Henry Holland, portrayed by Alec Guinness, works as an employee at the Bank of England. His spotless history and unassuming nature lead people to view him as completely reliable; he’s even entrusted with safeguarding gold shipments. However, beneath this facade lies a secret longing for the opportunity to execute what he considers the ideal crime. He's patiently awaiting his moment. That chance arises when he connects with Pendlebury, played by Stanley Holloway, who possesses the international contacts Holland requires. The film emerges as a comedic send-up of classic gangster films, playfully mocking familiar elements—a robbery, a captive tossed into the river, a sequence set in France featuring the Eiffel Tower, and a pursuit involving cars. There’s even a rapid descent down the Eiffel Tower's staircase that foreshadows, but with humor, a similar scene in Hitchcock’s VERTIGO. Holland’s contradictory nature—a combination of someone physically unimposing and a criminal genius—was intentionally crafted to showcase Guinness’s ability to portray contrasting personalities. Unbeknownst at the time, the film would later gain recognition for including one of Audrey Hepburn's earliest roles as a waitress appearing briefly near the beginning.

Source on TMDB