A cult classic heist movie with a great cast is airing on TV today

Made by the director of The Exorcist and The French Connection, the film - which is getting a rare TV airing - is based on a real-life robbery.

The film is loosely based on the real-life 'Great Brink's Robbery', which took place in Boston, Massachusetts, in January 1950. $2.775 million ($36.3 million today) was stolen, making it the largest robbery that occurred in the United States at the time.

Friedkin's fictionalised movie retelling of the events has the following plot synopsis:

"In 1950, a group of unlikely criminal masterminds commits the robbery of the century. Led by Tony Pino (Peter Falk, Columbo), a petty thief fresh out of prison, and Joe McGinnis (Peter Boyle, Everybody Loves Raymond), who specialises in planning lucrative capers, the gang robs Brink’s main office in Boston of more than $2 million.

"However, things begin to go awry when the FBI gets involved, the cops start cracking down on the gang, and McGinnis refuses to hand over the loot…"

Written by Walon Green (who also wrote another cult classic of Friedkin's, Sorcerer), The Brink's Job's ensemble cast also includes legendary actress Gena Rowlands (A Woman Under the Influence, Gloria), as well as Paul Sorvino (Goodfellas) and Warren Oates (The Shooting).

While the movie was a commercial disappointment upon release, it earned very positive reviews for its performances and light caper tone.

The Brink's Job Trailer

Famed critic Roger Ebert called it "a slick, skilful and often very funny caper movie", adding:

"I’m a little amazed that The Brink’s Job hasn’t become a major box office success... Friedkin has great control of tone. He gives us characters who are comic and yet seem realistic enough that we share their feelings, and he gives us a movie that’s funny and yet functions smoothly as a thriller.

"And the acting is great to savour. The characters are richly detailed, complicated, given dialogue that’s written with almost musical cadences... What we have here is basically two hours of inventive, colourfully imagined entertainment, with the Brinks' job laid on top: A movie-movie, so to speak, and fun from beginning to end."

It's worth noting that there was a fascinating case of life imitating art involving The Brink's Job.

In August 1978, 15 unedited reels of the movie were stolen at gunpoint. While the robbers demanded a $1 million ransom, the money was never paid because the perpetrators, showing a distinct lack of filmmaking knowledge, had hijacked outtakes and dailies that could easily be replaced.

Friedkin is reported to have told the robbers to "get a projector and enjoy the film".

The Brink's Job is airing on TV today on the channel Legend at 1pm. According to the app JustWatch, it is not currently available to stream or rent in Ireland.

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