The Wrong Arm of the Law (1963): Cast & Plot
The Wrong Arm of the Law is a 1963 crime comedy directed by Cliff Owen, starring Peter Sellers as Pearly Gates, Nanette Newman and Bernard Cribbins. It runs 1 hour 34 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 34m (94 min)
- Director
- Cliff Owen
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Robert Velaise Productions
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is The Wrong Arm of the Law About?
The premise of The Wrong Arm of the Law without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
A cunning mastermind runs the London underworld, but a new gang of impostors masquerading as police begins stealing from criminals. The unexpected twist forces thieves and officers to cooperate, culminating in an armored‑car heist where the police help the gang set a trap to catch the impersonators.
The Wrong Arm of the Law Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- police
- london england
- tailing a suspect
- jewel thief
- fashion model
- fender bender
- climbing a ladder
- sneeze
- wedding dress
- armored car robbery
- mirror on ceiling over bed
- switching cars
+38 more Show fewer
- power drill
- bolt cutter
- jewelry store
- camera hidden in briefcase
- combination safe
- meeting
- cigar smoking
- woman in a shower
- walking in step
- amusement park
- rollercoaster
- splashed with water
- diverting traffic
- hand drawn map
- pack of money
- soft ice cream cone
- ice cream truck
- police car
- car airborne
- plain clothes police officer
- level crossing
- brawl
- punched in the face
- fashion show
- counterfeit money
- man wears a tuxedo
- woman wears a grass skirt
- male police officer
- police officer
- robbery
- sewing machine
- reference to paul gauguin
- briefcase full of money
- megaphone
- van
- flat tire
- lookout
- scotland yard
The Wrong Arm of the Law Cast & Characters
Peter Sellers leads the cast as Pearly Gates, with Nanette Newman as Valerie and Bernard Cribbins as Nervous O'Toole. Directed by Cliff Owen; 29 actors are credited in all.
- Director Cliff Owen
-
Peter Sellers as Pearly Gates - Nanette Newman as Valerie
-
Bernard Cribbins as Nervous O'Toole -
Lionel Jeffries as Inspector Fred 'Nosey' Parker
Also Starring in The Wrong Arm of the Law
· 25 more- Michael Caine Police Officer (uncredited)
- Deryck Guyler Police Constable at Scotland Yard (uncredited)
- John Le Mesurier Assistant Commissioner
- Graham Stark Sid Cooper
- Marianne Stone Woman at Meeting (uncredited)
- Dick Emery Adulterous Man (uncredited)
- Dennis Price Educated Ernest (uncredited)
- Martin Boddey Superintendent J.S. Forest
- Arthur Mullard Brassknuckles
- John Harvey Sergeant at Police Station (uncredited)
- Bill Kerr Jack Coombes
- Tutte Lemkow Siggy Schmoltz
- Gerald Sim Airport Official (uncredited)
- Ed Devereaux Bluey May
- Reg Lye Reg Denton
- John Junkin Maurice (uncredited)
Show all 29 cast members Show fewer cast members
- Vanda Godsell Annette
- Irene Browne Dowager
- Harold Siddons Police Constable in Garage (uncredited)
- Barry Keegan Alf
- Cardew Robinson Postman (uncredited)
- Dermot Kelly Misery Martin
- Davy Kaye Trainer King
- Mario Fabrizi Van Driver (uncredited)
- Jack Silk Police Constable at Station (uncredited)
More from Cliff Owen
More films directed by Cliff Owen: The Bawdy Adventures of Tom Jones, No Sex Please: We’re British, Steptoe & Son and The Vengeance of She.
The Wrong Arm of the Law Plot Summary
What happens in The Wrong Arm of the Law from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
In London, a gang of three Australian criminals impersonates police officers to pull off robberies by seizing cash and jewels from crooks who had already moved the loot. The local gang leader Pearly Gates (Peter Sellers) operates under the front of an elegant French couturier named Charles Jules in a London fashion house, Maison Jules, but his criminal takings are starting to thin out. Pearly doesn’t realize that his girlfriend and model Valerie (Nanette Newman) is secretly in league with the Australians, feeding them details of the crimes being arranged by Pearly and his associates.
Full summary
The whole story of The Wrong Arm of the Law, scene by scene
The Wrong Arm of the Law Trailers & Videos
The trailer of The Wrong Arm of the Law.
How Well Do You Know The Wrong Arm of the Law?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
Which actor plays the gang leader Pearly Gates?
Cars in The Wrong Arm of the Law
43 cars on screen, including the 1961 Aston Martin DB4 GT and the 1961 Aston Martin DB4 GT.
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1961 Aston Martin DB4 GT Important role -
1961 Aston Martin DB4 GT Important role -
1959 Austin A152 Omnivan Important role -
1962 Austin-Healey Sprite Important role
Seen The Wrong Arm of the Law?
Movies Like The Wrong Arm of the Law
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Wrong Cops, All the Wrong Clues and Thieves and Robbers.
The Wrong Arm of the Law FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of The Wrong Arm of the Law, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The Wrong Arm of the Law?
The Wrong Arm of the Law runs 1 hour 34 minutes (94 minutes).
When was The Wrong Arm of the Law released?
The Wrong Arm of the Law was released on March 17, 1963.
Who directed The Wrong Arm of the Law?
The Wrong Arm of the Law was directed by Cliff Owen.
More films by Cliff Owen Who is in the cast of The Wrong Arm of the Law?
The Wrong Arm of the Law stars Peter Sellers as Pearly Gates, Nanette Newman as Valerie and Bernard Cribbins as Nervous O'Toole, among 29 credited actors.
Does The Wrong Arm of the Law have a post-credit scene?
No. The Wrong Arm of the Law has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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