Crooks Anonymous
Dir: Ken Annakin
1962
***
Crooks Anonymous is classic British light entertainment. The story is somewhat similar to the far superior School For Scoundrels that came out two year before and the changing of character by Stanley Baxter is something Peter Sellers did better ten year prior and what Alec Guinness excelled at ten years before that (see The Mouse That Roared and Kind Hearts and Coronets). Originality aside, you're left with a nice story and wonderful performances from some of England's best loved legends. Leslie Phillips plays the likable cad better than anyone and the brief James Robertson Justice performance is worth watching the film for alone. Add the brilliant Stanley Baxter and Wilfrid Hyde-White and you're laughing. Julie Christie was a great addition to the cast too but she's never really given enough to work with, she is either dancing on stage or undressing in every scene she's in which is a shame as she is so much more than just something nice to look at. I love Ken Annakin films though, I could happily watch nothing but his all day long.