The Informers (1963)
Hard boiled, pulp British crime thriller sees Nigel Patrick's CID inspector, well known throughout the criminal underworld for his use of informants, framed with the proceeds of a bank job he's on the verge of cracking. Patrick has to go it alone whilst being pursued by the law and Frank Finlay's crime syndicate.
As good as anything coming out of America, The Informers is a terrific film. Moody, violent and crackling with rage, especially from the slimy Derren Nesbitt, a thug moving up in the world who treats women like dogs, giving the film a sharp cutting edge, and that's before we get to the stabbings, gang warfare and shootings. The film originally had an X certificate and you can see why.
Fast moving with a clever script and a cast of seemingly hundreds of well known British stars, The Informers is highly recommended.
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