December the 23rd. The City & Colonial Bank is visited by a charming stranger identifying himself as Col. Gore Hepburn (Andre Morell). He asks to speak with bank manager Harry Fordyce (Peter Cushing), who's a harsh, demanding, detail-oriented type who doesn't care to get to know his employees better. Soon Hepburn is revealed as a very clever and ruthless bank robber who forces Fordyce into being an accomplice by threatening Fordyces' wife and son. In a short span of time Fordyce shows a touch more humanity by revealing what it is in the world that he cares most about.Director Quentin Lawrence ("The Trollenberg Terror") does a creditable job with this meaty script, written by David T. Chantler and Lewis Greifer based on a play by Jacques Gillies. And one can tell that this is based on a play, with the accent on dialogue, but it's interesting and riveting all the way through, with very taut direction by Lawrence who gets superb performances out of his two talented leads. Cushing is a joy to watch as a man who becomes more sympathetic as the story plays out. And Morell is fun as the dapper, (mostly) calm thief. Solid support is provided by Richard Vernon as Pearson, the banks' second-in-command, Barry Lowe as the teller Harvill, and Kevin Stoney as Detective Inspector Mason.Also indicating a stage origin is a limited number of sets, but this only serves to give this superior film an intimate feel and help us to get completely involved in this twist-laden plot. And the story, which works as a variation on the classic Dickens tale "A Christmas Carol", is irresistible for its theme of a person in need of some redemption.Slickly made in every respect, this is among the best of the black & white Hammer thrillers.Eight out of 10.

Arrogant hard hearted bank manager Mr Fordyce receives a visit from a Colonel Hepburn who introduces himself as an insurance investigator . As they talk Fordyce receives a phone call from his wife saying she's being held hostage by men threatening to kill her . Hepburn then reveals himself as the man behind the hostage taking I knew nothing about this film apart from the title , the fact it was produced by Hammer and it starred Peter Cushing and Andre Morrell . If the plot was two characters played by Cushing and Morrell watching paint dry for 80 minutes I would still have gone out of my way to watch it . Cushing and Morrell starred in the BBC's 1954 Nigel Kneale adaptation of Orwell's 1984 , one of the greatest landmark productions the BBC ever made . From a technical viewpoint it was rather primitive production viewed with modern eyes but at the same time has a power that is undiminished by time . Much of this is down to the acting skills of the two leads and the scene where Morrell's villain tortures Cushing's everyman hero remains stark raw drama at its best . Morrell also starred as the eponymous hero of QUATERMASS AND THE PIT and much of that teleplay's success is down to Morrell as the lead character It's the casting that makes this somewhat staid , static British B movie something of an unknown forgotten classic . Peter Cushing forever synonymous with Hammer productions is cast against type as Mr Fordyce a cold , aloof , uncaring bank manager whose world starts to collapse as he's introduced to Colonel Hepburn played by Morrell . If you enjoyed Morrell as Quatermass you'll enjoy his performance here as he enjoys taking control of a situation that he is charge of . Bullying and authoritative , a genuine control freak he enjoys dominating Cushing's Fordyce without once ever going over the top . Cushing is equally as good , in fact it's possibly his career best performance What let's the film down is the denouement which is very much ambiguous and open to interpretation . There's several ways you can read it none of which are entirely satisfactory but it helps if you watch the film at Christmas time and remind yourself of a famous Christmas fable by Charles Dickens . CASH ON DEMAND is an obvious redemption plot but the journey is far more important than the destination and the journey is enthralling down to the two leads

Out of Hammer Film Productions, Cash on Demand is directed by Quentin Lawrence and adapted the screenplay by David Chantler & Lewis Greifer from a play by Jacques Gillies. It stars Peter Cushing, Andre Morell, Richard Vernon, Norman Bird and Kevin Stoney. Music is by Wilfred Josephs and photography by Arthur Grant.Hammer's Xmas movie has a kick and half.In the opening section of Quentin Tarantino's Pulp Fiction, robber in waiting Tim Roth tells his lover, Amanda Plummer, about how a guy robbed a bank with just a telephone. This principal is the core of Hammer's majestic Cash on Demand, an intense, tightly constructed thriller that also provides proof positive of the acting talents of Peter Cushing, Andre Morell & Richard Vernon. With minimal budget to work from and operating out of practically one set, director Lawrence gets the maximum suspense out of script with no blood letting or overt violence. This is very much about eloquent verbal sparring, the terror is in what might happen should Cushing's (superb shifting of the acting gears as the plot unfolds) martinet bank manager not tow the slick line being drawn by Morel's (brilliantly playing his cards close to his chest) crafty thief.A real gem and a pleasant surprise, both in technical merits and outcome of story. Highly recommended to all serious fans of Classic British Cinema. 9/10

This delightful little low-budget film is one of Hammer's least-known efforts and also one of their best. The story is a reworking of "A Christmas Carol", as Peter Cushing's bank manager, a cold and austere man, and a petty tyrant to his staff, goes through a terrible experience which leads him to change his ways. Cushing is quite superb as the manager and Andre Morell almost as good as the urbane thief who controls events until the denouement. The plot twists and turns and the writing is first-class.