A classic British caper comedy from the genius comedy writing team of Ray Galton and Alan Simpson.
Cor blimey cockney crime-lord Pearly Gates (Peter Sellers) and his gang of crooks have a gentleman’s agreement with Scotland Yard – headed by Inspector “Nosey” Parker (Lionel Jeffries) and the Assistant Commissioner (John Le Mesurier) – which makes for a violence-free life for all parties.
Gates is also in the “rag trade” and owns an upscale Bond Street women’s dress shop and salon where he poses as Monsieur Jules, a French purveyor of haute couture.
The gang start getting ripped off by another gang who pose as policemen and confiscate (“steal”) all their hard-robbed loot.
Assuming it’s the work of rival Irish gang leader, Nervous O’Toole (Bernard Cribbins), Gates is surprised to discover that O’Toole’s gang are also being conned by the same mob – a gang of Australian criminals, new to the manor and being tipped off by Pearly’s girl, Valerie (Nanette Newman).
Gates calls a meeting of all the London underground gangs, who ask Scotland Yard to work with them to set a trap and catch the rogue IPO (“Impersonating Police Officers”) gang.
The great ensemble cast is a who’s who of comedy talent. Michael Caine has a small cameo as a policeman.
Pearly Gates
Peter Sellers Inspector “Nosey” Parker
Lionel Jeffries Nervous O’Toole
Bernard Cribbins Trainer King
Davy Kaye Valerie
Nanette Newman Jack Coombes
Bill Kerr Bluey May
Ed Devereaux Reg Denton
Reg Lye Assistant Commissioner
John Le Mesurier Sid Cooper
Graham Stark Superintendent Forest
Martin Boddey Brassknuckles
Arthur Mullard Misery Martin
Dermot Kelly Annette
Vanda Godsell Dowager
Irene Browne Siggy Schmoltz
Tutte Lemkow Alf
Barry Keegan Maurice
John Junkin Man in Flat 307
Dick Emery
Director
Cliff Owen
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Gates is also in the “rag trade” and owns an upscale Bond Street women’s dress shop and salon where he poses as Monsieur Jules, a French purveyor of haute couture.
