{{Use British English|date=June 2016}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2016}}
{{Infobox film
{{Infobox film
| name = Too Many Crooks
| name = Too Many Crooks
| image = Too_Many_Crooks_film_Theatrical_release_poster_(1930).jpg
| image =
| caption =
| caption =
| director = [[George King (film director)|George King]]
| director = [[George King (film director)|George King]]
| producer = George King
| producer = George King
| writer = {{ubl|Billie Bristow|Basil Roscoe}}
| writer = {{ubl|Billie Bristow|Basil Roscoe}}
| narrator =
| narrator =
| starring = {{ubl|[[Laurence Olivier]]|[[Dorothy Boyd]]|Arthur Stratton}}
| starring = {{ubl|[[Laurence Olivier]]|[[Dorothy Boyd]]|Arthur Stratton}}
| music = William Hodgson (as W. Hodgson)
| music = William Hodgson (as W. Hodgson)
| cinematography =
| cinematography =
| editing =
| editing =
| studio = [[George King Productions]]
| studio = [[George King Productions]]
| distributor = [[Fox Film Company]] (UK)
| distributor = [[Fox Film Company]] (UK)
| released = {{film date|df=yes|1930|8||UK}}
| released = {{film date|df=yes|1930|8||UK}}
| runtime = 38 minutes
| runtime = 38 minutes
| country = United Kingdom
| country = United Kingdom
| language = English
| language = English
| budget =
| budget =
| gross =
| gross =
}}
}}
””’Too Many Crooks””’ is a 1930 British [[comedy film|comedy]] [[crime film]] directed by [[George King (film director)|George King]] and starring [[Laurence Olivier]], [[Dorothy Boyd]] and [[Arthur Stratton]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0021485/|title = Too Many Crooks|website = [[IMDb]]}}</ref>
””’Too Many Crooks””’ is a 1930 British [[comedy film|comedy]] [[crime film]] directed by [[George King (film director)|George King]] and starring [[Laurence Olivier]], [[Dorothy Boyd]] and [[Arthur Stratton]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://../// = |website= }}</ref>
It was shot at [[Twickenham Studios]] as a [[quota quickie]] for distribution by [[Fox Film]].<ref>Chibnall p.262</ref> The film is currently missing from the [[BFI National Archive]], and is listed as one of the [[British Film Institute]]’s “[[BFI 75 Most Wanted|75 Most Wanted]]” lost films.<ref>[http://www.bfi.org.uk/nationalarchive/news/mostwanted/t00-many-crooks.html ”Too Many Crooks” – 75 Most Wanted]{{dead link|date=October 2023|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} BFI National Archives</ref>
The film is missing from the [[BFI National Archive]], and is listed as one of the [[British Film Institute]]’s “[[BFI 75 Most Wanted|75 Most Wanted]]” lost films.<ref>http://www.bfi.org.uk/nationalarchive/news/mostwanted/-many-crooks.html – |date= |=}}</ref>
==Premise==
==Premise==
A man tries to burgle his own safe on the same night that a professional criminal attempts it.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20090114012356/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/54811 BFI.org]</ref>
A man tries to burgle his own safe on the same night that a professional criminal attempts it.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20090114012356/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/54811 .org</ref>
==Cast==
==Cast==
*[[Laurence Olivier]] as The Boy
*[[Laurence Olivier]] as
*[[Dorothy Boyd]] as The Girl
*[[Dorothy Boyd]] as
*[[A. Bromley Davenport]] as The Man Upstairs
*[[A. Bromley Davenport]] as
*Mina Burnett as The Maid Downstairs
*Mina Burnett as
* Arthur Stratton as The Burglar
* Arthur Stratton as
*[[Ellen Pollock]] as The Other Girl
*[[Ellen Pollock]] as
==References==
====
The film was shot at [[Twickenham Studios]] as a [[quota quickie]] for distribution by [[Fox Film]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Chibnall |first=Steve. |title=Quota Quickies: The Birth of the British ‘B’ Film |publisher=[[British Film Institute]] |year=2007 |isbn=978-1844571550 |pages=262}}</ref>
<references/>
==Bibliography==
====
* Chibnall, Steve. ”Quota Quickies: The Birth of the British ‘B’ Film”. British Film Institute, 2007.
”[[Kine Weekly]]” wrote: “A Very creditabie little picture, well acted and capably produced. The composition of the light comedy plot keeps it entertaining all through. … Dorothy Boyd acts well as the girl, and Laurence Olivier is excellent as the boy. He shows possibilities, which it is to be hoped will be exploited. Arthur Stratton makes a very good comedy Bill Sykes, while Bromley Davenport brings all the polish he possesses on the stage to the screen. There is nothing pretentious about the film, and that is one reasen why it is so successful. Direction is good, and there is a good sense displayed of comedy values. The dialogue is bright and the situation original. George King is to be congratulated on his work.”<ref>{{Cite journal|date=7 August 1930|title=Too Many Crooks|id={{ProQuest|2322697013}}|magazine=[[Kine Weekly]]|volume=162|issue=1216|pages=33}}</ref>
* Low, Rachael. ”Filmmaking in 1930s Britain”. George Allen & Unwin, 1985.
* Wood, Linda. ”British Films, 1927-1939”. British Film Institute, 1986.
”[[The Daily Film Renter]]” wrote: “A more than creditable British offering, exceptionally well acted by a nicely balanced cast, and offering real story originality, bright dialogue, and an effective ending of the surprise type. … The action hangs fire slightly during the rather prolonged first conversation between the hero and the girl, but otherwise it doesn’t let up in interest for a moment, due to the excellent acting of Laurence Olivier in the first place, of Dorothy Boyd in the second, and, when he appears, of Bromley Davenport. The first has excellent lines, and delivers them with an engaging whimsicality. The direction is decidedly skilful. ”Too Many Crooks” may be described as a dramatic trifle, but if its standard in direction, characterisation, acting and material were more commonly found in British production, exhibitors would not complain of their Quota obligations.”<ref>{{Cite journal|date=2 August 1930|title=Too Many Crooks|id={{ProQuest|2600922937}}|magazine=[[The Daily Film Renter]]|volume=|issue=1088|pages=3}}</ref>
==References==
{{reflist}}
== External links ==
== External links ==
[[Category:Fox Film films]]
[[Category:Fox Film films]]
[[Category:Quota quickies]]
[[Category:Quota quickies]]
{{Crime-comedy-film-stub}}
{{1930s-UK-comedy-film-stub}}
1930 film
Too Many Crooks is a 1930 British comedy crime film directed by George King and starring Laurence Olivier, Dorothy Boyd and Arthur Stratton.[1] It was written by Billie Bristow and Basil Roscoe.
The film is missing from the BFI National Archive, and is listed as one of the British Film Institute‘s “75 Most Wanted” lost films.[2]
Premise
A man tries to burgle his own safe on the same night that a professional criminal attempts it.[3]
Cast
Production
The film was shot at Twickenham Studios as a quota quickie for distribution by Fox Film.[4]
Reception
Kine Weekly wrote: “A Very creditabie little picture, well acted and capably produced. The composition of the light comedy plot keeps it entertaining all through. … Dorothy Boyd acts well as the girl, and Laurence Olivier is excellent as the boy. He shows possibilities, which it is to be hoped will be exploited. Arthur Stratton makes a very good comedy Bill Sykes, while Bromley Davenport brings all the polish he possesses on the stage to the screen. There is nothing pretentious about the film, and that is one reasen why it is so successful. Direction is good, and there is a good sense displayed of comedy values. The dialogue is bright and the situation original. George King is to be congratulated on his work.”[5]
The Daily Film Renter wrote: “A more than creditable British offering, exceptionally well acted by a nicely balanced cast, and offering real story originality, bright dialogue, and an effective ending of the surprise type. … The action hangs fire slightly during the rather prolonged first conversation between the hero and the girl, but otherwise it doesn’t let up in interest for a moment, due to the excellent acting of Laurence Olivier in the first place, of Dorothy Boyd in the second, and, when he appears, of Bromley Davenport. The first has excellent lines, and delivers them with an engaging whimsicality. The direction is decidedly skilful. Too Many Crooks may be described as a dramatic trifle, but if its standard in direction, characterisation, acting and material were more commonly found in British production, exhibitors would not complain of their Quota obligations.”[6]
