In a mansion block in Knightsbridge, a gang of middle-aged biddies decide to brighten up "the dullness of the tea time of life" by staging a series of robberies on furriers, then donating the proceeds to charitable concerns. Terry Thomas as a retired army officer leads the gang, which includes Athene Seyler and Hattie Jacques, on a series of capers that nearly go awry when their maid, Billie Whitelaw, an ex-con and also a resident of the block, falls for a police officer.
Acting
Terry-Thomas deploys his signature cad and coward to perfection.
Costume
Fabulous mink coats you'll feel weird wanting.
Writing
Witty British dialogue that actually lands its punches.
Director
Robert Asher
Terry-Thomas
Major Albert Rayne
Athene Seyler
Dame Beatrice Appleby
Hattie Jacques
Nanette Parry
Billie Whitelaw
Lily
Elspeth Duxbury
Elizabeth "Pinkie" Pinkerton
Jack Hedley
Jim Benham
Raymond Huntley
Inspector Pape
Freddie Frinton
Drunk
Kenneth Williams
Hon. Freddie Warrington
Irene Handl
Madame Spolinski
Penny Morrell
Gertrude
Sydney Tafler
Lionel Spanager
Noel Purcell
Burglar
Peter Vaughan
Policeman in Car
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Billie Whitelaw was only 29 playing opposite Terry-Thomas, 21 years her senior—hardly remarked upon in 1960.
This captures peak post-war British comedy: criminality as harmless class rebellion, with the posh always forgiven.
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