Too Many Crooks | Telescope Film
Too Many Crooks

Too Many Crooks

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  • United Kingdom
  • 1959
  • · 87m

Director Mario Zampi
Cast Terry-Thomas, George Cole, Bernard Bresslaw, Sid James, John Le Mesurier, Terry Scott
Genre Comedy

Accident-prone Fingers runs a pretty unsuccessful gang. They try and rob wealthy but tricky Billy Gordon - who distrusts banks and fears the Inland Revenue - but he sees Fingers and the boys off. So they decide to kidnap his daughter, only to end up with his wife Lucy. Gordon makes out he couldn't be more pleased, spuring Lucy to take charge of the hopeless bunch of villains.

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What are critics saying?

100

The Telegraph

It's a great idea, and the supporting cast (including Sid James) is terrific, especially during the sight gags. It's very funny indeed. [22 May 2010, p.31]

75

TV Guide Magazine

The humor is spotty but when it works, it is hysterical. Raves go to Terry-Thomas for producing some riotous comic moments.

70

The New Yorker by Pauline Kael

Michael Pertwee, who wrote such English comedies as Laughter in Paradise and Your Past Is Showing for the director Mario Zampi, had a good idea here, too.

70

The New York Times by Bosley Crowther

Too Many Crooks is strictly of that surface order, but it's a good, crazy, brisk farce comedy.

60

The Observer (UK)

Half-witted British comedy about a dim-witted gang's attempt at a big kidnapping. But it's worth seeing for a gifted cast, headed by Terry- Thomas (the victim's rich, shifty husband), that includes George Cole, Sid James, Bernard Bresslaw and John Le Mesurier. [25 Aug 2002, p.8]