Go to Blazes

Go to Blazes

Year: 1962

Runtime: 80 mins

Language: English

Director: Michael Truman

Comedy

A crew of would‑be bank robbers teams up with a pair of arsonists, buying a fire truck to stage a spectacular diversion for their heist. Masquerading as firefighters, they hope the blaze will cover their crime, but the ruse quickly spirals out of control, leading to a disastrous showdown.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Go to Blazes (1962)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Go to Blazes (1962). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1960s

Set in the 1960s London, the caper unfolds amid fashion, street chases, and the city’s public institutions. The era’s vehicles, dress shops, and urban bustle shape how the criminals execute their scheme and interact with authority. The period framing adds a sense of brisk pace and social color to the comedy of errors.

Location

London, Wormwood Scrubs, Berkeley Square, Smithfield, remote fire station

The story unfolds across central London, with key scenes around a jeweller's on Berkeley Square, a scrap yard, and a remote fire station. The action weaves between upscale streets and working-class districts, as the trio’s plans collide with the city’s emergency services. The settings reflect a mid-20th-century London where glamour and grit coexist amid constant pursuit.

🏙️ London 🚨 Crime caper 💎 Jewelry heist

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 18:40

Main Characters – Go to Blazes (1962)

Meet the key characters of Go to Blazes (1962), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Harry (Daniel Massey)

Harry is a quick-witted, ambitious member of the heist trio who leans on charm and improvisation. He schemes to impress Chantal, posing as the son of Lady Hamilton to win a dinner date, and uses deception to advance their plans. He remains focused on getting away clean, even as the plans spin out of control.

🕵️ Clever 🧭 Planner 🎭 Deceptive

Bernard (Dave King)

Bernard is the steady partner whose actions drive the logistical side of the plan. He helps source a fire engine, coordinates with Eddie, and orchestrates the bank job. His pragmatism often clashes with the group’s bungling, fueling the film’s chaotic turns.

🤝 Loyal 🧰 Planner 🧪 Pragmatic

Alfie (Norman Rossington)

Alfie is the jokey, somewhat naive member who bungles the team’s schemes. He contributes to the plan but frequently misreads risks, culminating in the infamous wrong-hose incident. His presence keeps the caper light, even as things go awry.

😂 Comic 🧭 Impulsive 🧩 Scatterbrained

Arson Eddie (Robert Morley)

Arson Eddie is a flamboyant, fire-obsessed figure who claims to know how to start fires but not how to put them out. He is reluctant to help at first, seeking a share in return for assistance. His fixation on flames shapes the gang’s plans and adds a volatile edge to the caper.

🔥 Arson 🧭 Mentor 🧨 Eccentric

Chantal (Maggie Smith)

Chantal is the French-speaking owner of a salon adjacent to a bank, who pretends polish and wealth while hiding financial trouble. She fascinates Harry and becomes entwined in the criminals’ schemes, even as she asserts a sharp, opportunistic edge. Her presence laces the plot with glamour and risk.

💎 Fashion 🗝️ Deception 🗣️ Charisma

Madame Colette (Coral Browne)

Colette runs the dress shop and reveals the fashion collection is insured, signaling a willingness to leverage risk for profit. She collaborates with the gang to stage the bank job, balancing prudence with a keen appetite for profit. Her scheming underscores the collaboration between fashion and crime.

💼 Boss 🧩 Planner 🧠 Calculated

Withers (Dennis Price)

Withers is a disgraced former fire chief recruited to train the trio, drawn by the idea of a share in the winnings. He brings expertise to their arson-based plan while exposing the moral ambiguities of their scheme. His involvement anchors the group’s attempts to become 'professional' criminals.

👔 Former Official 🧭 Trainer 🧨 Arson

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 18:40

Major Themes – Go to Blazes (1962)

Explore the central themes of Go to Blazes (1962), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🕵️ Crime & Deception

A skilled but morally flexible trio relies on disguises, misdirection, and fake identities to pull off a high-stakes heist. Deception drives the plot, from counterfeit personas to staged emergencies used as cover. The film explores how cunning plans can hinge on careful manipulations of appearances.

😅 Comedy of Errors

The caper unfolds through a string of bungles and near-misses that keep escalating the stakes. Incompetence and miscommunication lead to chaotic, slapstick moments—like mistaken fire-fighting and wrong equipment usage. Laughter comes from the trio’s relentless misjudgments as they chase a perfect getaway.

🎭 Disguise & Performance

Disguises and performative roles blur borders between crime, work, and entertainment. The group passes as firemen, and fashion-world personas mask their true intentions, reflecting a culture fascinated with image. The line between authentic skill and theatrical display becomes central to the plot.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 18:40

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Go to Blazes Summary

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Go to Blazes Summary

Go to Blazes Timeline

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Go to Blazes Timeline

More About Go to Blazes

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