Robbery (1967) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

An organized criminal operation grows from a jewellery theft into a major train robbery before police pressure fractures the gang and drives Clifton into exile.

Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases

Jewellery on the Run

A gang incapacitates a car occupant, removes a jewellery briefcase, and escapes a police chase. Jack is identified as the getaway driver, creating the first direct police pressure.

Key Events

• Gas Attack on Car Occupant — A criminal gang uses gas to incapacitate a car occupant. Location: Roadside car
• Victim Taken by Ambulance — The gang bundles the unconscious occupant into a stolen ambulance. Location: Stolen ambulance
• Jewellery Briefcase Cut Free — The criminals cut free a briefcase containing jewellery. Location: Stolen ambulance
• Police Spot Vehicle Change — Police spot the gang while criminals change vehicles. Location: Roadside vehicle change
• Jewellery Getaway Chase — A high-speed chase follows the jewellery theft, and the criminals escape. Characters: Jack Location: Roads

Building the Train Gang

Paul Clifton uses the proceeds to assemble a team for a Royal Mail train robbery. Jack is arrested and remains silent, while Robinson must be broken out of prison.

Key Events

• Clifton Funds Larger Heist — Clifton uses money from the jewellery job to build a robbery team. Characters: Paul Clifton Location: Criminal planning base
• Train Robbery Plan Formed — Clifton's team prepares to attack a Royal Mail train from Glasgow. Characters: Paul Clifton, Robinson Location: Gang meeting place
• Jack Identified and Arrested — Jack is identified as the jewellery-theft getaway driver and arrested. Characters: Jack Location: Identity parade and police custody
• Jack Refuses to Inform — Jack refuses to name his accomplices to the police. Characters: Jack Location: Police custody
• Robinson Broken from Prison — Robinson is broken out of prison for the planned robbery. Characters: Robinson Location: Prison
• Langdon Learns of Heist — Langdon learns through informers about the larger robbery plan. Characters: Inspector George Langdon, Paul Clifton Location: Investigation setting

Signals and Stolen Cash

The gang prepares the railway signals, stops the train, and escapes with its cash. Inspector George Langdon investigates the crime scene and searches for possible hideouts.

Key Events

• Signals Prepared for Train — The gang prepares to change signals and stop the Royal Mail train. Characters: Paul Clifton, Robinson Location: Railway line
• Royal Mail Train Stopped — The altered signals stop the train for the robbery. Characters: Paul Clifton, Robinson Location: Railway line south from Glasgow
• Cash Seized from Train — The gang escapes with cash after stopping the train. Characters: Paul Clifton, Robinson Location: Stopped Royal Mail train
• Police Examine Crime Scene — Langdon and the police investigate the train robbery scene. Characters: Inspector George Langdon Location: Railway crime scene

The Hideout Tightens

The robbers hide in a disused airbase basement, divide the money, and conceal their vehicles at a scrapyard. Their temporary security begins to collapse when the scrapyard man is arrested.

Key Events

• Airbase Hideout Searched — Police explore the airbase, while robbers hide unseen in its basement. Characters: Inspector George Langdon, Paul Clifton, Robinson Location: Disused airbase
• Cash Divided and Cars Hidden — The gang divides the cash and hides getaway vehicles at a scrapyard. Characters: Paul Clifton, Robinson Location: Scrapyard
• Scrapyard Man Arrested — The paid-off scrapyard man is arrested at an airport with raid banknotes. Location: Airport

Clifton's Final Escape

The scrapyard man's confession leads police to the hidden cars and then to the airfield. Clifton evades capture, flies away with his share, and reaches New York under a different identity.

Key Events

• Confession Leads to Arrests — The confession leads police to gang members retrieving cars at the scrapyard. Characters: Inspector George Langdon Location: Scrapyard
• Airfield Gang Arrests — The police trace the gang to the airfield and arrest further members. Characters: Inspector George Langdon, Robinson Location: Disused airbase basement
• Clifton Evades Capture — Clifton avoids arrest while police capture members of his gang. Characters: Paul Clifton, Inspector George Langdon Location: Airfield and escape route
• Money Placed on Plane — Clifton places his share of the robbery money on a private plane. Characters: Paul Clifton Location: Private airfield
• Clifton Reaches New York — Clifton disembarks in New York using a different identity. Characters: Paul Clifton Location: New York

Story Breakdown

• Jewellery Theft — The gang begins with a gas-assisted theft and escapes after police intervention.
  • Gas-Assisted Abduction — A car occupant is incapacitated with a gas canister and taken into a stolen ambulance.
  • Briefcase Escape — The gang removes the jewellery briefcase and gets away during a high-speed chase.
• Clifton Builds Power — Paul Clifton converts the proceeds of the first crime into a larger criminal organization.
  • Gang Expansion — Clifton uses the jewellery-job money to build a team.
  • Train Target — The new team selects a Royal Mail train travelling south from Glasgow.
• Criminal Obstacles — Arrests and imprisonment threaten the gang's ability to execute the planned heist.
  • Jack Identified — Jack is identified in an identity parade and arrested.
  • Robinson Released — Robinson must be broken out of prison before the operation can proceed.
• Langdon's Pursuit — Inspector George Langdon follows the earlier robbery and obtains intelligence about the larger plan.
  • Jack Stays Silent — Jack refuses to name his accomplices to police.
  • Informer Warning — Langdon learns through informers about plans for the bigger heist.
• Train Robbery — The gang changes railway signals, stops the Royal Mail train, and takes its cash.
  • Signals Changed — The gang prepares the railway signals to stop the incoming train.
  • Cash Seized — The train is stopped and the gang escapes with the money.
• Police Investigation — Langdon investigates the crime scene and searches locations where the robbers may be hiding.
  • Airbase Search — Police explore a disused airbase without finding the robbers in its basement.
  • Hideout Pressure — The hidden airbase and scrapyard become vulnerable as the investigation advances.
• Evidence Breaks Gang — The gang's post-robbery arrangements expose its members to arrest.
  • Scrapyard Evidence — The scrapyard man is arrested at an airport with banknotes from the raid.
  • Confession Trail — His confession leads police from the scrapyard to the airfield.
• Clifton Escapes — Clifton avoids capture and leaves the country with his share of the stolen money.
  • Private Plane — Clifton places his cut of the money on a private plane.
  • New York Identity — He is last seen disembarking at New York under a different identity.

Directed by

Peter Yates

Key Cast

• Stanley Baker — Paul Clifton
• Joanna Pettet — Kate Clifton
• James Booth — Inspector George Langdon
• Frank Finlay — Robinson
• Barry Foster — Frank