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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.

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.

This is one of my favourite films - although I agree Peter Sellers does not steal the show (for once), its the whole cast and their interaction which makes this film so special.

Lionel Jeffries gives a brilliant performance as an inept policeman and Bernard Cribbins role as 'Pearly Gates' gang-lord rival is superb. The plot is well covered on this site, but I would like to add that the robbery on the security van was filmed in Mill Rd, Uxbridge (by the canal bridge - the shop&pub are still there) and I think the airfield was Denham (again nr. Uxbridge).

A brilliant film - They just don't make 'em like that anymore!

On a similar thread I would recommend Norman Wisdom in 'On the Beat'- one of his best performances in my opinion, and Sellers again in 'Two-way stretch' if you're looking for a good laugh.

This film is full of many wonderful characters from the mainstream 50's British cinematic comedy era. The film centres on the criminal gangs of London being double crossed in their criminal activities by a bunch of foreign criminal gang members who impersonate Metropolitan Police Officers.

They turn up at the scene of the crime and then disappear with the stolen goods leaving the criminals in limbo waiting to be arrested by the real police.

Arthur Mullard, Peter Sellers, Lionel Jeffries, Bernard Cribbens and many more make this a gem of a title to watch. Some of the film was produced around Teddington, South West London, the scene of the mass arrest at the railroad level crossing was filmed in a Teddington street called Fairfax Road.

The crossing was taken out of use many years ago but the building on which Peter Sellers and his cohorts sat observing the proceedings is still in place adjacent to the point where the crossing was.

The area where the Jaguar car driven by Mullard screams over the bridge is the railway road bridge at Strawberry Hill (not far from Teddington).

I humbly give this film 9 out of 10, but then maybe I'm biased as I just love old British comedies such as this. Produced by Romulus Films and distributed by British Lion Films, what could be better?

. .....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!