The Jokers (1967) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

The brothers wanted to prove themselves after being booted out of Sandhurst. Unlike typical criminals seeking profit, their motive was fame, they wanted to pull off the "Robbery of the Century" to achieve notoriety and distinguish themselves from their usual petty mischief. The high-profile nature of the Crown Jewels made them the perfect target for a grand gesture that would capture global attention.

• crown jewels heist
• motivation
• fame
• brothers tremayne

During a dinner at the Tower of London, the brothers learned that English law requires proof of intent to permanently deprive the owner for a theft charge to stick. By sending letters in advance declaring they did not intend permanent deprivation, they believed this legal technicality would shield them from serious theft charges, even though they were clearly stealing valuable items.

• legal loophole
• permanent deprivation
• letters
• law

These coordinated bombings served as reconnaissance and rehearsal for the main heist. By observing police response times and procedures at each incident, the brothers gathered intelligence on how authorities would handle emergencies. The attacks also established them as serious bomb experts, making it believable that genuine bomb disposal specialists would be called to the Tower on the day of the robbery.

• bombs
• reconnaissance
• police procedure
• albert memorial
• london zoo

David visited an army base and recorded the procedures of the bomb disposal team on a tape recorder. On the day of the heist, the brothers took the place of the real bomb disposal expert and his assistant at the army base, then rode with the army convoy toward the Tower of London, allowing them to enter the jewel room under the guise of official bomb disposal personnel.

• army base
• bomb disposal
• disguise
• laser
• theft method

Michael claimed he knew nothing about the robbery and presented what appeared to be an airtight party alibi. Since he had not been directly linked to the crime scene, the brothers used the ambulance escape, and the jewels were missing from their hiding place, police could not break his story. This allowed Michael to be released while David was arrested and denied bail.

• michael tremayne
• alibi
• arrest
• david
• police

After the heist, Michael buried the Crown Jewels at Stonehenge while evading police surveillance. The jewels remained hidden there for about a week, which is why authorities could not find them despite the worldwide manhunt. This explains why the letters, the brothers' legal protection, arrived after the jewels had already been moved to their secret location.

• stonehenge
• buried jewels
• missing jewels
• hidden location

As police surveillance tightened around him, Michael managed to evade their watch and dug up the jewels he had buried at Stonehenge. This secret retrieval demonstrated that despite appearing to be the innocent brother with a solid alibi, Michael had been the one handling the actual loot the entire time.

• stonehenge
• michael
• retrieve
• jewels
• evade surveillance

Michael used a tapped phone line to announce he would return the jewels at Trafalgar Square at 4 a.m., drawing all police attention there. While authorities cordoned Trafalgar Square, he instead placed the jewels in the scales of justice atop the Old Bailey, a symbolic gesture representing his view of justice being weighed. This final feint allowed him to complete the return on his own terms.

• old bailey
• scales of justice
• return jewels
• trafalgar square
• taunt

After the full extent of their scheme was revealed, both brothers were captured and sentenced. They end up imprisoned in the very same Tower of London they robbed, an ironic outcome given their original heist location. The final scene shows them together in the Tower, already plotting their next escape, maintaining their rebellious defiance despite being caught.

• imprisoned
• tower of london
• ending
• capture
• escape

Michael felt overlooked because David was seen as the "good" son while Michael was cast as the "bad" one. This sibling rivalry drove Michael to participate in the increasingly dangerous tests and ultimately the heist itself, seeking recognition and distinction comparable to what David received. Despite this tension, the brothers collaborated effectively throughout the scheme.

• rivalry
• siblings
• family tension
• david michael
• recognition

After stealing the jewels using a laser to cut into the display cabinets, the brothers triggered a small bomb and smoke device in the jewel room. They staggered out appearing injured and were taken away in an ambulance, which was actually carrying the stolen Crown Jewels. This unconventional escape route allowed them to leave the heavily guarded Tower premises undetected with the loot.

• ambulance
• escape
• smoke bomb
• laser
• jewel room