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Perfect Friday (1970) Plot Summary & Timeline

Perfect Friday (1970) movie poster

Perfect Friday is a 1970 crime and comedy film directed by Peter Hall, running 1 hour 34 minutes. This page retells the whole story in 244 words (about 1 minute to read) and covers 12 key events in order, 3 characters, where and when it is set and 3 themes. Looking for the cast, ratings and where to stream it? See the movie page for Perfect Friday.

to read the plot summary
1 min
key events in the timeline
12
characters profiled
3
themes explained
3
Perfect Friday (1970) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 34m
Director
Peter Hall
Genres
Crime, Comedy
Original language
English
No spoilers

What Is Perfect Friday About?

The premise of Perfect Friday in 297 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.

In the polished yet predictable West End of London, Mr. Graham works as a deputy manager at a local bank, trapped in a life of quiet monotony. Despite his respectable position, he harbors a deep restlessness, yearning for something beyond the rigid routines of finance. This dissatisfaction sets the stage for a daring deviation from his everyday existence, driven by a desire to break free from the constraints of his conservative world.

His path crosses with Lady Britt Dorset, a glamorous aristocrat whose charm is matched only by her reckless spending habits. Along with her unfaithful husband, Lord Nicholas Dorset, she represents a chaotic element that Graham decides to weave into a complex scheme. The trio forms an uneasy alliance, each bringing their own motives and vulnerabilities to a plan that targets the very bank Graham serves. The dynamic between them is charged with tension, mixing professional ambition with personal entanglements that complicate the boundaries of their partnership.

The scheme centers on a bold maneuver involving the bank’s emergency cash reserves, relying on precise timing and the assumption that trust can be brokered among thieves. As they prepare to execute their plan on a specific Friday when the bank manager is absent, the group must navigate the fragility of their cooperation. The heist requires them to play roles that test their nerve, turning the staid environment of the bank into a theater of high stakes.

As the anticipated day approaches, the atmosphere is thick with suspense, driven by the realization that the greatest gamble may not be the robbery itself, but the reliance on one another. In a narrative where allure and deception walk hand in hand, the characters must confront the possibility that in a game of triple-crosses, trust is the most dangerous currency of all.

Full plot

What Happens in Perfect Friday?

The complete story of Perfect Friday, from the first scene to the last, in 244 words (about 1 minute). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 3 cast member pages.

Spoilers ahead

In the West End of London, Mr. Graham, a deputy under manager at a local bank, grows tired of his dull, predictable life. He crosses paths with Lady Britt Dorset, a glamorous but spendthrift aristocrat, and schemes to recruit her and her husband, Lord Nicholas Dorset, to help him pull off a daring heist. The plan is complicated by Graham’s growing affair with the lady, adding a layer of personal risk to an already audacious crime.

The scheme hinges on a day when the bank manager is away golfing. With Graham guiding the operation, Lord Dorset is to pose as a bank inspector evaluating the emergency cash reserve, while counterfeit money is substituted for the real funds that Britt has placed in her deposit box. She would retrieve the real money shortly after, and the trio would flee to Switzerland to escape justice. The ruse is ambitious and tight, with the trio counting on precise timing and discreet cooperation.

As the plan unfolds, it must contend with a potential hitch: a genuine bank inspector could derail the entire operation. When events align and the plan appears to be working, a major twist arises—Lady Dorset makes off with the cash on her own, betraying both Graham and Lord Dorset. The realization of the double-cross leaves the two men to reassess their situation. Rather than abandon their ambitions, they decide to attempt the same plan again, aiming to rob the bank once more the following year.

Timeline

Perfect Friday Timeline: Every Key Event in Order

12 key events in the order they happen, from “Graham's discontent in the West End bank” to “Sequel-tinged ending”. 11 events name a place, across 7 locations.

  1. 1

    Graham's discontent in the West End bank

    Mr. Graham, a deputy under manager at a West End bank, grows bored with his routine. He begins to see a dangerous opportunity in a carefully planned heist. This dissatisfaction becomes the catalyst for his scheme.

    Where:West End, London

  2. 2

    Graham encounters Lady Britt Dorset

    Graham meets Lady Britt Dorset, a spendthrift aristocrat with both charm and resources. He recruits Britt and her husband, Lord Nicholas Dorset, to help execute the plan.

    Where:London

  3. 3

    Affair begins and alliance solidifies

    Graham begins an affair with Lady Dorset, deepening their bond. The personal entanglement strengthens their willingness to take the risk and pull off the robbery.

    Where:London

  4. 4

    The plan is laid for a bank theft

    The plan is set around a day when the bank manager is away indulging his golf habit. Lord Dorset will pose as a bank inspector to check the bank's emergency cash reserve. He will substitute counterfeit money for the real cash and place it in Britt's deposit box, which she will collect shortly afterwards.

    When:on golf day Where:West End bank

  5. 5

    Counterfeit money substitution prepared

    The group coordinates the transfer: the counterfeit cash is substituted and Britt's deposit box becomes the focal point for the windfall. They intend to depart with the money and fly to Switzerland.

    Where:Bank deposit box area

  6. 6

    Flight to Switzerland planned

    The plan includes a quick flight to Switzerland to disappear with the loot. The conspirators imagine a clean getaway after the extraction.

    Where:London to Switzerland

  7. 7

    Dorset and Britt discuss separate getaway and cutting Graham

    Britt agrees that they will take a different flight and leave Lord Dorset with nothing. She also negotiates a similar plot with Dorset to cut out Graham.

    Where:London

  8. 8

    The first opportunity to abort arises

    At the first opportunity, the plan must be abandoned when a real bank inspector arrives. The group hesitates, weighing whether to proceed.

    Where:Bank

  9. 9

    Britt's betrayal and the plan proceeds

    When they are able to carry it out, all goes to plan, but Lady Dorset absconds alone with the cash. Graham and Lord Dorset realize that she has double-crossed both of them.

    Where:Bank and departure

  10. 10

    A decision to try again next year

    They decide to carry out the same plan to rob the bank again the following year. The betrayal fuels a renewed, stubborn resolve to succeed where Britt failed.

    Where:London

  11. 11

    Planning resumes for a second attempt

    Graham and Dorset begin to sketch a renewed execution, taking lessons from the betrayal. The scheme remains active in their minds as they prepare for another opportunity.

    Where:London

  12. 12

    Sequel-tinged ending

    Although Britt has escaped with the money, the trio's ambition persists, hinting at a second assault on the bank in the future. The story closes with the lingering possibility of another scheme.

Characters

Who Are the Main Characters in Perfect Friday?

3 characters, among them Mr. Graham (Stanley Baker), Lady Britt Dorset (Ursula Andress) and Lord Nicholas Dorset (David Warner): who each one is and the part they play in the story. Every profile links to the actor’s page.

  • MG

    Mr. Graham (Stanley Baker)

    Played by Stanley Baker

    A dissatisfied deputy under bank manager who threads the elaborate plan to steal £300,000. He is calculated, socially adept, and driven by a mix of boredom and ambition, using charm to enlist aristocratic partners. His affair with Lady Dorset adds a dangerous personal dimension to the scheme.

    • 💼 Schemer
    • 🧠 Planner
    • ❤️ Affair
  • LB

    Lady Britt Dorset (Ursula Andress)

    Played by Ursula Andress

    An aristocratic and impulsive socialite who agrees to the plot for personal gain, balancing charm with ruthless pragmatism. She navigates alliances with a spirit of self-interest, and ultimately acts as a pivotal mover in the scheme. Her flirtation with Graham complicates loyalties and outcomes.

    • 👑 Aristocrat
    • 💃 Socialite
    • 🕊️ Opportunist
  • David Warner as Lord Nicholas Dorset (David Warner) in Perfect Friday

    Lord Nicholas Dorset (David Warner)

    Played by David Warner

    A nobleman who agrees to pose as a bank inspector and facilitate the counterfeit transfer, blending confidence with manipulation. He shares the plan's ambitions and participates in the deception, while maintaining a cool, calculating demeanor.

    • 👑 Aristocrat
    • 🧭 Planner
    • 💔 Affair
Setting

Where and When Is Perfect Friday Set?

Perfect Friday is set in West End, London and Switzerland. Here is why the place matters to the story.

Where

West End, London, Switzerland

The film unfolds around a bank in London's West End, capturing the rhythms of a busy financial hub. After the heist, the getaway leads to a flight to Switzerland, highlighting the cross-border appeal of a mid-century crime caper. The setting blends formal banking spaces with the glitter of high society.

  • 🏙️ London
  • 🏦 Bank
  • 🗺️ Switzerland
Themes

What Are the Themes of Perfect Friday?

3 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Greed, Betrayal and Deception.

  1. 01

    Greed

    Money sits at the center of the scheme, driving the characters to risk everything for £300,000. As wealth promises security, it exposes moral compromises and the fragility of loyalties. The pursuit of cash reshapes relationships and choices throughout the plot.

  2. 02

    Betrayal

    The plan relies on fragile alliances that crumble when interests diverge. Lady Dorset's double-cross upends the conspiracy and forces the remaining conspirator to reevaluate trust. The film uses betrayals to propel the suspense and comedy.

  3. 03

    Deception

    The heist depends on disguises, role-playing, and misdirection, blurring truth and performance. Characters assume fake identities as inspectors and accomplices, keeping others in the dark about true intentions. The twists hinge on whether appearances truly match reality.

Tone & mood

What Kind of Film Is Perfect Friday?

Light in tone, with steady pacing and a moderate story, going by the plot summary.

Tone
Light
Pacing
Steady
Story
Moderate
Intensity
Medium
Ending
Bittersweet

A breezy yet cynical caper comedy that follows a meticulously planned heist as it unravels through layers of double-crosses, creating a suspenseful but ultimately mischievous atmosphere.

  • devious
  • cynical
  • suspenseful
  • mischievous
  • breezy
  • treacherous
  • heist
  • double cross
  • boredom
  • infidelity
Where to watch

Where to Watch Perfect Friday

Stream it on Kanopy and Shout! Factory. US availability and prices from JustWatch.

Streaming availability in the US, powered by JustWatch logo

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FAQ

Perfect Friday Plot Questions

5 quick answers about Perfect Friday, taken from the plot summary, character guide and setting on this page and the film’s credits.

What is Perfect Friday about?

In the polished yet predictable West End of London, Mr. Graham works as a deputy manager at a local bank, trapped in a life of quiet monotony. Despite his respectable position, he harbors a deep restlessness, yearning for something beyond the rigid routines of finance.

Read the full plot summary

When and where does Perfect Friday take place?

Perfect Friday is set in West End, London and Switzerland. The film unfolds around a bank in London's West End, capturing the rhythms of a busy financial hub. After the heist, the getaway leads to a flight to Switzerland, highlighting the cross-border appeal of a mid-century…

The setting explained

Who are the main characters in Perfect Friday?

The story follows Mr. Graham (Stanley Baker) (played by Stanley Baker), Lady Britt Dorset (Ursula Andress) (played by Ursula Andress) and Lord Nicholas Dorset (David Warner) (played by David Warner).

All the characters

What are the main themes of Perfect Friday?

The summary picks out 3 themes: Greed, Betrayal and Deception.

The themes explained

Who directed Perfect Friday?

Perfect Friday (1970) was directed by Peter Hall and runs 1 hour 34 minutes.

Peter Hall’s films

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