FuzzyTagz If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

CrawlerChunky In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

PiraBit if their story seems completely bonkers, almost like a feverish work of fiction, you ain't heard nothing yet.

Lachlan Coulson This is a gorgeous movie made by a gorgeous spirit.

MartinHafer Dandy Forsdyke (Leslie Phillips) is a career criminal who has no desire to work--just steal and lie his way through life. However, his girlfriend, Babette (Julie Christie), has no patience for his conduct even though she inexplicably loves him. So, she gives him an ultimatum- -either change and live a respectable and legal life or she's leaving him. Dandy is in a bind--he loves being a crook but loves the girl even more, so he vows to change. On his own, however, he hasn't a prayer of going straight so he enlists the help of a philanthropic organization-- Crooks Anonymous! C.A. is much like a drug or alcohol treatment program except that it treats thieves...but in the most unconventional way. I would say more about C.A.'s methods, but you just have to see them to appreciate them!Later in the movie, Dandy has apparently changed--and certainly for the better. However, even with the help of C.A., what is Dandy to do when he's given the chance to do a nearly perfect crime with very little risk. After all, it drops right into his lap! Well, what happens next is also something you'll just need to see for yourself--and it's quite clever and funny.I had a hard time deciding whether to score this o 7 or an 8--either way it's very original and quite cute. Well worth seeing.

Spikeopath Crooks Anonymous is directed by Ken Annakin and written by Henry Blyth and Jack Davies. It stars Leslie Phillips, Stanley Baxter, Wilfrid Hyde-White, Julie Christie, James Robertson Justice and Pauline Jameson. Music is by Muir Matheson and George Martin and cinematography by Ernest Steward. Plot finds Phillips as a habitual criminal who is desperately trying to go straight for his gorgeous girlfriend (Christie). He enrols at Crooks Anonymous, a secretive organisation run by Hyde-White that uses interesting tactics to wean their clients off the thieve.Out of Anglo-Amalgamated Film Distributors, Crooks Anonymous is the kind of innocuous black and white British comedy that gets in and does its entertaining job without fuss or pointless filler. Cast are most agreeable, the story has the requisite daftness about it, and it's all smiles come the finale. Trick of the narrative is having us the audience be on the side of the thieving bounder, who is wonderfully essayed by the suave Phillips. That he wants to do right by the scrummy Miss Christie (her first year of big screen acting) obviously resonates with the red blooded male members of the audience, but that he is so charming, elegant even when relieving unsuspecting members of the public of their possessions, really has all comers cheering the gentleman cad on! Fun is garnered here from the tactics used by Hyde-White to get Phillips on the straight, methods such as booby trapped safes bring the joy, as does the many guises used by an on form Stanley Baxter. While a flip flop for the Christmas set finale has a delicious ironical flavour to it. There's nothing overtly side-splitting about the film, and definitely there's no raucous-like-screwball histrionics within either, this is just good old enjoyable fare from a production company who had a particularly good track record in the light entertainment department. 7/10

Chase_Witherspoon Kleptomaniac (Phillips) wants to marry his girlfriend (Christie) but it's conditional on him going straight. After being tempted to pull off a safe cracking job, he's caught in the act and offered salvation via the benevolent guardian angel society known as "Crooks Anonymous" (when you're tempted to offend, just dial "uncrook" for assistance), led by former thief Wilfrid Hyde-White. Phillips proves to be a willing if troubled case, with guardian angel Stanley Baxter ready to test his honesty with ruses that Phillips routinely fails. But it turns out that not everyone is as rehabilitated as they portray.Novel tale is amusing and Phillips is a likable comedian, ably supported by impressionist Baxter, light leading man Michael Medwin and other British notables; Norman Rossington features prominently as a department store night watchman toward the end of the film, and James Robertson Justice is memorable if brief as the store's ill-tempered owner. Her fans should also enjoy seeing fresh-faced Julie Christie in her film debut.No belly laughs or side-splitting antics, but Baxter's impersonations and the set-ups for which Phillips falls are all capable of coaxing a giggle or two if you're in the right mood.

ShadeGrenade 'Crooks Anonymous' was the second of three British comedy films written by Jack Davies, directed by Ken Annakin, and starring Leslie Phillips, Stanley Baxter, and James Robertson Justice. The first was 'Very Important Person' ( 1961 ) and 'The Fast Lady' ( 1963 ) the last. The latter trio also appeared in 'Father Came Too' ( 1964 ), directed by Peter Graham Scott. Robertson Justice was the lead in 'Person', but here Phillips has that honour ( in fact the performer best remembered as 'Sir Lancelot Spratt' of the 'Doctor In The House' films has a tiny role as the bombastic owner of a department store ). Phillips is ex-army officer turned thief 'Dandy Forsdyke'. If it is not nailed down he will take it. He wants more than anything to wed his girlfriend, nightclub singer Babette ( Julie Christie ) but she insists he renounce his lifestyle. He enrols as a member of 'Crooks Anonymous' - a secret organisation similar to 'Alcoholics Anonymous' only instead of curing people of drinking they turn them away from crime. Forsdyke is set tests, usually involving Stanley Baxter ( as the creepy 'Widdowes' ) in various disguises, including a clergyman and an Edith Evans-style Duchess. Just as Forsdyke looks cured, the ultimate temptation comes his way - working as 'Santa Claus' in a department store, he finds he has easy access to its safe and all the takings within. He calls on C.A. for help. But will he get it? 'Crooks' is a nice little comedy, not quite as good as 'Person' or 'Fast' but amusing all the same, almost satirical in tone at times. Phillips is as ever wonderful ( in one of my favourite scenes Forsdyke is in a room full of safes which discharge nasty punishments - such as electric shocks - whenever he opens them ), playing the cad he is known and loved for to the hilt. In the opening scene, he goes into a jewellers and steals a diamond ring, looking very much like 'John Steed' of 'The Avengers' with his bowler hat and umbrella. Coincidentally, the jeweller is a clean-shaved Patrick Newell a.k.a. 'Mother' in the Linda Thorson shows. The idea of an organisation for criminals is a remarkably 'Avengers'-ish one. One of the producers - Julian Wintle - took over production of the hit spy show after it graduated from video-tape to film. It is fair to assume Julie Christie ( future Oscar winner ) does not put this very high on her curriculum vitae, but she acquits herself well. It could not have been easy trying to stand out in a film starring the likes of Phillips and Baxter. Speaking of Stanley, most of his other pictures cast him as one character, but as the creepy 'Widdowes' he gets to do a Peter Sellers and dress up quite a bit. Also around are Wilfrid Hyde-White ( as the head of C.A. ), Harry Fowler, Cardew Robinson, a young Dennis Waterman, Dandy Nichols, Robertson Hare, and Dick Emery.Ken Annakin seemed fond of comedies with large casts - he was also responsible for 'Those Magnificent Men In Their Flying Machines' ( 1965 ) and its sequel 'Monte Carlo Or Bust' ( 1968 ).