A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square (1980)
A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square (1980), directed by Ralph Thomas, starring Richard Jordan and Oliver Tobias.
score
Based on one of the biggest robberies in London
Synopsis
An American ex-con who is trying to go straight is persuaded to be the inside man for an audacious bank job in central London.
- John CoquillonCinematography
- Ralph ThomasDirector
- Peter BoitaEditing
- Benjamin FiszProducer
About the film
A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square (also known as The Biggest Bank Robbery, Mayfair Bank Caper and The Big Scam) is a 1980 British heist film directed by Ralph Thomas, written by Guy Elmes and starring Richard Jordan, Oliver Tobias and David Niven. It is subtitled "based on one of the biggest robberies in London". The film takes its name from the 1940 published song "A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square".
Ralph Thomas later said the film "had quite a superb cast" and "he was really quite fond" of the movie "but I didn't do it as well as I should have done because by the time we started it David was already sick, and so we had to do the best we could as quickly as we could and it didn't come off as I'd hoped. But it was still a fun film and we enjoyed making it."
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A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square (also known as The Biggest Bank Robbery, Mayfair Bank Caper and The Big Scam) is a 1980 British heist film directed by Ralph Thomas, written by Guy Elmes and starring Richard Jordan, Oliver Tobias and David Niven. It is subtitled "based on one of the biggest robberies in London". The film takes its name from the 1940 published song "A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square".
Ralph Thomas later said the film "had quite a superb cast" and "he was really quite fond" of the movie "but I didn't do it as well as I should have done because by the time we started it David was already sick, and so we had to do the best we could as quickly as we could and it didn't come off as I'd hoped. But it was still a fun film and we enjoyed making it."
Plot summary
Pinky is released from prison and has decided to go straight from now on, but takes a job as a maintenance man at a large bank, which gives him a lot of undue attention from "Ivan the Terrible", the local hoodlum. By using Pinky, Ivan hopes to rob the bank, and Pinky starts to like the idea of going back to his old ways.
Cast
Production
The film was based on a real robbery in London in 1975.
It was shot at Twickenham Studios and on location around London in 1979. The film's sets were designed by the art director Lionel Couch.
Release
The movie was given a charity premiere but appears not to have been screened theatrically.
References
External links
A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square at IMDb
A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square at Rotten Tomatoes
Film page at Britmovie
Text from A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square (film) on Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Nightingale_Sang_in_Berkeley_Square_(film)
Trivia
- It premiered on March 16, 1980, a Sunday.
- It runs 1h50 — a typical feature length.
- This film's quiz has 12 questions — enough to play more than once without repeats.
Production
- StudiosS. Benjamin Fisz Productions
- CountriesUnited Kingdom
- LanguagesEnglish
- StatusReleased
More about this film
Set in
- London
Photos
Cast
-
Richard Jordan
Pinky -
Oliver Tobias
Foxy -
David Niven
Ivan -
Elke Sommer
Miss Pelham -
Gloria Grahame
Ma -
Richard Johnson
Inspector Watford -
Brian Protheroe
Stan the Spinner -
Brian Croucher
Gregory Peck -
Michael Angelis
Pealer Bell -
Derek Deadman
Nobby Flowers - Charlie Hawkins Clint
-
Joss Ackland
Prison Warden - Dicken Ashworth Charlie the Chubb
- James Galloway Aussie
-
Anthony Heaton
Legs Eleven -
Davy Kaye
Sid the Yid -
Edward Peel
Jack Diamond -
Minah Bird
Mavis -
Peter Cartwright
Major Treadwell -
Hugh Griffith
Sid Larkin
Quiz about this movie
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6.1
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Dose Dupla
6.5
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Os Sete Cavalheiros do Diabo
7.1
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Um Golpe Muito Louco
6.2
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Magnatas do Crime
7.7
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O Fogo da Vingança
6.1
Tags
Crew
- John Coquillon Cinematography
- Ralph Thomas Director
- Peter Boita Editing
- Benjamin Fisz Producer
- Guy Elmes Screenplay
Questions about this film
What is A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square about?
A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square: An American ex-con who is trying to go straight is persuaded to be the inside man for an audacious bank job in central London.
Who directed A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square?
A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square was directed by Ralph Thomas in 1980.
Who stars in A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square?
The cast of A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square includes Richard Jordan, Oliver Tobias, David Niven, Elke Sommer and Gloria Grahame.
How long is A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square?
A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square runs for 110 minutes, or 1h50.
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Page updated on 09/10/2026.
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