Other reviewers on this page have pointed out the glaring implausibility of the plot's central planks but that aside, the script, even allowing for the strictures of the period, is laughably bad. Compare The League of Gentlemen from 3 years earlier - another plot bringing together a group of ne'er-do-wells - with Bryan Forbes' clever, arch script nudging knowingly against the limits set by the mores of the time. That's how it could be done. Meanwhile, in Clash By Night: 'I shan't tell you again' is the stern admonishment of a prison officer to one of his charges who is talking too much on the bus. And 'They must be very proud of you' one of the prisoners tells the other prison officer, with no trace of irony, on hearing he lives at home with mum and dad, as they sit having a bit of a chat a few feet from the murdered corpse of his colleague and with the very real prospect of death by immolation hanging over them. I think most of us allow a bit of leeway when watching films from earlier eras, they can be interesting for all sorts of reasons but, frankly, this is dreadful.

This looked to be a possibly decent action movie from the early 1960's and I wasn't disappointed. Having missed the opening credits when it was shown on television, I nonetheless identified four of the cast (Longdon, Sallis, Fowler, Meadows); all stalwarts of British screen and TV. The plot could have been straight from 'The Tales of Edgar Wallace', the box-set of which I own and love! England isn't like it's portrayed here anymore but it was like that then in terms of values, crime and punishment, scenery, dress and even the vehicles and road markings etc. People shared WW2 experiences and this often included the characters and of course the actors who are so professional in their performances despite some shortcomings in story and other aspects of film-making. Yes, it's not as good as some of my favourite classic British films from the preceding years such as 'The Cruel Sea' or 'The League of Gentlemen' but this has a decent 'B' movie plot including one or two unexpected twists and keeps your attention until the not entirely predictable ending.

There are a number of flaws in the film which have to be accepted before you can even consider the film.Firstly prisoners would not have been driven from court to prison in a coach.the vehicle would not have been driven by a civilian driver.The prisoners would have been searched before they were taken into court.Matches would have been found and confiscated.If prisoners hadnt arrived at their prison within a couple of hours an alarm would have been raised.If Terence Longden had used reasonable force against the intruder he would not have been prosecuted.When you take away these plot points you aren't actually left with much of a film.It is though quite entertaining on its own particular level.don't expect too much and you wont be disappointed.

Hard to believe this dates from 1964, the clichéd plot could be from any English quota quickie of 20 years earlier. The risible idea of a mixed bag of prisoners being transported in a civilian coach from court to serve their sentence is bad enough. Add the full complement of stereotypes; chirpy Cockney thief, ex-Army Major in for fraud, a retarded man who killed accidentally, the religious fanatic who "took brotherly love too far" (Hmmm...they didn't pursue that one...) The leading man hewn out of English oak killed a man who attacked his wife (so quite nice, really)and thanks to the plot manages to get home for a little snogging session. A fair example of WHY the British film industry died, static, stagey and lacking any narrative drive or excitement.PLOT SPOILER A gang boss is sprung from the coach and the remaining prisoners and guards are locked in a barn which is doused in paraffin whilst bad guys wait outside to set it alight if they try to escape (why?) In the event, the escape "plan"(Hah!)goes awry when the getaway car (a nice Austin Healey 100/6) crashes and kills him - since the budget didn't run to wrecking cars you get this in a verbal police report, meanwhile the hero remembers a trap door for dogs in the barn (don't ask)and with the chirpy Cockney goes home to wifey, but returns to the barn just as the retard sets fire to it from the inside, all escape but the retard runs back in to get some flowers and gets turned into a crispy critter. Thankfully, the police arrive, hero and Cockney are given pats on the back and driven off to jail.