Re-release

Strongroom

+ intro by James Bell, Senior Curator, BFI National Archive

A bank heist turns into a life-or-death race-against-time in Vernon Sewell’s gripping British ‘B’ thriller, which has been hailed by Tarantino, Scorsese and Edgar Wright.

  • Director

    Vernon Sewell

  • With

    Colin Gordon, Ann Lynn, Derren Nesbitt, Keith Faulkner

  • UK 1962. 80min

  • 35mm

  • Certificate

    PG

  • A BFI release

Taut as a drum, Vernon Sewell’s suspense thriller is an outstanding example of the lean British ‘B’ film. A carefully-planned bank heist goes awry when the robbers are interrupted by the unexpected arrival of two nattering cleaners. The gang lock the manager and his secretary in the airtight vault and make off with the cash, but soon realise that the pair will suffocate and they will face a murder rap if they can’t free them. With only 12 hours’ worth of air in the vault, the clock is ticking. Gripping to the end, the film is a real rediscovery.

James Bell, Senior Curator of Fiction, BFI National Archive

New 35mm print created by the BFI National Archive.

The BFI will release Strongroom on Blu-ray on 23 February.

See other screenings of Strongroom.

Film on Film