The crooks in London know how it works. No one carries guns and no one resists the police. Then a new gang appears that go one better. They dress as police and steal from the crooks. This upsets the natural order of the police/criminal relationship and the police and the crooks join forces to catch the IPOs (Impersonating Police Officers), including an armoured car robbery in which the police must help the gangs to set a trap.
Peter Sellers
Pearly Gates
Lionel Jeffries
Inspector Fred 'Nosey' Parker
Bernard Cribbins
Nervous O'Toole
Nanette Newman
Valerie
Davy Kaye
Trainer King
Bill Kerr
Jack Coombes
Ed Devereaux
Bluey May
Reg Lye
Reg Denton
John Le Mesurier
Assistant Commissioner
Graham Stark
Sid Cooper
Martin Boddey
Superintendent J.S. Forest
Irene Browne
Dowager
Arthur Mullard
Brassknuckles
Tutte Lemkow
Siggy Schmoltz
Dermot Kelly
Misery Martin
Vanda Godsell
Annette
Barry Keegan
Alf
Marianne Stone
Woman at Meeting (uncredited)
Michael Caine
Police Officer (uncredited)
Dennis Price
Educated Ernest (uncredited)
Dick Emery
Adulterous Man (uncredited)
John Junkin
Maurice (uncredited)
Cardew Robinson
Postman (uncredited)
Mario Fabrizi
Van Driver (uncredited)
John Harvey
Sergeant at Police Station (uncredited)
Harold Siddons
Police Constable in Garage (uncredited)
Jack Silk
Police Constable at Station (uncredited)
Deryck Guyler
Police Constable at Scotland Yard (uncredited)
Gerald Sim
Airport Official (uncredited)
Director
Cliff Owen
Original Story
Ivor Jay
Original Story
William Whistance Smith
Screenplay
Len Heath
Screenplay
John Warren
Writer
John Antrobus
Writer
Ray Galton
Writer
Alan Simpson
January 16, 2024
7
Ostensibly, "Pearly Gates" (Peter Sellers) is a French couturier selling posh frocks, but we know in reality he's a crook. Imagine his chagrin when his latest crime falls foul of the police! Imagine how much worse it gets when he discovers that it wasn't the police at all, but a gang who "IPO" (Impersonate Police Officers). That's below the belt! Meantime, the rather supercilious police inspector "Parker" (Lionel Jeffries) starts to get embroiled in this too as his bosses don't much like the idea that there are fake officers out there robbing with impunity. The most unlikely of truces now ensues as both have to bury the hatchet and concoct a plan to entrap their rather shrewd, and well briefed, protagonists. The enormous sum of £500,000 is to be used as bait but what's the betting the plan goes pear-shaped? There's a good dynamic between Sellers and Jeffries here with a well paced and engagingly daft story unravelling over a quickly paced ninety minutes. Some familiar faces make up the supporting cast and the denouement - well I quite liked that! The humour is simple and uncomplicated, relying on some characterful performances and some spirited efforts on screen, and I did quite enjoy this.
Status:
Released
Original Language:
English
Budget:
$0.00
Revenue:
$0.00