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 S E A R C H    D V D B e a v e r

Directed by Peter Yates
UK 1967

 

From Peter Yates, the legendary director of Bullitt, The Hot Rock and The Friends of Eddie Coyle – Inspired by true events, Robbery is an uncompromising portrayal of swinging London’s criminal underworld. Quintessentially British and with a documentary-style commitment towards accuracy, Robbery mixes meticulously constructed, high-octane action sequences (including one of the most nerve-shattering—and often replicated—car chases ever seen on film) with taut suspense and gritty realism, making it the groundbreaking template for future crime dramas such as The French Connection, The Long Good Friday and The Sweeney TV series and films. Starring Stanley Baker (Hell Drivers), Joanna Pettet (Casino Royale), James Booth (Avenging Force), Frank Finlay (Shaft in Africa) and Barry Foster (Frenzy), Robbery is an entertaining and archetypal entry into the genre of British gangster movies. 

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Based on the true story of the 1963 British Royal Mail robbery, this late '60s British caper film was directed by Peter Yates a year before he made the action classic Bullitt in the States. Opening with an extended jewel theft sequence followed by a action-packed car chase, Robbery details the events before, during, and immediately following the infamous heist. Paul Clifton (Stanley Baker, who also produced) is the main thief who comes up with the idea to steal three million dollars from the overnight mail train that runs from Glasgow to London. While gathering together a crew of thieves, he helps currency expert Robinson (Frank Finlay) break out of jail. The gang successfully holds up the train, takes the money, and retreats to an empty field to divide it up. When Robinson calls his wife on the phone, Inspector George Langdon (James Booth) from Scotland Yard traces the call and arrests them. As the legend goes, one of them manages to escape with the money. Also starring Joanna Pettet, who played Mata Bond in Casino Royale, and a young Robert Powell, who would go on to appear in the crime caper The Italian Job.

Excerpt from B+N located HERE

Posters

Theatrical Release: September 21st, 1967

Reviews                                                                                                       More Reviews                                                                                       DVD Reviews

 

Review: Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray

Box Cover

CLICK to order from:

    

Also available in the UK, on Blu-ray, from Network:
Distribution Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray
Runtime 1:54:12.971         
Video

1.66:1 1080P Singlr-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 24,349,736,538 bytes

Feature: 21,553,575,936 bytes

Video Bitrate: 31.93 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate Blu-ray:

Audio

DTS-HD Master Audio English 1555 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1555 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 16-bit)
Commentary:

Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps
Subtitles English, None
Features Release Information:
Studio: Kino

 

2.35:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 37,471,315,571 bytes

Feature: 30,857,963,520 bytes

Video Bitrate: 31.93 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

 

Edition Details:

• NEW Audio Commentary by Film Critic Nick Pinkerton
• Trailer (1:48)


 Blu-ray Release Date: May 21st, 2019
 Standard Blu-ray Case

Chapters 8

 

 

Comments:

NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: Kino Blu-ray (May 2019): Kino have transferred for Region 'A' audiences, Peter Yates' Robbery to 1080P Blu-ray. It is based on the infamous "Great Train Robbery," and from the book written by sci-fi luminary Robert A. Heinlein (The Puppet Masters, Destination Moon and Starship Troopers). The image is unnaturally soft and quite waxy - but this appearance is consistent. I don't see grain textures but colors seem true. This HD presentation looked alright on system and I suspect the Network Blu-ray out of the UK looks similar. If it is digitization, it is blanketed uniformly... but I would lean to it being something else.

On their Blu-ray, Kino use a 16-bit DTS-HD Master 2.0 channel mono in the original English language. It is clean, authentically flat, and exports some depth in train, helicopter effects. The score is by Johnny Keating (Innocent Bystanders) and I thought was quite effective. Kino offers optional English subtitles on their Region 'A' Blu-ray.

For supplements is a new audio commentary by film critic Nick Pinkerton who is prepared and does an admirable job in discussing the film, its stars, Baker as producer, locations, etc. He digs reasonably deep and it has value. There is also a, poor quality, trailer for the film plus some other trailers.

As a Brit crime-heist thriller - Robbery is top-shelf stuff. It's edgy and precise - with focus on the preparations, apprehensions and the coppers. It is enjoyable and worthy of revisitation. The Kino Blu-ray offers further value with the Pinkerton commentary. Certainly recommended to those keen on this genre and who are less-bothered by the waxiness of the 1080P image.  

Gary Tooze

 

Menus / Extras

 

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Box Cover

CLICK to order from:

    

Also available in the UK, on Blu-ray, from Network:
Distribution Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray


 


 

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