Better than it has a right to be this film starts somewhat uncomfortably in very British stiff-upper-lip fashion, stagily introducing four very different couples all with problems which under the self-serving guidance of ringleader Laurence Harvey moves unexpectedly to an excellent almost UK take on film noir. Basically a cautionary tale of when thieves fall out the film meanders fairly lightly to the trigger point in the film where Harvey ups the ante on their post office heist by inexplicably shooting a nosey policeman right in the face. From there on it's all darkness and shade with some fine cinematography effectively conveying the mean streets which will eventually claim them all as victims. Of course some of the language is dated and some of the performances mannered but the four male leads are contrastingly good, particularly Harvey as the suave psychopath who clearly has no plans to share any of the hard won loot with his erstwhile colleagues. The female players, starry as they are, are less effective, conveying less realism than their male partners. Director Lewis Gilbert, later to helm a number of James Bond outings, prefigures this work here by demonstrating his greater grasp of action set pieces than character study. Certainly worth watching, especially the suspenseful second half, which lifts the film to a different level altogether.
Review of The Good Die Young
