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Les clés de la citadelle

Original title: A Prize of Arms
  • 1962
  • Tous publics
  • 1h 45m
IMDb RATING
6.7/10
447
YOUR RATING
Stanley Baker, Tom Bell, and Helmut Schmid in Les clés de la citadelle (1962)
CrimeDrama

A criminal gang sets out to pull off the heist of a large army payroll.A criminal gang sets out to pull off the heist of a large army payroll.A criminal gang sets out to pull off the heist of a large army payroll.

  • Director
    • Cliff Owen
  • Writers
    • Paul Ryder
    • Nicolas Roeg
    • Kevin Kavanagh
  • Stars
    • Stanley Baker
    • Helmut Schmid
    • Tom Bell
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.7/10
    447
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Cliff Owen
    • Writers
      • Paul Ryder
      • Nicolas Roeg
      • Kevin Kavanagh
    • Stars
      • Stanley Baker
      • Helmut Schmid
      • Tom Bell
    • 24User reviews
    • 1Critic review
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos9

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    Top cast38

    Edit
    Stanley Baker
    Stanley Baker
    • Turpin
    Helmut Schmid
    Helmut Schmid
    • Swavek
    Tom Bell
    Tom Bell
    • Fenner
    John Phillips
    John Phillips
    • Col. Fowler
    Patrick Magee
    Patrick Magee
    • RSM Hicks
    John Westbrook
    • Capt. Stafford
    Kenneth MacKintosh
    • Capt. Nicholson
    • (as Kenneth Mackintosh)
    Jack May
    Jack May
    • MO
    Frank Gatliff
    Frank Gatliff
    • Maj. Palmer
    Michael Ripper
    • Cpl. Freeman
    Rio Fanning
    Rio Fanning
    John Rees
    • Sgt. Jones
    Tom Adams
    Tom Adams
    • Cpl. Glenn
    • (uncredited)
    John Barrett
    John Barrett
    • Publican at Window
    • (uncredited)
    Anthony Bate
    Anthony Bate
    • Sgt. Reeves
    • (uncredited)
    Rodney Bewes
    Rodney Bewes
    • Pvt. Maynard
    • (uncredited)
    Richard Bidlake
    • Lt. Waddington
    • (uncredited)
    Douglas Blackwell
    • Day
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Cliff Owen
    • Writers
      • Paul Ryder
      • Nicolas Roeg
      • Kevin Kavanagh
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews24

    6.7447
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    Featured reviews

    8hsequeira77

    A little known movie that deserves much better.

    This a forgotten gem. The term "heist movie" should have been created for pictures like this one. A little known director hitting all the right notes, a great screenplay and a great cast (Stanley Baker is a favorite of mine). The movie is the heist, no prologue required; the characters are defined by the action (just brief dialogue to tell us something about the past of Stanley Baker and Helmut Schmid). The film grabs the viewer from the first scene, and never lets go. A nail bitter all the way. The ending is a Knock out; this one really ends with a bang. Today action directors should watch this movie. Maybe they would learn something.
    8eamole

    Classic British Noir

    This film grabs you from the very start. Its simple bare-bones approach emphasises the clever plot, and engaging character development. The lack of soundtrack actually heightens tension appropriately, along with deft camera work, and tight dialog.

    The plot itself is clearly the major player in this ensemble, not to denigrate the cast, who do a superb job of tense interaction, with appropriate support from typical British aloofness, and clipped military tones.

    The plot ducks and weaves as it unfolds before your eyes. At times you wonder the significance of a particular action, only to later admire its genius as you appreciate its subtle significance. The tension is magnificently maintained throughout.

    As another reviewer has commented - the movie has you rooting for the anti-heroes right to the end!! What a splendid achievement. Worthy of the 8 stars!!
    8gerry1019

    Good thriller with some nice twists.

    I was surprised that this film has not yet been reviewed here since it stars a major British talent, the late Sir Stanley Baker.

    The film is set against a background of a Suez type military action. The main protagonists including Tom Bell of later Prime Suspect fame, decide this would be a perfect time to rob an army camp where there is lots of cash for the deployment and an overall atmosphere of confusion.

    The plan is well thought out and feasible but, inevitably small things start to go wrong. The film is quite gripping and the whole business is resolved in a more than competent fashion.

    The screenplay of the movie was co-written by Nicholas Roeg. The version I watched, a PAL disc viewed NTSC ran 102 minutes.
    6Leofwine_draca

    Superior thriller with Stanley Baker

    A PRIZE OF ARMS is quite similar stylistically to Stanley Baker's HELL DRIVERS, although not quite as good as that movie. It's an engaging little piece that tells of a trio of crooks who set an elaborate plan into action to rob an army payroll. The plan involves them infiltrating an army camp and posing as soldiers before they truly set the wheels in motion.

    This makes for tight, focused story-telling throughout, with no time for the usual romantic sub-plots and the like to pad out the storyline. In fact, there are no actresses in the film whatsoever. The use of a flamethrower in some crucial scenes also makes for novelty value and this feels way ahead of its time in that respect.

    Baker gives a dependable turn as the antihero lead and the supporting cast has also been well chosen. What's particularly interesting is the sheer quantity of future famous faces lining up to play the soldiers: Rodney Bewes, Patrick Magee, Stephen Lewis, Geoffrey Palmer, Fulton Mackay, and Michael Ripper are all present here and certainly add to the experience for British cinema fans.
    7Marlburian

    Competent film with many well-known faces

    I watched APOA courtesy of TalkingPictures TV channel, which is proving a treasure trove of little-known films, often low budget, of the 1960s.

    The plot unfolded in a satisfying way, with a parade of familiar British actors of yesteryear in small parts, including,as noted, "Likely Lad" Rodney Bewes. Stanley Baker inevitably impresses in the starring role.

    The film must have been made with the co-operation of the British Army and so shows officers and soldiers reacting to the raid in an efficient manner. (One or two of the actors could have worn their berets in a more military manner, and there was one sloppy salute - and what about the motor-cycle rider stopping off at a pub for a drink or two on duty?) One thing that did puzzle me was why the highly-strung Fenner was running in a panic through crowds of mocking soldiers and incurring the wrath of, I think, the regimental sergeant-major. Perhaps the clip that showed the reason for this was edited out?

    Overall, very entertaining.

    Related interests

    James Gandolfini, Edie Falco, Sharon Angela, Max Casella, Dan Grimaldi, Joe Perrino, Donna Pescow, Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Tony Sirico, and Michael Drayer in Les Soprano (1999)
    Crime
    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Film debut of Rodney Bewes.
    • Goofs
      When the gang are in the barn at the end, a battery of filming lights is reflected in the van's side windows.
    • Connections
      Referenced in The Silent Playground (1963)

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    FAQ14

    • How long is A Prize of Arms?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • May 1, 1963 (France)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • A Prize of Arms
    • Filming locations
      • Royal Navy Air Station, Ford, West Sussex, England, UK
    • Production company
      • George Maynard Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 45m(105 min)
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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