The Great Riviera Bank Robbery

The Great Riviera Bank Robbery

Year: 1980

Runtime: 102 mins

Language: English

Director: Francis Megahy

Thriller

A gripping, true account follows a determined band of right‑wing French nationalists who devise a bold bank heist on the Riviera in order to raise funds for a planned coup and crush communist influence. Their meticulous planning and high‑stakes robbery create a tense, politically charged drama that showcases the lengths they will go to achieve their cause.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen The Great Riviera Bank Robbery yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline & Setting – The Great Riviera Bank Robbery (1980)

Explore the full timeline and setting of The Great Riviera Bank Robbery (1980). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1960s

Set against a backdrop of European political turmoil, the events reflect the era when ultranationalist networks and organized crime intersect. The Riviera becomes a crossroads of politics, money, and crime, shaping the investigators' pursuit.

Location

Nice, France

Nice, France, on the glamorous Mediterranean coast, sets the stage for a heist that blends luxury with danger. The film uses the city's sewers and a nearby villa as key locations, emphasizing the contrast between seaside glamour and criminal underworld. The Riviera setting provides a vivid backdrop for a politically charged crime plot that centers on money, power, and betrayal.

🗺️ French Riviera 🕰️ 1960s 🧭 Crime hotspot

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 12:55

Main Characters – The Great Riviera Bank Robbery (1980)

Meet the key characters of The Great Riviera Bank Robbery (1980), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Bert (The Brain) – Ian McShane

Ex-paratrooper and strategic mastermind who devises the plan to dig into the bank vault from below. He is cool-headed, focused, and willing to bend rules to advance a political goal. He negotiates a share of the loot with local gangsters to ensure their participation. His meticulous planning makes him the central figure in the operation and its unraveling.

🧠 Brain 🪖 Ex-paratrooper 💼 Planner

Jean – Warren Clarke

A member of the right-wing nationalist organization closely connected to the Organisation armée secrète. He views the heist as a means to fund arms and support the cause, using his political connections to influence the operation. He weighs loyalty to the cause against the profits of the loot and attempts to stay ahead of the law.

🧭 Ideology 🧩 Networker 💼 Operator

Serge – Christopher Malcolm

A local gangster recruited for his knowledge of the area and his willingness to participate for money. He is pragmatic and money-driven, prioritizing the payout over political ideals. He coordinates the gang’s actions and helps ensure the distribution of the loot.

💰 Loot-seeking 🗺️ Local network 🕵️‍♂️ Opportunist

Michel – Matthew Long

A younger member of the gang, eager but inexperienced. He embodies the danger of youth drawn into crime and serves as a reminder of the human cost of the heist.

👶 Apprentice 💰 Loot-seeker 🗺️ Riviera setting

Policewoman – Bernice Stegers

A local policewoman who pursues the case, noticing the gang’s movements and coordinating with colleagues. She represents perseverance and procedural rigor during the investigation.

👮 Law enforcement 🕵️‍♀️ Detective 🔎 Investigation

Bank Official – John Grillo

A bank official whose routine security checks become a factor in the heist's success, illustrating how institutions can be drawn into criminal schemes. His actions set off a chain of events that heighten the investigation and pursuit.

🏦 Banking 🧭 Official 💼 Involvement

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 12:55

Major Themes – The Great Riviera Bank Robbery (1980)

Explore the central themes of The Great Riviera Bank Robbery (1980), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🗝️ Crime & Politics

Criminal action is inseparable from political motive, with Bert's plan framed as a means to fund a political cause. The alliance with local gangsters shows how ideology can be co-opted by financial incentives. The plan's complexity—the breach from below, the welded vault—highlights the blend of strategy and opportunism. The outcome reveals that political aims can be compromised by greed and risk.

💰 Greed

Shared loot dynamics reveal how money fuels tension within the group. The gang negotiates a fair split to avoid recrimination, illustrating how greed can erode loyalties. The pursuit by authorities is timed with money moving through illicit channels, showing money's power to corrupt.

👮 Law & Order

The police struggle to piece together the crime, relying on networks and informants. The investigation escalates from misdirection to a full-scale crackdown, culminating in arrests and the return of the stolen assets. The film contrasts the criminals' clandestine planning with the procedural rigidity of law enforcement.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 12:55

Unlock the Full Story of The Great Riviera Bank Robbery

Don't stop at just watching — explore The Great Riviera Bank Robbery in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what The Great Riviera Bank Robbery is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

The Great Riviera Bank Robbery Summary

Read a complete plot summary of The Great Riviera Bank Robbery, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

The Great Riviera Bank Robbery Summary

The Great Riviera Bank Robbery Timeline

Track the full timeline of The Great Riviera Bank Robbery with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

The Great Riviera Bank Robbery Timeline

More About The Great Riviera Bank Robbery

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about The Great Riviera Bank Robbery: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About The Great Riviera Bank Robbery

Explore More About Movie The Great Riviera Bank Robbery

The Great Riviera Bank Robbery (1980) Plot Summary & Movie Recap

The Great Riviera Bank Robbery (1980) Scene-by-Scene Movie Timeline

The Great Riviera Bank Robbery (1980) Spoiler-Free Summary & Key Flow