After the bonkersness of Turbulence things get nicely understated with 1961’s smart heist thriller Cash On Demand from director Quentin Lawrence. Peter Cushing by 1961 was getting bored playing mad scientists and vampire slayers and here tried his hand at something more grounded. Here, he’s Harry Fordyce, a stuffy, provincial bank manager at the mercy of a suave bank robber who claims to have his family held hostage. It’s a very British blend of heist movie, workplace drama and Christmas story. Andre Morrell is deliciously diabolical as the polite but ruthless crook robbing the bank with nothing more than threats and a telephone.
The plot is satisfyingly uncomplicated,playing out more or less in real time, allowing Cushing and Morrell to act their asses off. It’s a cool, low-key acting masterclass in a film that thrills despite featuring no bloodshed, explosions, gunshots or much violence to speak of. The most powerful weapons utilised here are words and they use them very well, the story filled with high tension and clever detail.
Early scenes establish Fordyce as a stern, humourless employer who distances himself from his staff and even considers sacking one of them (at Christmas!) for an inconsequential infringement. So, it’s fun watching this fusty jobsworth smash all his own rules when his own life comes under threat.
We’re constantly reminded that Christmas is the best time for a bank job as the vault is rammed with cash. Talk of the staff’s upcoming festive party highlights Fordyce’s Scrooge-like crabbiness, while the cold-hearted manager learns a further lesson in humility when everything he holds dear is endangered and the only people who might save him are the staff he keeps at arm’s length.
It’s well-written, beautifully acted and the snow falling outside Fordyce’s office window provides a gorgeously festive, cinematic atmosphere. This is a simple but masterfully told tale that reminds us that, especially at Christmas, it’s important to relax, be nice and appreciate things. You never know when disaster could strike and everything could suddenly end so try and enjoy life while you can.
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