How many British comedies can I name with the word 'crooks' in the title? Let me see now. There was 'Too Many Crooks', 'Crooks Anonymous', 'Crooks & Coronets'...um...I think that's it. All these pictures were based on the same premise - a gang of lovable crooks plan a daring robbery, only to foul it up completely. 'Crooks In Cloisters', however, begins with a robbery - a small-time London-based gang - headed by the gruff Walt ( Ronald Fraser ) - robs a train, and eludes the long arm of Superintendent Mungo ( Alistair Williamson ) of New Scotland Yard by living on a remote Cornish island as monks. As you might expect, being used to the high life they struggle to adapt to their new surroundings.
The other gang members include Bernard Cribbins, Melvyn Hayes, Davy Kaye, Gregoire Aslan, and - sticking out like the proverbial sore thumb - Barbara Windsor as the wonderfully named 'Brother Bikini'. Being a woman she has to be kept out of sight at all times, hence she is confined to the kitchen. Her first culinary attempt is a disaster - boiled sausages. She does not even bother to separate them. Windsor's bubbly persona would later be carried over into the 'Carry On' series.
Normally in a film like this you'd expect Sid James to play the leader of the gang, but Ronald Fraser makes a decent enough substitute. When Willy ( Melvyn Hayes ) falls gravely ill, Walt does something he has never, ever before done - he prays to God. Cribbins raises a few laughs especially as he has been given responsibility of the monastery goat.
Also around are Wilfred Brambell as a boat captain and - in his first movie role - the recently deceased Corin Redgrave, in the role of 'Brother Lucius'.
Directed by Jeremy Summers ( who also made the Tony Hancock masterpiece 'The Punch & Judy Man' ), this is a nice little film that keeps you smiling throughout. As was the case with so many of these British comedies, the crooks are such nice folk you almost want them to get away scot free.
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