Band of Thieves

Mr Acker Bilk is in jail!

However the jazz loving governor is keen to have Acker Bilk and his prison jazz band entertaining the inmates. They even get some hot cocoa before lights out.

When they are released, a dotty duchess hooks the band up with a socialite called Dandy.

He arranges the Band of Thieves to go on a national tour. It just happens to coincide with some stately homes being robbed. It was the reason why Dandy wanted them in the first place.

The finale will be a diamond necklace being stolen before the band hop it to Amsterdam for a gig.

This is a frothy silly story. The prison governor even plans to resign as he misses the band so much after they are released.

I was even surprised that the band members could break into a safe when they had no skills for it.

It really is a movie where Acker Bilk gets to play some trad jazz. The acting is left to the others.

Not a stranger on the shore to be heard though.

Although credited only as the film's producer, it would be interesting to know how much influence Lance Comfort exercised over credited director Peter Bezencenet, previously an editor (which would however account for the slick way it glides along); with the photography entrusted to Nicolas Roeg, no less!

"Mr. Acker Bilk" (as he is billed in the opening credits) is plainly no actor and when not playing his clarinet is almost invisible in his own film, and more lines are wisely given to the likes of Geoffrey Sumner & Arthur Mullard.

A brilliant storyline and a clever dialogue which allows Acker Bilk, in the guise of The Band of Thieves, every opportunity to display their unique style of jazz which dominated at that time. As a consequence a very enjoyable and watchable film.

Band Of Thieves (1962) -

This whole film was a bit forced and more like a sketch from a TV comedy, something akin to 'Benny Hill' or 'Kenny Everett'.

And as my Mother said while we watched "They didn't spend a lot of money on this one, did they?", because it really didn't seem like they had. It was all very rushed and clearly hadn't had a lot of thought given to it or a proper editor and director working on it, let alone a decent writer.

In fact it was a bit like a jazz album was playing, but with pauses for odd conversations, while the main action of the film was skirted over just to show and play the music. I could understand that they were trying to make something that built on Acker Bilk's popularity, but this just seemed to be that the band were used for a gimmick, because the story really wasn't delivered very well at all.

If there had been one robbery instead of 6 and the whole band had taken part, like some sort of 'Oceans 11/Eleven' (1960/2001) or 'The Lavender Hill Mob' (1951), it could have had much more potential like a 'Carry On' or 'St Trinian's' film, but even 'Carry On Columbus' (1992) could rival this one.

And apart from the music, Acker Bilk and his band weren't actually that entertaining. The film was clearly sold on his fame, but I didn't think that it was really enough or worth it.

Even the humour, whilst in places it was potentially smutty for the time, was generally very, very tame, slapstick and otherwise lacking in puns.

At least Jimmy Thompson could act and deliver comic timing or the entire film would have been completely lost.

If I hadn't had Facebook to look through, I'd have been very bored, but at least I had that trad jazz soundtrack to listen to, which wasn't offensive, but that's about all I can say.

223.76/1000.

There's no point in watching this if you're not into Acker Bilk's distinctive style of jazz. The story itself is almost irrelevant and pretty far fetched! He and his band have been in and out of prison - using their band's touring as a front for some grand larceny, but really not having the wits to get away with anything afterwards. Luckily, the prison governor (Geoffrey Sumner) is an avid fan of the music, so they continue to get a pretty easy ride whilst behind bars plotting more daft criminal antics. All the while, we are treated to a selection of his music (co-written with Norrie Paramor who, cleverly, only features the once!) and a duet or two with Carol Deene. It's harmless fun that delivers a sort of "Carry On" feel to the crime caper aspect, but it's really just a showcase for the man and his music. Enjoy it for that.