The Great St. Louis Bank Robbery 1959

Egan plans the Southwest Bank heist

John Egan, a calculating criminal mastermind, decides to rob Southwest Bank and retire to Mexico with his longtime ally Willy. The gang begins meticulously gathering information about the bank to help Egan draw up a detailed plan. The process sets the stage for a carefully orchestrated crime with everyone playing a role.

Gino recruits George Fowler

Gino recruits his sister Ann's old boyfriend George Fowler, a former college football star with no criminal history, to serve as the getaway driver. Egan takes a liking to George, while Willy remains wary of the new recruit. The recruitment introduces a new dynamic and potential loyalties within the crew.

George borrows money from Ann

To pay for a hotel room, Gino convinces George to borrow money from Ann. It marks the first meeting between the young couple since a past incident that ousted them from college. The exchange connects the romance to the criminal plan and tightens emotional stakes.

Egan confesses the roots of his misogyny

During a private discussion, Egan drunkenly confesses to George that his misogyny stems from an abusive mother he murdered by shoving her down stairs. The revelation deepens the moral ambiguity of the criminals and foreshadows the personal betrayals to come. The moment also highlights Egan's volatile temperament.

Ann suspects the plan

Ann sees George and Gino watching the bank and deduces they intend a robbery. She confronts George, who minimizes the risk and promises to use the loot to return to school. Despite lingering affection, she opts to warn the bank later that night.

Willy notices the connection and Egan traces the warning

Willy saw George and Ann together, enabling Egan to trace the source of the warning. The discovery helps the crew tighten their operation and anticipate the bank's response. The sense of surveillance heightens the tension before the heist.

Ann is abducted during the apartment invasion

The gang invades Ann's apartment, and Egan demands that she leave town until the heist is finished. Gino and George fail to stand up for Ann, allowing Egan and Willy to carry her away. The betrayal marks a brutal turning point in the plot.

Ann is killed on the way out

As the trio leave the apartment building, Egan has a flashback to his mother's murder and violently throws Ann to her death off the fire escape. The act reveals the depths of Egan's ruthlessness and shatters the remaining trust within the group.

The heist begins but security gaps derail it

With George forced to participate in the robbery, the crew begins the heist at Southwest Bank. They neglect to bring a police-frequency scanner, and the bank had relocated a switchboard, undermining key steps of the plan. An employee triggers the silent alarm, and police swarm the bank exterior.

Willy escapes, others are stranded

Willy drives the getaway car and flees the scene, leaving the other robbers stranded inside or near the bank. The police flood the exterior, forcing the remaining criminals into a failed exit. The chaotic moment exposes the fragility of their plan.

Egan is killed by the police

Egan forces his way out of the bank, and during a confrontation he reveals that he killed Ann. He is shot down by the police in the ensuing pursuit. The betrayal and violence cement the downfall of the mastermind.

Gino dies by suicide in the basement vault

Cornered in the basement vault, Gino chooses suicide over capture. His death marks the final collapse of the crew’s plans and adds a tragic end to his role in the robbery. The basement vault scene seals the fates of the criminals.