Three ambitious but unsuccessful bank robbers – Bernard (Dave King), Alfie (Norman Rossington and tame toff Harry (Daniel Massey) – buy an old fire engine to use as a getaway vehicle, knowing that all traffic will stop to allow the engine to pass.
After some tutoring by languid ex-fireman Dennis Price and help from Robert Morley as an engagingly dedicated arsonist, the gang are on their way. Unfortunately, they unexpectedly find themselves having to deal with a real fire.
As a panellist on the ever-popular Call My Bluff TV show, Patrick Campbell had a wit and erudition that was matched only by that of his rival team captain, Frank Muir.
However, there are few of those qualities evident in Campbell’s derivative and dull screenplay (co-written with Vivienne Knight) for this substandard comedy caper, which is now mainly of interest for providing Maggie Smith with her second screen role.
Bernard
Dave King
Arson Eddie
Robert Morley
Harry
Daniel Massey
Withers
Dennis Price
Colette
Coral Browne
Alfie
Norman Rossington
Chantal
Maggie Smith
Dai
Dudley Sutton
Bronwen
Diane Clare
Fire Chief Evans
John Glyn-Jones
Mayor Evans
Eynon Evans
Director
Michael Truman
