Robbery (1967 Film) - Production Notes

Production Notes

Michael Deeley bought the rights to Peta Fordham's book based on the Great Train Robbery. He and director Peter Yates offered the project to Woodfall Film Productions where he worked but the company did not want to make it. Deeley and Yates then approached Stanley Baker to star in the film. Baker had a good relationship with Joseph E. Levine whose Embassy Pictures agreed to fund the movie.

In order to avoid legal problems, it was decided to write a script where the details in the 25 minute robbery sequence were taken entirely from court evidence, but the remainder of the film would be fictitious speculation. "We had to make sure there was no risk of accidental identification with anyone," said Baker. "The characters involved in the film are in no way based on the characters who took part in the great train robbery."

Vanessa Redgrave was approached to play Stanley Baker's wife but turned down the role. Joseph E. Levine requested that the story be changed to include an American mastermind behind the robbery, to ensure the movie would appeal to American audiences. Three days of scenes were shot featuring Jason Robards in this role on Long Island, using Levine's own yacht. However after this was done it was decided not to use the scenes.

George Raft was to have played a role in the film but was unable to do so after being refused entry into London.

The movie was shot entirely on location in early 1967 and contains much period footage of central London including shots of Marble Arch, Trafalgar Square, Little Venice and Kensal Green. Scenes of the gang meeting up prior to the robbery were also filmed at Leyton Orient Football Club, during a match with Swindon Town. The gang's airfield hideout was filmed at RAF Graveley. Filming was even done at New York Harbour and Arbour Hill Prison in Dublin. The robbery itself was shot to the east of Theddingworth.

Robbery also became influential in the genre of British film and TV police/crime thrillers through the 1970s, such as The Sweeney and The Long Good Friday.

The film includes a dramatic car chase, realistic portrayal of police procedure as well as crime preparations and scenes shot entirely on location. These creative aspects attracted the attention of Steve McQueen who hired director Peter Yates to direct Bullitt.