Over 60 years since its original release, Strongroom remains a strong entry into the crime thriller genre and a great showcase of Vernon Sewell’s directorial abilities.
Director: Vernon Sewell
Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Run Time: 80′
Rating: PG
Original Release: 1962
Re-Release: January 30, 2026 in selected U.K. cinemas; February 23 on Blu-Ray; March 23 on the BFI Player
The heist movie. It’s a tale as old as time, retold throughout the history of cinema in frequently invigorating and different ways. Whether the theft is big or small, audiences have always been entranced by the thrilling voyeurism of watching a heist on the big screen. Vernon Sewell’s (Curse of the Crimson Altar) 1962 B-movie, Strongroom, is by no means a reinvention of the genre, and its setup and execution is relatively small-scale, especially in comparison to other grander feats such as Heat (1995).
But where Strongroom lacks in originality or grandeur, it more than makes up for it with its swift delivery, moral conundrums, and lean structure. There has never been a better time to catch this captivating film with its digital / 35mm restoration delivered in fine fashion by the BFI.
Sewell’s film begins mere moments before the heist. Three small-time crooks—Griff (Derren Nesbitt, Where Eagles Dare), Len (Keith Faulkner, The Man in the Back Seat), and Len’s brother Alec (William Morgan Sheppard, The Roses of Eyam)—watch the comings and goings of a bank prior to its closing before an Easter Monday bank holiday. With the heist months in planning, the trio waste no time in grabbing the loot, before locking the bank manager, Mr. Spencer (Colin Gordon, The Pink Panther), and his secretary, Rose (Ann Lynn, Flame in the Streets), in the vault or “Strongroom”. About 15-minutes into Strongroom, the thieves have escaped. This is where Sewell injects the most interesting aspects into his thriller. Impressively, Strongroom loses none of its impetus despite the heist effectively ending so swiftly.
The trio have an easy way out with untold riches bagged up, but they begin to worry about the safety of Mr. Gordon and Rose, who will suffocate in the vault due to the bank being closed for the next two days. In particular, Len is opposed to returning to rescue them, thinking it too great a risk, whilst Griff and Alec show a more compassionate side and decide to head back to the bank to provide aid before making their planned escape. Strongroom shines in these moments where the trio discuss what to do, with the intercutting scenes between Mr. Gordon and Rose excelling in highlighting the increasingly dangerous (and airless) situation they find themselves in. Here, the BFI restoration elevates the material to the next level, the backdrop of the strongroom captured in all its claustrophobic, suffocating horror.
The situation in Strongroom becomes increasingly improbable, lessening the film’s tension somewhat, but Sewell’s grip on the unfolding events remains tight. There is no fluff on show here, only finely tuned substance trimmed of any notable fat, despite the implausible levels it reaches. For the most part, the tension of Strongroom is fairly high, never diminishing too much, although it lacks the intense attention-grabbing spectacle of other classics of the genre such as Rififi (1955).
Ultimately, you can’t go wrong with this neat, little British crime drama. At only 80-minutes, the film is always immensely watchable, and the fact that the heist is done in quick fashion with the remaining runtime focussing on saving the hostages is in and of itself a fascinating direction to take. Screenwriters Richard Harris (Man in a Suitcase) and Max Marquis (The Avengers) also find time for a beautifully dramatic finale, with Sewell bringing it to life on screen in an equally exaggerated fashion. Few boundaries are broken by Strongroom, but the journey Sewell takes us on is intoxicating, and showcases his propensity for creating engaging films with shoestring budgets.
Strongroom: Movie Plot & Recap
Synopsis:
A trio of small-time crooks rob a bank, but after locking two employees in the building’s vault, they begin to wrestle between escaping with the money or returning to save two lives.
Pros:
- Heads in an interesting direction after the initial heist
- Swift and engaging tempo
Cons:
- The plot becomes frustratingly and increasingly implausible
- Some dialogue feels stilted
Remastered by the BFI, including in a brand new 35mm print, Strongroom will be re-released in selected U.K. cinemas by BFI Distribution on 30 January 2026. The film will be out on Blu-ray on 23 February and on the BFI Player on 23 March.