Band of Thieves (1962)

Seven of the prisoners at Gaunstone Gaol have been encouraged to take up Trad jazz by a music-mad governor and have formed a jazz band fronted by Acker Bilk.

The Duchess of Hartlepool – a prison reform official – arranges for the band to go on tour. They are released along with their dim-witted electrician ‘Getaway’ (Arthur Mullard) – much to the Governor’s regret.

Life is tough for the boys on the outside until they land a job at a jazz club called ‘The Thieves’ Kitchen’, and soon they have a record released and make the Top 10.

But the lure of crime still calls to them, and the boys fall for a plan suggested by the club owner and begin emptying the safes of nearby stately homes while on a tour of one-night stands.

Before long, they are back where they started – much to the delight of the jazz-loving Governor.

Acker Bilk collaborated with Norrie Paramor to write nine musical numbers for the film.

Acker Bilk
Himself
Flash
Colin Smith
Fingers
Jonathan Mortimer
Scouse 
Ronald McKay
Dippy
Roy James
Haggis
Stan Greig
The Mole
Ernie Price
The Governor
Geoffrey Sumner
Dandy
Jimmy Thompson
Anne
Jennifer Jayne
The Duchess
Maudie Edwards
Mrs Van Der Ness
Charmian Innes
Getaway
Arthur Mullard
Chief Warder
Michael Peake

Director
Peter Bezencenet