Peter Cushing and Richard Vernon in Cash on Demand

BRITISH FILM ACTING is historically superior to American. This is due to Britain’s remarkable stage tradition that goes back hundreds of years. Many British actors went from stage to film and though the two required different skills, they were able to transfer their stage talents to the movie set.

Between the early 1940s to 1960s some outstanding movies with great acting were made and I would like to recommend one: Cash on Demand, a 1961, black-and-white crime thriller, based on a television play, which you can watch on Youtube for free.

This is a thriller with no violence. It’s more a tense, and sometimes comic, psychological play about an extremely clever crime and one man’s personal failings.

The story takes place in a small bank outside London. The late Peter Cushing, who started in repertory theater and performed in Hollywood before continuing his film career in England, plays Harry Fordyce, the fastidious bank manager.

An insurance inspector arrives at the bank one day, and from that moment an attempted robbery unfolds. The entire action occurs just in a few hours and most of it in the bank manager’s office. Please do not read the Wikipedia entry. It gives the plot entirely away and will spoil it for you.

The acting in this small movie, which aired in American theaters for a few months, is truly memorable. André Morrell plays the insurance inspector and Richard Vernon appears as Pearson, the head clerk at the bank. One of the best characteristics of British movies of that era is that they are realistic. The characters are not glamorized in the way American movie characters so often are and the actors are highly believable in their roles. To me the point of a good movie or play or novel is reality. While we are entertained, we learn how to live.

The main theme here is the obnoxious boss. In that sense, it is very relevant. Do not many people work under difficult managers? Will that ever change? Fordyce is an exacting boss who is somewhat unforgiving of his imperfect employees. In the course of the attempted robbery, he must lower his standards dramatically.

One more thing about the plot: This movie somewhat painfully reminds me of a day when I was nine months pregnant and a strange man called me at home shortly after my husband left for work. He told me that he was holding my husband hostage and that if I did not do exactly what he said he would harm my husband. Of course, I immediately became … unhinged and it took me at least ten to fifteen minutes to realize that it was a scam and hang up the phone. I will never, ever forget that day or the man’s voice. Fortunately, all was well in the end though my husband’s office did receive a phone call from one hysterical, pregnant woman. The sadistic creep who called me was eventually arrested for doing the same thing to many women.

Something similar takes place in Cash on Demand so I guess I identify with the main character’s reaction.

I hope you enjoy this little film and that it offers you a brief escape into reality.

— Comments —

Kevin writes:

I just wanted to thank you for the movie recommendation of Cash on Demand. I watched it last night with a family member and we were both enthralled by it. An old movie buff, I had been looking – in vain – for the last number of days for a good flick I hadn’t seen before, and that really filled the bill.

I also wanted to thank you for a movie recommendation you made years ago – of the wonderful film A Child’s Christmas in Wales. Based on your recommendation, a decade ago I gave the DVD to my good friends – the family of an Orthodox Christian priest who now have ten children. Watching the film with them has become an annual Christmas tradition. They have shared the film with many in their parish. A couple of years ago their eldest daughter (who is now an Orthodox Christian nun) learned by heart the entire Dylan Thomas poem and recited it at Christmastime. All because I’d seen your recommendation.

Thank you also for maintaining the great Lawrence Auster’s site. It was through his site that I first learned of you. I really love that man – though I know he wouldn’t approve of the views I’ve now slowly come to on the J question.

Anyway, I just wanted to express my gratitude.

Laura writes:

Oh my goodness, I am so gratified you liked both those movies! You’re very welcome.

Oh, and I have more movies to recommend. Stay tuned.

Susan writes:

Many thanks for recommending the excellent film Cash On Demand, which I watched and enjoyed yesterday. Occasionally one can find really good old films for free on YouTube.

In return I offer you a link to a brief one-minute clip of Mama Skunk and her quartet of charming babies. I had no idea that they made little buzzing sounds.

Laura writes:

Thank you! Will watch soon.

Saturday, July 16, 2022

James H. writes:

Just finished Cash on Demand.  Fabulous entertaining movie with excellent performances across the board – verisimilitude!  Puts to shame so many self-absorbed movies that are not only stripped of all positive cultural values but promote the exact opposite with over the top unbelievable performances which stretch credulity beyond any useful relationship to real life and are, in fact, destructive to the cultural fabric. Beguiling music and good cinema go a long way to ensnaring the unsuspecting.

Several people, including one of my Mom’s best friends, and our next door neighbor were swindled out of significant sums of money under circumstances analogous to yours however they “targeted” these widows’ grandchildren.  One got her money back, the other did not.

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