Baseshment
I like movies that are aware of what they are selling... without [any] greater aspirations than to make people laugh and that's it.
ChanFamous
I wanted to like it more than I actually did... But much of the humor totally escaped me and I walked out only mildly impressed.
Martin Bradley
A western in everything but name and not a bad one at that, Jack Lee's "Robbery Under Arms" is set during the same period as most westerns, the 1860's, but in Australia where Peter Finch's Captain Starlight leads a small gang of outlaws stealing cattle and robbing banks. Ronald Lewis and David McCallum are the brothers who follow their father into the gang looking for a bit of excitement. Lee makes good use of the Australian landscape which is superbly photographed by Harry Waxman and he never skimps on the action which is plentiful. No classic but very enjoyable nevertheless.
Leofwine_draca
ROBBERY UNDER ARMS is an interesting little British thriller of the 1950s; it has an entirely unexpected Australian setting that stands it apart from the rest alongside the Eastmancolor vibrancy of the photography. The film stars Ronald Lewis and a youthful David McCallum (in one of his earliest roles) as a couple of outlaws working the land back in the 19th century. The film chronicles their brushes with the law and various other eccentric characters inhabiting their world, such as a world-weary Laurence Naismith and a commanding Peter Finch, and while it's never as gripping as it perhaps should be, it's certainly watchable enough.
ksaelagnulraon
***MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS***Why did they change the novel's ending? Rolf Boldrewood's original finish would have worked far better than this Western-ised shootout. The most striking difference is of course the fact that Dick Marston was shot before film's end - the novel was written in first person narrative by the Dick Marston character!! Certainly NOT one of the best Australian "location" films - ie, films by overseas production companies which were shot here, for example SEASON OF PASSION, BUSH CHRISTMAS, etc... Rating: 5/10.
bamptonj
Perhaps what is most distinguishing about "Robbery Under Arms" is its very noticeable utilisation of the 50's, garish Technicolor process. This was, I believe, the first time a feature length film was photographed in such a manner in Australia and based on the novel by Rolf Boldrewood. It's also good to see Peter Finch before he relocated to his native motherland. Its good to see that Australia recognised his sterling presence leagues before it was realised in Britain, and then in turn, America. Here he steals the show as Captain Starlight - representing the typical Aussie larrikin.
