Four men decide to rob a bank together, but how did they end up in such dire straits? The first half of The Good Die Young shows you all four characters' backstories through flashback, and the second half shows you the robbery and aftermath. It's not really that good of a movie, but I have seen it twice and found it entertaining both times.
Richard Basehart's story is a little tragic, but I don't see why he needs money that badly he needs to rob a bank. He's married to Joan Collins, and Joan is constantly manipulated by her mother to stay at her side and spend time away from her husband. Joan is pregnant, and Richard wants her to return to America with him once and for all. He needs money for a plane ticket - doesn't that seem to be stretching it a bit? John Ireland is married to English movie star Gloria Grahame. Let's dissect that for a minute: Gloria Grahame plays an English woman. It's quite laughable, as her Brooklyn shines through constantly, making you wonder if her character is actually an American pretending to be highbrow English and eventually the secret will be exposed. No such luck: she just never should have been cast in the role. I pity John Ireland for acting opposite her. His character is a cuckold, and he wants money to get a fresh start with life. Stanley Baker is a boxer with a bad hand, and just when he thinks he can retire on his life's savings, his wife throws it away on her no-good brother's bail money. And finally, the scoundrel of the bunch is Laurence Harvey (of course). He's married to an older, rich woman, Margaret Leighton, and he gets her to foot all his bills by occasional seductions. One morning she refuses, which is how he comes up with the bank robbery idea.
If you like heist movies or the cast appeals to you, go ahead and rent this movie for a rainy day matinee. It might not be an A-tier drama, but it's definitely entertaining and will keep you invested. Robert Morley's brief role is featured in my favorite scene. A desperate Harvey seeks money from his father when his wife refuses, and Morley gives a firm refusal. "You won't get one penny of my money ever, or your mother's, until I'm dead. I may tell you I have one ambition left in life: to outlive you." The rest of the movie isn't that clever, but I just love that one line.
DLM Warning: If you suffer from vertigo or dizzy spells, like my mom does, this movie might not be your friend. About 35 minutes in, there's a POV shot after Stanley Baker hurts his hand, and that will make you sick. In other words, "Don't Look, Mom!"
Richard Basehart's story is a little tragic, but I don't see why he needs money that badly he needs to rob a bank. He's married to Joan Collins, and Joan is constantly manipulated by her mother to stay at her side and spend time away from her husband. Joan is pregnant, and Richard wants her to return to America with him once and for all. He needs money for a plane ticket - doesn't that seem to be stretching it a bit? John Ireland is married to English movie star Gloria Grahame. Let's dissect that for a minute: Gloria Grahame plays an English woman. It's quite laughable, as her Brooklyn shines through constantly, making you wonder if her character is actually an American pretending to be highbrow English and eventually the secret will be exposed. No such luck: she just never should have been cast in the role. I pity John Ireland for acting opposite her. His character is a cuckold, and he wants money to get a fresh start with life. Stanley Baker is a boxer with a bad hand, and just when he thinks he can retire on his life's savings, his wife throws it away on her no-good brother's bail money. And finally, the scoundrel of the bunch is Laurence Harvey (of course). He's married to an older, rich woman, Margaret Leighton, and he gets her to foot all his bills by occasional seductions. One morning she refuses, which is how he comes up with the bank robbery idea.
If you like heist movies or the cast appeals to you, go ahead and rent this movie for a rainy day matinee. It might not be an A-tier drama, but it's definitely entertaining and will keep you invested. Robert Morley's brief role is featured in my favorite scene. A desperate Harvey seeks money from his father when his wife refuses, and Morley gives a firm refusal. "You won't get one penny of my money ever, or your mother's, until I'm dead. I may tell you I have one ambition left in life: to outlive you." The rest of the movie isn't that clever, but I just love that one line.
DLM Warning: If you suffer from vertigo or dizzy spells, like my mom does, this movie might not be your friend. About 35 minutes in, there's a POV shot after Stanley Baker hurts his hand, and that will make you sick. In other words, "Don't Look, Mom!"