Sun 7 Apr 2019
A Movie Review by Dan Stumpf: ROBBERY UNDER ARMS (1957).
Posted by Steve under Crime Films , Reviews[5] Comments
ROBBERY UNDER ARMS. Rank, British/Australian, 1957. Peter Finch, Ronald Lewis, David McCallum, Maureen Swanson, Jill Ireland, and Laurence Naismith. Screenplay by Alexander Baron, W.P. Lipscomb and Richard Mason, from the novel by Rolf Boldrewood. Directed by Jack Lee.
From the title, I assumed this was a British crime film, which only flaunts my ignorance. Turns out Robbery Under Arms is a well-known tale of Aussie outlaws (called Bushrangers) set in the 1860s, the basis of four films before this (the first in 1907) and one in 1985.
This one turned out rather well. I’m not sure why Peter Finch got top billing, since Ronald Lewis and David McCallum carry the weight of the story and the bulk of the screen time, but he does, and they do — quite effectively, as two outback lads who decide to help out their dad (Laurence Naismith) with a spot of cattle rustling in the employ of Captain Starlight (Finch), a sort of down-under Jesse James with a penchant for robbery and a sense of loyalty that doesn’t stop at murder.
“Murder†I sez and Murder is what we see here. Robbery has the look and feel of an American Western, replete with cattle rustling, gold-mining, bank robberies and horseback pursuits. But when it comes down to shooting and folks get shot down, it’s usually from ambush, at a distance, and more like the stark, stupid violence of Bonnie & Clyde than the measured mayhem of Red River and Shane.
The plot line here is enjoyably pointless. Having committed the greatest cattle-rustle in history, our boys find themselves wanted men, and learn that life on the run is harsh and lonely. They change their names, find honest work and stick to it, only to discover that the World’s smallest continent isn’t big enough to hide in.
David McCallum is particularly good at this, his slender frame and big blue eyes conveying a haggard longing for the decent life. Ronald Lewis is equally fine as his tougher brother, yearning for the elusive Clean Slate, both men matched up with Maureen Swanson and Jill Ireland as the women they dream of sharing a life with.
As for Peter Finch, well he’s dashing enough as the legendary bushranger, but frankly he doesn’t have much to do except dash across the Outback and look legendary. Fortunately, Robbery Under Arms has enough going on — and the supporting players carry enough conviction — to do quite nicely without him.
April 7th, 2019 at 3:20 am
I always felt like David McCallum was the true protagonist of the film and that Peter Finch’s character was just a generic Jesse James/outlaw in a black hat type. I didn’t like the movie as much as you seem to have, partly because I felt as if the pacing was just a little off. But it’s got some great scenery and there’s even a kangaroo crossing the screen at one point!
April 7th, 2019 at 12:59 pm
An interesting film, but a little too slow and talky for me. I agree with both Dan and Jon that David McCallum is the real star of the movie. Peter Finch ought to have sued the screenwriter or director or both. There’s nothing to his part at all.
BTW I think this is the movie during the filming of which that David McCallum and Jill Ireland first met and were married soon after.
April 7th, 2019 at 5:22 pm
They did a few of these Outback Westerns — even a couple set in South Africa — and while several of them are good, none of them really work all that well as Western substitutes, not even KANGAROO which has a big Hollywood cast.
This one almost pulls it off, but in the end not quite.
A note, Richard Mason who co wrote the screenplay is best known for his novels THE WORLD OF SUSIE WONG and THE WIND CANNOT READ, both made into better films.
The book by Rolf Bolderwood is sort of a national epic of Australia, and as you point out oft adapted, but less known outside of that country compared to some of E.W. Hornung’a novels like STINGAREE.
April 10th, 2019 at 9:14 pm
David, I know you are right about Kangaroo, but it really has something in both narrative and presentation that is and was unique. Doesn’t quite come together dramatically, but….
October 19th, 2020 at 2:08 am
I was hooked the moment I heard the score by Matyas Seiber, I believe. And I’m a great fan of David McCallum. I found the film sad because of all the senseless killing with such harsh consequences. And I loved the scene toward the end of the film when young, married, future father Jim Marston is in imminent danger of being lynched and the single Bushranger sent to apprehend him tells the outraged mob “You will not lay a hand on the Queen’s uniform.”