It's 1901 London. A group of Irish revolutionaries at the behest of the IRA plan to rob the Bank of England in a strike against British rule. Charles Norgate (Aldo Ray) is an Irish-American who leads the effort. He was recruited by Iris Muldoon, a widow of the cause. The bank seems impenetrable and there are no easy way to strike a big enough blow. Norgate is able to befriend Lt. Monte Fitch (Peter O'Toole), one of the military soldiers guarding the bank.
The first half is trying to find the Bank's weakness. The second half is the caper. I like the second half much better. Capers are always better in the execution. There is an acting standoff with Aldo Ray going against Peter O'Toole. Ray has the makeup of a muscle head football player. The performance is limited especially compared to O'Toole. The romantic melodrama doesn't take off. I'm a sucker for good capers and the second half helps fulfil that need.
The first half is trying to find the Bank's weakness. The second half is the caper. I like the second half much better. Capers are always better in the execution. There is an acting standoff with Aldo Ray going against Peter O'Toole. Ray has the makeup of a muscle head football player. The performance is limited especially compared to O'Toole. The romantic melodrama doesn't take off. I'm a sucker for good capers and the second half helps fulfil that need.