Loophole

Adapted from a novel by Robert Pollock, John Quested’s forgotten 1981 film is a good example of a no-frills heist movie. Shot in London, Martin Sheen plays unemployed architect Stephen Booker, who gets involved with Mike (Albert Finney) and his plans for an ingenious bank-job. Going in through the sewers, Booker’s knowledge is invaluable, but the plan goes away leaving Mike’s gang in a rat-infested predicament. Loophole’s emphasis on the physical conditions of the raid is refreshingly detailed, and Quested manages to elicit considerable tension. Support from Robert Morely, Susannah York, Jonathan Pryce and Colin Blakley add local colour, making Loophole required watching for aspiring criminals.