A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square

1980
1h 42m

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David Niven, Richard Johnson, Richard Jordan, Elke Sommer, and Oliver Tobias in A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square (1980)

Released from a British prison, an American is hired as an electrician for a London bank - but his criminal acquaintances show up, and force the reluctant Yank to join them as the inside man... Read allReleased from a British prison, an American is hired as an electrician for a London bank - but his criminal acquaintances show up, and force the reluctant Yank to join them as the inside man in a well-planned bank heist.Released from a British prison, an American is hired as an electrician for a London bank - but his criminal acquaintances show up, and force the reluctant Yank to join them as the inside man in a well-planned bank heist.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

5.7/10

504

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

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Storyline

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Trivia
Jean Seberg was offered the female lead in this film. She was excited by the prospect of staring alongside David Niven, since they had enjoyed working with each other on Bonjour Tristesse (1958). She committed suicide before filming began.

Goofs
In an early panning shot, we see an Arab passenger get out of a 1976 Cadillac Seville sedan outside the A&P Bank. These cars were never available as RHD, so a front-seat passenger, dressed as chauffeur, gets out and opens the O/S door. This is a farcical set-up, as he should have exited the front N/S (LH) door, and opened the rear N/S door for his passenger, avoiding the risk of following traffic-absurd!..

Crazy credits
Closing credits epilogue: TO DATE ONLY HALF A MILLION POUNDS HAS BEEN RECOVERED BY SCOTLAND YARD.

Connections
Referenced in Z Channel: A Magnificent Obsession (2004)

Soundtracks
A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square
(uncredited)
Music by Manning Sherwin
Lyrics by Eric Maschwitz

User reviews21

Review

Featured review

8/10

Much better than expected!

I recently bought this movie on DVD at a discount store for $5. Although it is a no-frills DVD on the Geneon label (just the movie that starts playing immediately - no menu, no special features) the picture and sound quality were EXCELLENT. The movie is based on the true story of one of the biggest bank robberies in history.

Richard Jordan, who I must admit to not having heard of, plays the lead - Pinky Green. A charming young man who had spent too much of his few years in prison and now wanted to go straight but is not allowed to do so! He portrays an American in England. David Niven plays the lead bad guy, also with the great charm for which he is famous. Bad, but with scruples as when he refuses to deny Pinky his "whack" for the job. Whack, in England, apparently is the fair share of the take and not a bullet in the head as in American gangster films! All the supporting cast do an excellent job producing a very believable movie.

What is perhaps best, to me, is that the whole movie is quite enjoyable and understandable (I frequently find myself lost in plot confusions and various characters) without ANY special effects. NO blood. No violence. Not even a single car chase! Just a well written story, well acted, well directed and well photographed! If I had any complaints about the movie, I would question the music. WHAT is bluegrass music doing in a bank heist story that takes place in England?