEAGUE OF GENTLEMEN).

It would be difficult to pick one Peter Sellers film as my favourite but this one would most likely get my first vote!

"The Wrong Arm of the Law" is a sort of comic British take on the famous German crime film, "M". In that Fritz Lang classic, the criminals and the police are both out to stop a murderer whose activities are making things difficult for both of them. However, where "M" was a serious crime thriller, "The Wrong Arm of the Law" is pure comedy.

And what a comedy it is, with a clever script and a first-rate cast, headed up by the superlative Peter Sellers. Known for the astounding range of the characters he could play, in this film Sellers slips effortlessly between portraying effete French couturier Charles Jules and cockney crime-boss "Pearly" Gates. In fact, Sellars slips between the two characters so effortlessly that it is easy to take for granted just how brilliant an actor he actually was. Sellers is an absolute treat to watch, and his performance should be required viewing by all aspiring actors as a lesson in how it should be done.

I have mixed feelings about Peter Sellers. I usually like the comedies in which he's part of a good ensemble, but really don't like much ofThe Pink Panther series. This is the former and probably the funniest of the bunch. Sellers leads a double life--a cultured retailer of ladies' fashion, and the head of a local gang (with appropriate accents for each). A new gang of Aussie's enter the scene, dressed as policemen, which enables them to steal from the stealers, and Sellers is furious that someone is leaking info to these outsiders (we learn very early who that is.).

He calls a gang meeting, in which they chat and watch 'instructional videos to become better crooks (their favorite is the film Rififi). Other local gangs are hit, so there is a group gang meeting (these meetings are hilarious, all very proper, there's even a booklet outlining 'gang laws') in which they decide to actually tell the police that there are phoney cops about - enter Lionel Jefferies. Jefferies is terrific as the bobby who's always passed over, and he sees his big chance to make a splash by joining forces with Sellers.

They do clash over gang-staffing (when Sellers wants to add a German to the gang, Jefferies bemoans the fact that it would look so much better if they used only 'local lads'). A big robbery is carefully worked out, and of course, nothing goes as planned as even the gang they're after has problems, but Sellers has an idea that he'll leave his gang buddies behind and keep all the cash in the heist for himself and his new partner-in-crime - does Jefferies want in on this? A funny, satisfying ending ties it all up neatly. Along with Sellers and Jeffries, Bernard Cribbins and Dennis Price are standout 'gang members'; the film is satirical, wacky, and just plain funny all the way through..a must for fans of British comedy.

Peter Sellers is, unusually, the quiet at the center of the storm that makes up the plot of this wonderfully funny film. He plays Pearly Gates, a criminal (and women's wear salesman), who learns that an Australian gang is dressing up as policemen, intercepting Pearly's mob in mid-theft and making off with the goods. He joins forces not only with the leader of a rival gang, who are also suffering from the Australian competition, but also with the police, who don't want their reputation besmirched.

Sellers is very good, but top acting honors go to Lionel Jefferies as the hopelessly idiotic policeman trying to prove himself by catching the criminals. Jefferies and Bernard Cribbins, as Nervous (the rival gang's leader), give expertly larger-than-life performances while getting their biggest laughs with throwaway lines and subtle bits of business (like Nervous finishing up his negotiations with Pearly by pulling out some family snaps). Cliff Owen's direction is very sharp and very fast, and allows a cast of experienced character actors to do their best work. Dennis Price displays flawless timing and delivery in a small, unbilled cameo. This film might just be a hidden classic.