The first two-thirds are more melodrama than noir and it takes a long time for each of the four characters to be introduced. But once their stories are laid out and they begin hatching their plan it becomes a stylish, exciting thriller. Laurence Harvey is pretty cool as the amoral, manipulative aristocrat, but the stand-out performance goes to Stanley Baker as the hopeless, broken-down boxer. Could've done without the two Americans, really... they don't add much other than some iffy acting.