What makes it different from others?

A Masterpiece!

A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.

This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

Associate producer: Anthony Nelson-Keys. Executive producer: Michael Carreras. A Hammer Film Production. A Columbia Release.Copyright 1 January 1962 by Woodpecker/Hammer Productions, released in the U.K. through BLC on 15 December 1963, in the U.S.A. through Columbia in February 1962. No New York opening. Australian release: 20 July 1962. Running times: 84 minutes (U.S.A.), 66 minutes (U.K.), 90 minutes (Aust.). (An excellent Sony DVD).SYNOPSIS: Posing as an insurance company investigator, Hepburn plans to loot the provincial bank managed by Fordyce, who is something of a martinet to his staff. Hepburn persuades Fordyce that, unless he assists in the robbery and getaway, his wife and son will come to a sorry end; thoroughly cowed, Fordyce agrees to help.COMMENT: Although its TV origins are obvious, suspenseful writing, concentrated playing and well-knit direction gives this modest Hammer thriller an edge over its contemporaries. — J.H.R. (reviewing the British version).OTHER VIEWS: Unlucky us, Columbia have released the complete 90- minute version in Australia. Admittedly, a must for Andre Morell and Peter Cushing devotees, but somewhat less palatable for the ordinary, fee-paying entertainment-seeker. - George Addison reviewing the Australian version.One of those pre-arranged robberies in which all the steps are plotted and planned and all work out nicely and smoothly until that unexpected slip-up, is what you get in this neat, unpretentious little British film ... The picture provides a few engaging moments of suspense and some modest exchanges of obvious humor between Mr. Morell, who is casual and dry, and Peter Cushing, who is pinch-faced and nervous as the cornered bank manager. — Bosley Crowther, reviewing the American version in The N.Y. Times.

Stiff Suspense from Hammer Studios with a Good Cast Led by Peter Cushing and Andre Morell. It's all Tight and Closed In with the Camera Never Leaving the Confines of a Bank (unless you count the sidewalk out front) .It's Christmas Time so let's get the Dickens Comparisons going. The Film is Based on a Play and it Plays Out that way for the 80 Minute Duration.The Movie's Mania is Solidified by Morell's Character who is Increasingly Aloof and Off His Rocker. This Goofball has "Gone Fishing" by the Final Scenes. This is all Finely Contrasted by Cushing's Paranoia, Guilt, and Devotion to His Wife and Son and Plays it All as Serious as a Heart Attack.Overall, it's Good Stuff from Hammer. If it's a Hammer Film it's Worth a Watch.The British Studio could Do No Wrong it seems and Produced One Fine Production After Another. Monster Remakes and Follow Ups were Their Forte, but Occasionally Branched Out and Delivered Neat Little Gems in other Genres and Never seemed to Disappoint.No other Studio Made so many Fine Films with so Little Resources. Although to be Fair, for Comparison, in America, the Same could be said of Roger Corman.

A terrificly gripping suspense film from Hammer Studios, with a magnificent performance from Peter Cushing, easily one of the most potent of his career. Cushing plays the cold and regimented Mr. Fordyce, a fussy and demanding manager of a bank who rules over his subordinate employees like a tyrant. Just two days before Christmas, the dedicated Fordyce is placed up against the wall when a suave and smooth-talking investigator named Hepburn (Andre Morell) arrives to observe operations but reveals that he intends to rob the bank while holding Fordyce's wife and son hostage. Fordyce's iron-willed demeanor is continually pecked at under the strain of the situation, especially knowing that if he does not cooperate his family may be killed.As with the jury room setting in 12 ANGRY MEN, the strongest factor of this film lies in its simplicity (all the action takes place inside the bank), and it draws the viewer in just through the intense interplay of Cushing and Morell alone, who each excel in their parts. Also very good is Richard Vernon as a likable clerk who's always under the thumb of the unsympathetic Fordyce. Not giving up any spoilers here, I would say my only quibbles were that the outcome was fairly predictable, and that a certain explanation about the Hepburn character at the end (to be vague here) was unnecessary. *** out of ****

If you think of Peter Cushing in a Hammer production, it will be his roles in the colourful and camp horror films that will spring to mind first, and for good reason as it's those performances that defined the great actor; but Cushing and Hammer also combined on some non-horror films, and Cash on Demand is surely one of the very best of them; both in terms of the film itself and the performance from the great Peter Cushing. This is an absolutely brilliant thriller that works thanks to its simplicity, commanding and intriguing performances and well written script. The film focuses on a bank in a small town which is managed by the dedicated Mr Fordyce. His bank is disturbed one day by a caller who introduces himself as a man from the bank's insurance company, who has come to test the security. However, it transpires that the man is actually a bank robber, who has come to rob the bank, and he's got an associate in Fordyce's house ready to kill his wife and kid if he does not allow the robbery to take place! Peter Cushing's performance in this film is absolutely immense and undoubtedly one of the best of his career. He gets his character spot on and is completely believable throughout the film and this is one of the main reasons Cash on Demand is such a success. He is joined by André Morell who is equally brilliant in his role as the debonair bank robber. Every scene in the film takes place either in the bank or just outside of it, and most of it takes place in Forsyce's office where we get to watch Cushing and Morell play a game of cat and mouse, which is always fascinating to watch. The film remains simple throughout and director Quentin Lawrence keeps his audience interested through the various elements of the plot. The film does have a few twists and turns, and of course the best of these is saved right up until the end. Overall, this is an absolutely great thriller that is well worth seeing and comes highly recommended! Unfortunately, the copy I saw was rather poor, which makes this a prime candidate for a pristine release on DVD!