Back in 1951, Ealing Studios produced the classic comedy movie The Lavender Hill Mob.
Set on the street of the same name in Battersea near London’s Clapham Junction, the film follows Alec Guinness’ clerk responsible for transporting a bank’s gold supplies for the last two decades. But now he’s decided to steal £1 million of it in a heist.
Ranked by the BFI as the 17th greatest British film of all time, the movie co-stars Stanley Holloway, Sid James and Alfie Bass.
Also look out for a pre-fame Audrey Hepburn in a small role as Chiquita at the start of the movie, alongside Robert Shaw in his first film appearance as a police laboratory technician near the end.
The film is considered so good that in 1995, it was one of the 45 movies selected for the Vatican’s film list under the 15 pictures in the Art category. With a perfect 100 per cent on Rotten Tomatoes, the critical consensus reads: “Fiendishly funny and clever, The Lavender Hill Mob is a top hat Ealing Studios effort.”
The Lavender Hill Mob is broadcast on BBC Two today at 2:05pm and will be streaming on BBC iPlayer afterwards for a limited time only.