O Braço Esquerdo da Lei

. .....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!

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?

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.

Amusing comedy has a peculiar trio of Aussie swindlers being chased by Scotland Yard , and they are also thieves because having been posing as policemen and confiscating pillage from apprehended robbers . The Australian bunch being informed by Valerie (Nanette Newman) , Pearly's fiancée (Peter Sellers) , the leader of a group of inept crooks . Then , the criminal band organize a convention among the main robbers (Peter Sellers , Bernard Cribbins) and scheme a twisted plan . After that , there happens a meeting between robbing chiefs and cops (Lionel Jeffries , John Le Musurier) which takes place at a merry-go-round . Later on , they set up a trap to track them down.

Agreeable spoof comedy in ¨Ealing¨ style , it packs some very funny and wacky moments . This is a classic British comedy of the 60s in the wake of ¨Lavender hill mob¨ that is clearly its inspiration . Enjoyable script divides his satirical jibes between the underworld crooks and police . It contains sympathetic performances from Peter Sellers , Bernard Cribbins and special mention for Lionel Jeffries as an unfortunate cop . Secondary intervention by Dennis Price as an educated crook and cameo role by Michael Caine at the Police Station. Furthermore , Graham Stark as a likable thief , formerly becoming himself into usual ¨Pink Panther¨ series . Atmospheric score by Richard Rodney Bennett with jazzy sound on the main titles . Appropriate cinematography in black and white by Ernest Steward. The picture was well and originally directed by Cliff Owen . He is a habitual director for television and an expert on comedy as he proved in ¨ No sex please : we're British¨, ¨The bawdy adventures of Tom Jones¨ , ¨A man could get killed¨ and several others. The flick will appeal to Peter Sellers fans and Brit comedy enthusiasts . Rating : Good and better than average English comedy . This is one of the few enduringly funny films in British cinema of the Sixties . Essential and indispensable seeing .