The Jokers (1967)

83% of users liked it
(39 ratings)

Two brothers looking to avoid becoming pawns of the establishment come up with a better way of making a living -- through theft -- in this satiric comedy. David Tremayne (Oliver Reed) is a successful London architect, and his younger brother Michael (Michael Crawford) is weighing his options after… More Two brothers looking to avoid becoming pawns of the establishment come up with a better way of making a living -- through theft -- in this satiric comedy. David Tremayne (Oliver Reed) is a successful London architect, and his younger brother Michael (Michael Crawford) is weighing his options after being kicked out of school. The brothers share a bemused disgust with the world around them and a desire to get through life without the burden of labor; toward this end, one day they begin plotting an elaborate scheme to steal the British Crown Jewels. Mind you, they don't intend to sell them, or even keep them very long -- the idea is to return them after a week, simply to prove that it could indeed be done, and make themselves famous in the process. After studying the procedures of Scotland Yard's Bomb Disposal Unit, the inner working of the Tower of London's Jewel Room, and the London ambulance services, the Tremaynes come up with a foolproof plan -- they call in a bomb threat to the Tower, and they are able to enter the Jewel Room posing as men from the bomb squad. They then feign injury and are able to escape in an ambulance. It all seems simple enough, and it actually works, until Michael "forgets" his part of the agreement to take half of the responsibility for the theft. The supporting cast includes Edward Fox, Frank Finlay, and Harry Andrews. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 34 min.
Directed By: Michael Winner
Written By: Dick Clement, Ian La Frenais
Genres: Drama, Mystery & Suspense, Classics, Comedy

In Theaters: May 15, 1967 Wide

No Critic Reviews Found…

Featured Audience Ratings

Eric B

Well-made, fun, accessible film with a great plot and two well-known stars (Oliver Reed, Michael Crawford). And it keeps you delightfully hanging in suspense until the very last minutes. Can't understand why this film is so obscure.

Cast

            Michael Crawford as Michael Tremayne

            Oliver Reed as David Tremayne

            Harry Andrews as Inspector Marryatt

            James Donald as Col. Gurney-Simms

            Daniel Massey as Riggs

            Gabriella Licudi as Eve

            Michael Hordern as Sir Matthew

            Lotte Tarp as Inge

            Frank Finlay as Harassed Man

            Warren Mitchell as Lennie

            Rachel Kempson as Mrs. Tremayne

            Peter Graves as Mr. Tremayne

            Ingrid Brett as Sarah

            Brian Wilde as Sgt. Catchpole

            Michael Goodliffe as Lt. Col. Paling

            William Devlin as Brigadier

            William Mervyn as Uncle Edward

            Kenneth Colley as De Winter the Chauffeur

            Mark Burns as Capt. Browning

            Brook Williams as Capt. Green

            Brian Peck as Policeman

            Basil Dignam as Bank Manager

            John Kidd as Solicitor

            Freda Jackson as Mrs. Pervis

            Nan Munro as Mrs. Jeffcock

            Edward Fox as Lt. Sprague

            Peter Gilmore
            
            Nicky Henson
            
            Julian Holloway
            
            Marianne Stone
            
            Eric Thompson
            
            Bernard Gribble
            
            Victor Kendall as Maj. Gen. Jeffcock

            Tony Armstrong
            
See full cast