A vicious gang of crooks plan to steal the wages of a local factory, but their carefully laid plans go wrong, when the factory employs an armoured van to carry the cash. The gang still go ahead with the robbery, but when the driver of the armoured van is killed in the raid, his wife plans revenge, and with the police closing in, the gang start to turn on each other.
A ruthless gang leader plans a daring daylight robbery of a London bank's payroll. To ensure their escape, he enlists a down-on-his-luck ex-soldier to drive the getaway car. However, the ex-soldier, desperate for money and seeking a new life, has his own plans for the loot, leading to a tense and violent confrontation as the heist unravels.
Payroll was noted for its gritty realism and tense atmosphere, though some critics found its violence and subject matter disturbing for the time. It gained a cult following for its portrayal of working-class desperation and its suspenseful plot.
Google audience: Audience reviews often highlight the film's suspenseful narrative and the compelling performances, particularly Michael Craig's portrayal of the conflicted driver. Some viewers found the violence intense but ultimately effective in conveying the story's themes.
Director Sidney Furie, who would later achieve mainstream success with films like 'The Ipcress File', made 'Payroll' as an early example of his gritty, suspenseful style.
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