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Heist comedy

The Lavender Hill Mob

Year
1951
Length
78 minBFI catalogue presentation Version sources ↓

A modest bank clerk who has supervised gold deliveries for years finally finds the partner and export scheme needed to steal one.

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FunnyGentle Great first watch · Easy Heist comedy
The Lavender Hill Mob — Momo inspects a golden Eiffel Tower in a lavender and gold paper workshop.

Image: Monocurator · source · Original Monocurator artwork

What to expect

Crichton builds a heist from routine, scale models, souvenirs, and the comic mismatch between meticulous planning and ordinary confusion. Alec Guinness makes rebellion look like another day at the office until it becomes exhilarating.

How to ease in

The plan is explained clearly. Enjoy how each practical detail—transport, melting, tourists, language—creates a new opportunity for error after the perfect crime has supposedly occurred.

Heads-up

A quick, non-exhaustive note Includes theft, police pursuit, gunfire, dangerous heights, class stereotypes, and mild period national caricature.
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Holland has rehearsed obedience so thoroughly that crime becomes his first creative project. I enjoy the moment routine stops protecting the plan and starts chasing it downhill.

— Momo

Momo thinking about this film

Credits & versions

Credits

Version map

BFI catalogue presentation 78 min 78 minutes is attached only to the named BFI catalogue presentation. No unsupported cut, score, territory, frame rate, source element, or restoration detail is inferred. Source: British Film Institute — The Lavender Hill Mob Runtime reference · Checked 2026-08-21

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