Payroll
“Brilliant... Brutal... Torn from tonight's headlines!”
Synopsis
A vicious gang of crooks plan to steal the wages of a local factory, but their carefully laid plans go wrong, when the factory employs an armoured van to carry the cash. The gang still go ahead with the robbery, but when the driver of the armoured van is killed in the raid, his wife plans revenge, and with the police closing in, the gang start to turn on each other.
Top Cast
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Michael Craig
Johnny Mellors
Françoise Prévost
Katie Pearson
Billie Whitelaw
Jackie Parker
William Lucas
Dennis Pearson
Kenneth Griffith
Monty
Tom Bell
Blackie
Barry Keegan
Bert Langridge
Edward Cast
Detective Sergeant Bradden
Andrew Faulds
Detective Inspector Carberry
William Dexter
Harry Parker
Glyn Houston
Frank Moore
Joan Rice
Madge Moore
Vanda Godsell
Doll
Stanley Meadows
Bowen
Hugh Morton
Mr. John
Keith Faulkner
Alf
Bruce Beeby
Worth
Murray Evans
Billy
Release History & Theatrical Window
May 20, 1962
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Sidney Hayers
- Screenplay & Story
- George Baxt
- Original Score
- Reg Owen
- Original Title
- Payroll
- Country of Origin
- United Kingdom
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 45m
- Production Studios
- Lynx Films Ltd.
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Sidney Hayers
George Baxt, Derek Bickerton
Reg Owen
Ernest Steward
Tristam Cones
Norman Priggen, Julian Wintle
Department Leadership Roster
Reg Owen
Original Music Composer
George Baxt
Screenplay
Norman Priggen
Producer
Julian Wintle
Producer
Sidney Hayers
Director
Tristam Cones
Editor
Ernest Steward
Director of Photography
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
NR: Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Payroll.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Payroll.
Abstrusest 2
Heists & Capers
Time Out's 60 best heist movies, selected by Matthew Singer and Phil de Semlyen (19 August 2025). Complete selection, including international films and the 1903 short; editorial ranking preserved. Mesrine comprises two films, so 60 selections become 61 TMDB entries. Obvious source-year errors corrected when matching. Source: https://www.timeout.com/film/the-60-best-heist-movies-ever-made Followed by 22 separately curated, library-informed supplemental picks. These additions are not Time Out selections.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Payroll
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Payroll about?
A vicious gang of crooks plan to steal the wages of a local factory, but their carefully laid plans go wrong, when the factory employs an armoured van to carry the cash. The gang still go ahead with the robbery, but when the driver of the armoured van is killed in the raid, his wife plans revenge, and with the police closing in, the gang start to turn on each other.
Who directed Payroll?
Payroll was directed by Sidney Hayers.
Who stars in Payroll?
The principal cast of Payroll includes Michael Craig, Françoise Prévost, Billie Whitelaw, William Lucas, Kenneth Griffith.
When was Payroll released and how long is it?
Payroll was released in 1961 with a total runtime of 1h 45m.
Who composed the musical score for Payroll?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Payroll was composed by Reg Owen.
Is Payroll based on a book or true story?
Payroll is adapted from the following source material: Novel: "Derek Bickerton".
What is the age rating and content advisory for Payroll?
Payroll holds official age classifications: US: NR (Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.).