The Great St. Louis Bank Robbery (also called The St. Louis Bank Robbery, the film title in the opening credits) is a 1959 heist film, directed by Charles Guggenheim and starring Steve McQueen as a college dropout hired to be the getaway driver in a bank robbery.
Based on a 1953 bank robbery attempt of Southwest Bank in St. Louis, the film was shot on location in 1958 with some of the men and women from the St. Louis Police Department, as well as local residents and bank employees, playing the same parts they did in the actual robbery attempt.
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🎞️ About the Movie
The Great St. Louis Bank Robbery follows a group of criminals planning a daring heist based on a real 1953 St. Louis robbery attempt. As tensions rise within the gang and the police close in, loyalties fracture, nerves fray, and the line between desperation and disaster grows razor‑thin. The film blends procedural detail with noir‑tinged suspense, giving the story a grounded, documentary‑like edge.
🎬 The Director
Directed by Charles Guggenheim and John Stix, the film mixes dramatic tension with semi‑realistic staging. Guggenheim’s documentary background brings authenticity to the planning, surveillance, and execution of the heist.
🛠️ The Production
Shot on location in St. Louis, the film uses real streets, neighbourhoods, and police procedures to create a gritty, lived‑in atmosphere. Its stark black‑and‑white cinematography enhances the tension and realism.
🎭 Behind the Scenes
A young Steve McQueen delivers an early, quietly intense performance as the conflicted getaway driver. The supporting cast — including Crahan Denton and David Clarke — adds raw energy and moral ambiguity to the unfolding crime.
💡 Themes & Analysis
The film explores desperation, fractured loyalty, and the human cost of criminal ambition. It highlights how even the most carefully planned heist can unravel under pressure — and how fear, ego, and mistrust can doom a crew from within.
🎨 Cinematic Style
Expect noir shadows, street‑level realism, and tense, procedural pacing. The film’s visual style reinforces its themes of danger, paranoia, and the gritty reality of mid‑century crime.
⭐ Why You Should Watch It
Fans of Steve McQueen, true‑crime stories, and grounded heist films will appreciate its authenticity, tension, and historical significance.
🍿 Additional Popcorn Facts
- Based on the real 1953 Southwest Bank robbery attempt in St. Louis.
- Features early screen work from Steve McQueen before his breakout roles.
- Shot partly with cooperation from local police for added realism.