June 23 - The Jokers

Here is a movie with a scene that happens today - June 23. I hope you enjoy the film and watch it tonight.  

THE JOKERS

Michael Tremayne is booted out of Sandhurst. He and his brother David want to do something “big” and they decide to do a crime as a “grand gesture”.  The brothers take Inge, David new inamorata, on a tour of London, including the Tower. At a dinner party they learn that you cannot be charged with theft unless you intend to permanently deprive the owner of their property. David proposes stealing the crown jewels and sending letters out beforehand, showing they aren’t intending to permanently deprive. Michael is somewhat jealous of David, as Davis is considered the ‘good’ son and him the ‘bad’ son. They write and deliver the letters. They plant a bomb at the Albert Memorial and observe the police procedure. Next they put a bomb at the lion cage at the London zoo. Then they blow up a ladies lavatory. David gets a laser. They put a bomb at the stock exchange and David goes to the army base, and using a tape recorder to record the procedures. Finally the day comes. Michael goes to the jewel room in the Tower and hides a bomb there. David and Michael go to the base and tie up the duty officer. They take the place of the bomb disposal expert and his assistant. They ride with the army to the Tower. The pair go into the bomb room and knock out the rather silly Colonel who went in with them who commands the  army base. David and Michael have had the alarms turned of, due to the danger of “vibration”  and use the laser to cut into the cabinets with the jewels. The pair set off a small bomb and a smoke bomb. The two stagger out pretending to be hurt. The pair then escape from the ambulance taking them to hospital with the jewels.   The theft causes a huge stink and a worldwide search is undertaken for the robbers. David and Michael enjoy the media frenzy. One week after the robbery on June 23, 1967 the letters are opened and delivered to the police. [1:08:10 to 1:13:59]  When they go to get the jewels from their hiding place they are not there. When the police arrive to arrest David, Michael says he doesn’t know anything about the robbery. Michael never delivered his letter. David is identified as the bomb expert, but the witnesses can’t identify Michael. The police investigate, but can’t break down Michael’s alibi of being at a party. Michael is released. David is indicted and bail is refused.  The police set up a plan to make Michael think his alibi is breaking down, but Michael evades police surveillance. We then see him digging up the jewels from where he buried them at Stonehenge. Michael calls a telephone he know is tapped to say he’s returning the jewels in Trafalgar Square at 4 a. m. The police set up a cordon, but Michael uses their concentration on the square to put them in the scales of justice on top of the Old Bailey. Michael is arrested. We close with both brothers imprisoned in the Tower, plotting their escape.      

This is a very funny sixties British comedy. Crawford and Reed play off each other perfectly to deliver unforgettable performances. Unfortunately I don’t think this film is on VHS or DVD. 

At Michael’s arraignment at 1:18:50 the date of the crime is given as June 16. They planned to return the jewels a week later, the 23^rd, , as evidenced by some comments at about 36:40 where Michael says they will deliver the letters on Friday and then call to have them released seven days later, on the day they plan to return the jewels. June 16 was on a Friday in 1967.   

Producer - Ben Arbeid and Maurice Foster

Director - Michael Winner

Screenplay - Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais

Runtime – 1 hour 34 minutes

Released – May 15, 1967

Starring –

Michael Crawford as Michael Tremayne

Oliver Reed as David Tremayne

Harry Andrews as Superintendent Marryatt

James Donald as Colonel Gurney-Simms

Daniel Massey as Riggs

Michael Hordern as Sir Matthew

Gabriella Licudi as Eve

Lotte Tarp as Inge

Frank Finlay as Harassed man

Warren Mitchell as Lennie

Rachel Kempson as Mrs. Tremayne

Peter Graves as Mr. Tremayne

Ingrid Boulting as Sarah

Brian Wilde as Sergeant Catchpole

Edward Fox as Lieutenant Sprague

Michael Goodliffe as Lieutenant Colonel Paling

Watch "The Jokers" Part 1

Watch "the Jokers" part 2