Payroll (1961): cast, story & where to watch
1961 · Film · ★ 6.8
Released in 1961, Payroll is a drama and crime film directed by Sidney Hayers, running about 105 minutes. “Brilliant... Brutal... Torn from tonight's headlines!” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s 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’s in it. Payroll stars Michael Craig as Johnny Mellors, Françoise Prévost as Katie Pearson, Billie Whitelaw as Jackie Parker and William Lucas as Dennis Pearson, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.8/10, Payroll has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
Where to watch. In GB you can stream it on Studiocanal Presents Amazon Channel and rent or buy it from Apple TV Store, Amazon Video and BFI Player. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Payroll page.
If you liked it. Fans of Payroll tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Payroll (1961)?
- In GB, Payroll is available to stream on Studiocanal Presents Amazon Channel, and rent or buy from Apple TV Store, Amazon Video and BFI Player. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is Payroll worth watching?
- Payroll holds an audience score of 6.8 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama and crime. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in Payroll?
- Payroll stars Michael Craig, Françoise Prévost, Billie Whitelaw, William Lucas and Kenneth Griffith.
- When was Payroll released?
- Payroll was released in 1961, with a runtime of about 105 minutes.