The Brink's Job (1978)

What's impressive about "The Brink's Job" is that it's a true story that also manages to be a lighthearted comedy. I had never heard of the Great Brink's Robbery until watching this movie, but William Friedkin managed to turn it into a fun story. Peter Falk, Peter Boyle, Warren Oates, Gena Rowlands, Paul Sorvino, Sheldon Leonard* and the rest of the cast turn in fine performances. It was a pleasant surprise to see Malachy McCourt (the brother of "Angela's Ashes" author Frank McCourt) in a supporting role. It so happened that I had watched this just a few hours after watching the horror-fantasy flick "Q", which also featured him in a supporting role. It was a pure coincidence that I rented two movies that happened to star him.All in all, a good movie. I suspect that they had fun filming it. Really different turn for Friedkin after "The French Connection" and "The Exorcist".*Put another way, the movie stars Columbo, Frankenstein's monster, one of the Wild Bunch, the woman under the influence, Henry Kissinger and the producer of several TV shows (and namesake of the main characters on "The Big Bang Theory").

William Friedkin directed this period piece caper-comedy, adapted from Noel Behn's non-fiction book "Big Stick-Up at Brinks", chronicling real-life 1950 robbery of Brink's headquarters which netted the crooks some three million dollars. Often-filmed heist gets a joshing tone this time out, cast with actors comfortable with each other and familiar to audiences in these particular characterizations. There are no surprises; everything has been preconceived for a safe, nondescript entertainment. For his part, Freidkin displays a light, casual touch, but the broader moments of comedy don't really come off--slapstick doesn't seem to be Friedkin's thing. Peter Falk heads up the amateur squad of thieves; he's right at home here, and his repartee with Peter Boyle, Allen Garfield and Paul Sorvino (and with Gena Rowlands as his wife) is smooth. In fact, the whole film is smooth...so smooth it slides right out of the memory. ** from ****

I remember when this movie was filmed back in 78. yeah its dating myself. The movie was filmed at MCI ( Massachusetts Correctional Facility) Concord, Concord Mass. My father while actually working there was an extra. I had a chance to meet Mr.Falk and a few others as a kid ( I was ten). We had free tickets to the opening. I thought it was an awesome movie about bungling thieves. Most folks expected a serious thief/heist movie. Although based on an actual event. I found the movie comical. Although it didn't have Mini coopers jumping through a European city. It did serve its purpose as a good funny movie. A good buy as a bargain.

I've been trying to pick up a VHS of this flick for 2 years and finally won it on an auction. It was on AMC a few years back and I caught about 30 minutes of it. I was so intrigued that I started to look for a chance to buy it.I thoroughly enjoyed this film, a great cast with a young Peter Falk leading the way. Peter Boyle was realistic in his portrayal of the money launderer. Used VHS tapes are out there and although this robbery occurred in the 50's there is enough suspense and a ton of surprises for you. Sometimes a true story beats the best fiction a writer can come up with.