After her first stardom in America, Jayne Mansfield made two films in England in 1959 – the better-known Too Hot to Handle and this film-noir crime story (released in the US as It Takes A Thief) where she acts against type as Billy Lacross, a tough dark-haired schemer.
Billy plans a heist, enlists a group of men, and announces, “I’m the boss!” She’s also the driver and throws a big Jag around the rain-soaked streets of London like a pro rally driver.
Jim Maxton (Anthony Quayle) – a widowed lorry driver set up as the patsy – takes the fall and spends five years in prison while Billy leads her gang on a headline-making crime spree.
Unfortunately, Jim is the only one who knows where the loot from the bullion robbery is stashed, and the story picks up after his release from jail.
The cops (Dermot Walsh and Edward Judd) tail and harass him while the gang – who want the money – beat his mother (Barbara Mullen) and kidnap his six-year-old son, Joey (Peter Pike).
Billy, now a blonde, runs a nightclub but lets her ruthless new man Kristy (Carl Möhner) call the shots.
There’s a conventional yet eventful “it’s turned out nice again” climax, but it’s energetically handled, and all loose ends are firmly tied at the finish.
The cinematography by Gordon Dines is wonderful, and there is lots of fine location shooting in London. It’s all enhanced by an atmospheric jazzy music score from Bill McGuffie. British singer Joan Small provided Jayne Mansfield’s singing voice.
Billy Lacross
Jayne Mansfield Jim Maxton
Anthony Quayle Kristy
Carl Möhner Buddy
Peter Reynolds Spider
John Bennett Ma Piper
Barbara Mullen Joey Maxton
Peter Pike Bob Crowther
Robert Brown Detective Sergeant Willis
Dermot Walsh Detective Sergeant Gittens
Edward Judd Rick
John Stratton Max
Patrick Holt (as Patrick Parsons) Mrs Rick
Lorraine Clewes Shop Steward
Percy Herbert Striptease Artiste
Liane Marelli Nightclub Pianist
Bill McGuffie Dr Westerly
Lloyd Lamble
Director
John Gilling
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Unfortunately, Jim is the only one who knows where the loot from the bullion robbery is stashed, and the story picks up after his release from jail.
