There Was a Crooked Man (1960)

Introduction
"There Was a Crooked Man" is a British comedy-heist film released in 1960, directed by Stuart Burge and produced by Michael Balcon. Based upon the book of the very same name written by James Bridie, the film features a splendidly charming cast that includes Norman Wisdom, Alfred Marks, Andrew Cruickshank, and others. The plot centers on a minor thief who discovers a major criminal strategy while serving his sentence, resulting in a break-in that mirrors the nursery rhyme from which the film takes its title.

Plot and Characters
The protagonist is Davy Cooper (Norman Wisdom), a small-time thief who finds himself unintentionally mixed up with a group of solidified wrongdoers. Through a series of comic mishaps, Davy takes a suitcase that discovers him detained and lands him in jail. The suitcase comes from the dubious lawbreaker, Randle (Alfred Marks), who is preparing a major bank heist. While in jail, Randle reveals his grand scheme by revealing a prison-cell mural that unassumingly displays an elaborate map to a secret tunnel resulting in a bank located beside the jail.

Davy's Plan
Davy ends up being privy to Randle's strategy and decides to participate in the scheme without letting Randle understand he's cottoned on to it. His decision is not driven by greed however by his strong feeling of justice and restitution. He wishes to make sure that the criminals' strategy gets prevented which the stolen cash makes its way back to its rightful owners. In order to do so, he conspires with his cellmate, Soapy (Andrew Cruickshank), to pull off the break-in before Randle gets the chance.

The Heist
The comic heist series is hilariously chaotic, where Davy handles, with unlucky self-assurance and propensity for accidents, to dig the tunnel to the bank. However, the successful execution of the heist is not so simple. Many obstacles appear along the way, consisting of a flood, the cops, as well as fellow prisoners.

Conclusion
Wisdom's character Davy's shenanigans and determination provides on laughs and thriller in a securely scripted plot. The motion picture ends with a classic twist, where all the subplots assembles flawlessly. It not just showcases Wisdom's comic timing however also his ability to hold his own in a character-driven plot. Despite getting his hands on the loot, Davy returns it to its rightful owners, showing his underlying sense of justice and integrity.

"There Was a Crooked Man" skillfully blends funny with criminal activity, plot twists with slapstick, producing a memorable film with high stakes and high laughs. The ensamble cast, well-paced plot, and the smart mirror to the nursery rhyme make this film a pleasurable watch. It is an imaginative take on the popular theme of the-underdog-becoming-the-hero, providing it a refreshing, funny spin.

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