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Go to Blazes (1962) movie poster

Timeline

Go to Blazes (1962) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
1962 · 80 mins · English
Directed by
Michael Truman
Starring
Robert Morley, Maggie Smith, Finlay Currie, Arthur Lowe, Coral Browne, James Hayter

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.

Comedy Cast, crew & box office
On this page (5)
  1. 1 Events in order (13)
  2. 2 Timeline questions answered
  3. 3 Movie threads
  4. 4 Movies like Go to Blazes
  5. 5 Every angle

13 events in order · contains spoilers

Go to Blazes Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Go to Blazes (1962) in order, scene by scene, with when and where it takes place. Use it to untangle flashbacks, time jumps and parallel storylines, to refresh your memory before the sequel or to find the exact scene you are thinking of.

  1. Jewel theft kicks off in London

    A refined gentleman walks the London streets with flowers and chocolates on the way to a date. He stops at a jeweller’s window, throws a box containing a brick through the glass, and grabs the jewels. He and his two accomplices jump into a Citroen DS and flee as police give chase, only to be stopped at a junction by a passing fire engine and are captured, ending up at Wormwood Scrubs.

    When
    Evening
    Where
    London street near jeweller's window

  2. Reaction to release and plan to use fire engines

    After their release, the trio decide a fire engine would be the least delayed transport. They visit a fire engine salesroom, where the salesman extols the virtues of the machines but they cannot afford a new engine. They then scout a scrap yard to hunt for an old one.

    When
    Shortly after release
    Where
    London – fire engine salesroom and scrap yard

  3. Engine theft and arson cover-up

    They steal a well-maintained 1930s fire engine stored in a remote fire station and swap it for their scrap engine of the same type. To hide the theft, they burn down the fire station, leaving a burnt-out scrap in the debris. They relocate the engine to a big shed in Smithfield.

    When
    Soon after release
    Where
    Remote fire station; Smithfield

  4. Preparing the next robbery and disguises

    With their engine parked in a Smithfield shed, they identify a jeweller near Berkeley Square and obtain firemen's uniforms from a costume shop. The plan is to pose as real firemen to get close to another target. They begin laying the groundwork for the heist.

    When
    Before the heist
    Where
    Smithfield and near Berkeley Square

  5. First jeweller's raid fails and Chantal

    Their first attempt to rob the jeweller's shop ends in disaster as they are pursued by the police. Harry escapes into a wedding-dress showroom, where he meets Chantal, the French shop owner, and pretends to be the son of Lady Hamilton. He sets up a dinner date, complicating their criminal plans.

    When
    During the attempted robbery
    Where
    Berkeley Square jeweller; wedding-dress shop

  6. Flooded basement fiasco exposes their inexperience

    Meanwhile, Bernard and Alfie in the fire engine are mistaken for real firefighters by a desperate homeowner with a flooded basement, and are asked to pump out the water. Their attempt only worsens the flooding, and they flee when the real fire brigade arrives. The failure steels their resolve to improve.

    When
    During the attempted heist
    Where
    Desperate homeowner's flooded basement

  7. Realisation and the search for a trainer

    The trio realises they must become professional so they can pass as trained firemen. Arson Eddie, a mad professor who loves arson, is unwilling to help with putting out fires, leaving them to seek other guidance. They start looking for someone who can teach them the balance of fire-raising and firefighting.

    When
    After the basement fiasco
    Where
    London – Arson Eddie's circle

  8. Withers recruited to train them

    A chance conversation outside a fire station leads them to Withers, a fire chief dismissed from the service for arson, theft and conduct unbecoming. He agrees to train the trio in exchange for a share in a future bank job. The team now has a mentor for their larger plan.

    When
    Before the bank job
    Where
    Outside a fire station

  9. Chantal's salon and the bank proximity plan

    Chantal's salon sits next to a bank, and the criminals scheme a fire in her basement to bring them close to the bank. They return to Arson Eddie for a proper fire-raising scheme. Chantal's boss Madame Colette reveals the business is in trouble, but her dress collection is insured for £20,000, a detail that colors their plans.

    When
    Planning stage
    Where
    Chantal's salon and dress shop vicinity

  10. The bank job and a real blaze

    Arson Eddie visits the dress shop under the guise of a client, yet his romantic scheme is frustrated. Madame Colette then lights curtains as part of her plan, and the bank robbery proceeds from the basement while a real fire rages above. The thieves escape with a fire hose stuffed with banknotes.

    When
    During the robbery
    Where
    Dress shop and bank basement

  11. Spotting on the fire engine and pursuit

    Colette and Chantal spot Harry and Mr Mountbatten on the fire engine in uniform, drawing a police chase. A patrolman overhears the getaway and begins the pursuit. The awareness of being watched escalates the tension of their escape.

    When
    During the getaway
    Where
    Near the bank / on the street

  12. Real fire during the getaway and the hose mix-up

    As the robbers flee, two girls’ treehouse catches fire and the crooks are forced to join in fighting a real blaze. Alfie attaches the wrong hose to the pump, soaking the scene with banknotes instead of water. The money becomes part of the chaotic getaway.

    When
    During the getaway
    Where
    Street scene near the treehouse

  13. Ending: Black Maria and a future getaway idea

    The crooks are hauled away in a Black Maria on their way to prison, and a Queen’s limousine appears in the window of the van. Bernard quips that he has another idea for the perfect getaway vehicle, hinting at future schemes even as their sentence begins.

    When
    Finale
    Where
    Black Maria; window view with Queen

Last updated: October 07, 2025 at 09:27

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Timeline questions answered

Go to Blazes Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Go to Blazes (1962): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why did the robbers choose a fire engine for their getaway?

After being caught during their initial jewel heist, the trio reason that a fire engine is the least likely mode of transport to be slowed by traffic. They also figure that other vehicles would pull over to let a fire engine pass, giving them a clear path to escape.

  • fire engine getaway
  • robbery vehicle
  • escape plan
Q2

How did they steal the fire engine from the remote station?

They scouted a remote fire station containing a well-maintained 1930s fire engine, bought a scrap engine of the same type, swapped the two, and then burned down the station to hide the theft, leaving only the burnt-out scrap heap as evidence.

  • fire engine theft
  • arson
  • heist planning
Q3

Who is Arson Eddie and why is he involved?

Arson Eddie is a mad professor fixated on arson rather than fire prevention. Though reluctant to help put out fires, he possesses extensive knowledge about starting them. The criminals approach him for his expertise in fire-raising to execute their plan.

  • arson eddie
  • fire expert
  • criminal helper
Q4

Who is Withers and why does he train the robbers?

Withers is a former fire chief dismissed from the service for arson, theft, and conduct unbecoming. Overhearing the criminals outside a fire station, he agrees to train them in firefighting skills in exchange for a share of the bank job proceeds.

  • withers
  • fire chief
  • training
Q5

How does the bank robbery work with the fire at the dress shop?

Since Chantal's salon sits next to a bank, the criminals scheme to stage a fire in her basement, which would bring them close to the bank vault. While a real fire rages above, they proceed with the robbery from the basement and escape with banknotes stuffed in a fire hose.

  • bank robbery
  • fire diversion
  • heist plan
Q6

What happens when the wrong hose is attached during the getaway?

While fleeing, two young girls flag them down to help with a burning treehouse. Alfie attaches the wrong hose to the pump, spraying banknotes instead of water across the scene, coating everything in money during the chaotic getaway.

  • money hose
  • wrong hose
  • comedic ending
Q7

Why do they burn down the fire station after stealing the engine?

They burn down the station to hide the theft of the 1930s fire engine. By leaving a burnt-out scrap engine in the debris, they create the appearance that their own engine was destroyed in the fire, covering their tracks.

  • cover up
  • arson
  • stolen engine
Q8

How does Harry meet Chantal and what role does she play?

During a failed robbery attempt, Harry escapes into a wedding-dress showroom and meets Chantal, the French owner. Pretending to be the son of a wealthy client, he sets up a dinner date. Her shop's proximity to the bank later becomes integral to their heist plan.

  • harry
  • chantal
  • dress shop
Q9

What does Madame Colette reveal about the dress collection insurance?

Madame Colette reveals that the dress collection is insured for £20,000, adding significant stakes to their plan. She later participates in the scheme by lighting curtains to help start the fire.

  • insurance
  • £20000
  • dress collection
Q10

Why do the robbers decide they need professional training?

After their first heist attempt fails and they worsen a flooded basement while pretending to be firefighters, the trio realizes they must become professional enough to convincingly pass as trained firemen before attempting the bank job.

Foreshadowing: The flooded basement fiasco directly leads them to seek training.

  • training
  • professionalism
  • firefighting skills
Q11

What does the ending scene with the Queen's limousine mean?

As the robbers are hauled away in the Black Maria heading to prison, a royal limousine carrying the Queen passes by the van's window. Bernard quips that he has another idea for the perfect getaway vehicle, hinting at future schemes despite their capture.

  • queen
  • ending
  • black maria
  • getaway idea

Movie threads

More Movies Like Go to Blazes, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Go to Blazes tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Comedies of Incompetence and Chaos like Go to Blazes

Plans made by fools spiral into hilarious, out-of-control disasters. If you enjoyed the bumbling heist antics in Go to Blazes, you'll love these movies where foolish plans spiral into hilarious disasters. This thread features similar fast-paced comedies of errors, filled with silly characters and farcical situations that escalate beyond anyone's control.

  • farcical
  • silly
  • chaotic
  • mischievous
  • comical
  • lighthearted
  • Tone: light, farcical, whimsical
  • Pacing: fast, chaotic
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Stories in this thread follow a straightforward arc: a simple, often criminal, plan is hatched by a group of characters whose confidence far outweighs their competence. The plot is driven by a rapid sequence of missteps, bad luck, and unintended consequences, building momentum until the initial scheme is entirely lost in a whirlwind of self-created chaos.

Why they belong together: These movies are grouped together because they share a core comedic principle: humor derived from failure. The tone is consistently light and farcical, the pacing is fast to keep up with the escalating mishaps, and the emotional weight is minimal, ensuring the chaos is fun rather than stressful.

Screwed movie poster

Screwed

2000
What's the Worst That Could Happen? movie poster

What's the Worst That Could Happen?

2001
No Problem movie poster

No Problem

2010
A Plumbing We Will Go movie poster

A Plumbing We Will Go

1940
Delta Farce movie poster

Delta Farce

2007
Too Many Crooks movie poster

Too Many Crooks

1959
All the Best: Fun Begins movie poster

All the Best: Fun Begins

2009
Men at Work movie poster

Men at Work

1990

Heist Comedies Gone Wrong like Go to Blazes

The perfect plan meets imperfect people, with laughable results. Looking for more movies like Go to Blazes? This thread collects comedies where a heist plan is brilliant on paper but doomed in practice. You'll find similar stories of disguises, diversions, and disastrous showdowns, all played for laughs rather than tension.

  • heist
  • mischievous
  • comical
  • disguise
  • farcical
  • botched plans
  • Tone: light, comical
  • Pacing: fast, energetic
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern involves assembling a team or a plan for a theft, often involving a complex diversion or disguise. However, the core conflict isn't with security systems but with the characters' own ineptitude. The heist itself becomes a series of comedic set pieces, and the typical ending involves capture or failure, but in a way that feels like a fitting punchline rather than a tragedy.

Why they belong together: These films are united by their use of the heist genre as a framework for comedy. They share a light tone, fast pacing to match the action, and a focus on the humorous flaws of the criminals rather than the sophistication of the crime.

The Big Job movie poster

The Big Job

1965
The Art of the Steal movie poster

The Art of the Steal

2014
Small Time Crooks movie poster

Small Time Crooks

2000
Bandits movie poster

Bandits

2001
Tower Heist movie poster

Tower Heist

2011
Too Many Crooks movie poster

Too Many Crooks

1959
Screwed movie poster

Screwed

2000
Stealing Harvard movie poster

Stealing Harvard

2002

If you liked this

Movies Like Go to Blazes

Similar movies to Go to Blazes: the same genre, themes or kind of story. Each one comes with its own plot summary, timeline and ending explained.

Browse all movie summaries
Go movie poster

Go

1999
Scorched movie poster

Scorched

2003
Go for It movie poster

Go for It

1983
Firehouse movie poster

Firehouse

1987
The Fireman movie poster

The Fireman

1916
Fire Fighters movie poster

Fire Fighters

1922
The Fire Raisers movie poster

The Fire Raisers

1934
Flaming Fire Chief movie poster

Flaming Fire Chief

1976
Where’s That Fire movie poster

Where’s That Fire

1939
A Fire Has Been Arranged movie poster

A Fire Has Been Arranged

1935
In the Line of Duty: Blaze of Glory movie poster

In the Line of Duty: Blaze of Glory

1997
Go Chase Yourself movie poster

Go Chase Yourself

1938

Every angle

Go to Blazes (1962) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

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