The Stable Door

Here is a curiosity. A 'B movie' short which is actually a crime prevention film by the British Insurance Industry.

A group of thieves are planning a robbery of a warehouse during the dock strike in London.

The firm has shoddy security. Their insurance firm has sent an assessor who asked the owner to bolster his security. Door locks, padlocks, the skylight window are all weak points.

Even then the owner is lackadaisical with getting the work done. While the gang are getting itchy about delaying the job. Their inside man knows about the visit from insurance company.

It is all a case of whether the firm will bolt the stable door before the thief arrives. It is unpretentious and entertaining.

Frank Jarvis has spotted a likely lot of transistorized goods for his mob to steal from an underprotected warehouse, stranded by a dock strike. His father, just back from the nick, is insistent on good planning and operations. He sends Jarvis to work at the place and get an idea of its security. It turns out that time is running short for the job. The company that insures the warehouse has suggested upgrades, and they're about to put them in. Can the job be done before?

It's a 32-minute feature sponsored by the British Insurance Association, and it's a well written, directed, and shot; cameraman Stephen Dade had been the cinematographer of Zulu the previous year. There's humor in the businesslike way the thieves conduct themselves, and tension in the robbery. It's a very pleasant surprise.

Actually and infomercial sponsored by Insurance Indsutry to highlight the need fo rgood locks and secure premises. Hackneyed plot about old burglar being released from jail and immediatly plotting warehouse robbery. Sets show how grim and dirty Britain was in 1966 when filmed but curiously a steam train features but was sadly broken up shortly after filming. Nightwatchman outwits one of them but rest escape. Worth watching for the grim settings and locomotive.

A message from the insurance companies to businesses about the need forcrime prevention. Billboards shout that yet another dock strike is underway. There are still steam trains on the railway. Many well known character actors can be seen