A fun heist movie with a legendary cast is on TV today

From the director of The Exorcist and The French Connection, the sadly underseen film 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 had 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…"

Watch the trailer for The Brink's Job right here:

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.

Having checked the film out for ourselves here at JOE, we'd argue The Brink's Job works as both a fun caper and a gritty crime thriller, with both sides somehow never undercutting the other.

Much of this masterful balance of tones is down to Peter Falk's sincere, charming and warm portrayal of Pino, presented here as a scrappy, shaggy underdog.

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, so now is the time to watch or record the movie.

For JOE's list of the films on TV tonight, click here.