The green Minna

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Movie
German title The green Minna
Original title Two-way stretch
Country of production United Kingdom
original language English
Publishing year 1960
length 86 minutes
Age rating FSK 12
Rod
Director Robert Day
script John Warren ,
Len Heath ,
Vivian A. Cox
production EM Smedley-Aston
music Ken Jones
camera Geoffrey Faithfull
cut Bert Rule
occupation

The green Minna (original title: Two-Way-Stretch ) is a 1959 British crime, escape and diamond robbery comedy with Peter Sellers in one of his early leading roles. Directed by Robert Day .

action

Dodger Lane, Jelly Knight and Lennie “the Dip” Price are in Rockhampton Prison, near the end of their term. A vicar is already seeking talks with these men to discuss which jobs will be suitable for them when they are free again. In reality, the “vicar” is another crook and buddy of the three prison birds. His name is "Soapy" Stevens, and he wants to persuade Dodger, Jelly and Lennie to take part in "a big thing." His plan is to rob a heavily armed military transport carrying diamonds belonging to an Indian maharajah. The ingenious trick is: Nobody will ever come up with the three big boys as the perpetrators, because they will have the perfect alibi: Lane, Knight and Price want to break out unnoticed, commit the robbery and smuggle themselves back into the prison unnoticed.

Said and done. With the help of Ethel, Dodger's friend, and Mother Price, they manage to get out of prison in a van. The delicate action was almost thwarted by the new and strict head of the prison guards, Mr. Crout, who the prisoners mockingly called "sauerkraut" because of his lousy facial expression. The man replaces the old Jenkins, a very relaxed way of doing his job and giving the prisoners all sorts of perks, who is liked by the prisoners and who is now retiring. But the coup, which, thanks to its clever planning, runs like a Swiss clockwork, succeeds, and all three jewel robbers can return to the prison just as unnoticed as they broke out hours before.

On the day of their official release, the three even manage to take their prey with them unnoticed. By a stupid coincidence, however, the sack of diamonds is lost during a train ride. Stevens is recognized as one of the robbery participants, the three ex-cons Dodger Lane, Jelly Knight and Lennie "the Dip" Price remain unrecognized and never have to climb the green Minna (a police prisoner transport car) again. However, they must now begin their new life - as if won, so melted away - without the criminally stolen wealth.

Production notes

The green Minna premiered on January 26, 1960. The German premiere took place on December 20, 1960, the German television first broadcast on May 16, 1966 on ZDF .

John Box and John Graysmark were responsible for the film construction.

criticism

“Robert Days is directing lively, in the sense of a civilized farce, and the acting is delicious, right down to the lines of the text. Mr. Sellers plays dry and superior as a trusting Cockney crook, and David Lodge and Bernard Cribbins are weird as his pals. Wilfrid Hyde-White is slick and always smiling as the "vicar" who introduces the plans, and Irene Handl is determined and grumpy as the gaping mother of one of the young prisoners. Liz Fraser is well proportioned and stupid as Mr. Sellers' impatient crook lover, Maurice Denham is fluffed up as the governor and Lionel Jeffries is vicious and impetuous as a security guard named Kraut. (...) Mr. Sellers is still on the rise. "

- Bosley Crowther in The New York Times, January 24, 1961

"Entertaining crime comedy with the English comedian Peter Sellers."

“Peter Sellers fans cite this British venture ... as one of the best work he's done. (...) The story ... was wonderfully developed. "

"Cranky jokes from Sellers and others."

- Leonard Maltin : Movie & Video Guide, 1996 edition, p. 1387

"Amusing comedy with good performances and situations."

- Leslie Halliwell : Halliwell's Film Guide, Seventh Edition, New York 1989, p. 1062

Individual evidence

  1. The green Minna. In: Lexicon of International Films . Film service , accessed September 5, 2018 .Template: LdiF / Maintenance / Access used 

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