It Takes a Thief

1h 41m 1961

Brief Synopsis

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Billie and Kristy lead a gang of armed robbers who steal from banks, armoured cars, and the like. When Billie's lover, Jim, gets caught by the police after stashing a large amount of money, they wait for him to get out of jail. He does and has to deal with both the police and his ex-gang as they both need him to get what they want. Things become more complicated when Kristy kidnaps Jim's son and threatens to kill him if Jim doesn't come up with the buried loot.

Cast & Crew

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John Gilling

Director

Jayne Mansfield

Billy Lacross

Anthony Quayle

Jim Maxton

Carl Mohner

Kristy

Peter Reynolds

Buddy

John Bennett

Spider

Film Details

Also Known As
The Challenge
Genre
Crime
Release Date
Feb 1961
Premiere Information
not available
Production Company
Alexandra Productions; Alliance Productions
Distribution Company
Valiant Films
Country
United Kingdom

Technical Specs

Duration
1h 41m
Sound
Mono
Color
Black and White

Synopsis

Jim Maxton, a middle-aged widower, becomes infatuated with Billy Lacross, the woman leader of a gang of crooks, and is persuaded to join them in a large-scale bullion robbery. After Jim has hidden the loot, Kristy, a gangster, informs on him, and Jim is sent to prison for 5 years. Following his release, the embittered Jim decides to live an honest life, supported by the money which is still safely hidden. Billy, meanwhile, has been supplanted as gang leader by the vicious Kristy, who is determined to wrest the money from Jim. Kristy kidnaps Joey, Jim's 6 year-old son and forces Jim to retrieve the money; but Jim discovers that the cache, hidden in a public dump, has been destroyed in an explosion. The now-reformed Billy aids Jim and Scotland Yard in rescuing the boy and rounding up the gang.

Director

John Gilling

Director

Cast

Jayne Mansfield

Billy Lacross

Anthony Quayle

Jim Maxton

Carl Mohner

Kristy

Peter Reynolds

Buddy

John Bennett

Spider

Barbara Mullen

Ma Piper

Peter Pike

Joey

Robert Brown

Bob Crowther

Dermot Walsh

Inspector Willis

Edward Judd

Detective Sergeant Gittens

John Stratton

Rick

Patrick Holt

Max

Lorraine Clewes

Mrs. Rick

Percy Herbert

Shop steward

Liane Marelli

Stripteaser

Bill Mcguffie

Nightclub pianist

Lloyd Lamble

Dr. Westerly

John Wood

School inspector

Arthur Brough

Landlord

Wally Patch

Ticket collector

Bryan Pringle

Sergeant

Marigold Russell

Hostess

Victor Brooks

Foreman

Bill Shine

Farm laborer

Richard Shaw

Lorry driver

David Davenport

Policeman

Crew

Gordon Dines

Director of Photography

John Gilling

Screenwriter

Dave Goghan

Sound

Robert Halfin

Composer

Joseph Harris

Presented By

Bill Mcguffie

Composer

Bill Mcguffie

Music

Wally Milner

Sound Recording

Jim Morahan

Art Director

Alan Osbiston

Film Editor

John Pellatt

Prod Supervisor

Norman Savage

Sound

Sig Shore

Presented By

John Victor Smith

Film Editor

Richard Smith

Sound Recording

John Temple-smith

Producer

Film Details

Also Known As
The Challenge
Genre
Crime
Release Date
Feb 1961
Premiere Information
not available
Production Company
Alexandra Productions; Alliance Productions
Distribution Company
Valiant Films
Country
United Kingdom

Technical Specs

Duration
1h 41m
Sound
Mono
Color
Black and White

Quotes

Trivia

Notes

Released in Great Britain in May 1960 as The Challenge; running time: 93 min.

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