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Payroll

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description Payroll Overview

Payroll is a 1961 British crime thriller directed by Sidney Hayers and adapted from Derek Bickerton's novel. The story follows a gang that attacks a payroll van, killing a guard and setting off conflicts involving the criminals, their associates, and the victims' families. Filmed largely on location in and around Newcastle upon Tyne, it combines a carefully planned armored vehicle robbery with the bleak atmosphere and moral consequences associated with British film noir.

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What happens in Payroll?

Payroll follows a gang that attacks a factory payroll van in Newcastle, kills a guard and tries to escape with the wages. The robbery then becomes a revenge and betrayal story involving the gang, police and the dead man's wife.

Who directed Payroll and what was it based on?

Sidney Hayers directed the 1961 British crime thriller, and George Baxt adapted it from Derek Bickerton's 1959 novel. The film keeps a hard-edged working-city setting rather than presenting the criminals as glamorous figures.

Where was Payroll filmed?

It was filmed on location in Newcastle, giving the film a strong North East England atmosphere. The location work is a major part of its gritty 1961 crime-film identity.

How is Payroll related to Armored Car Robbery?

Both films center on a robbery of a protected money vehicle, and the 1950 American film Armored Car Robbery is a useful comparison. Payroll is distinctly British and spends more time on the consequences of the killing, especially the pressure placed on the criminals and their families.

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