William Peter Blatty, born in 1928 in New York City, is best known for his work as a writer in the realm of cult cinema. Aside from his iconic achievements with horror literature, Blatty penned the comedic screenplay for The Great Bank Robbery (1969), which showcases his versatile narrative style. His experiences in the U.S. Air Force’s Psychological Warfare Division influenced his writing approach, making his stories resonate with a psychological depth that often melds comedy and intrigue.
The Great Bank Robbery
Gold stolen by outlaws is stashed in the impenetrable bank of Friendly, a small town in Texas. A preacher, Rev. Pious Blue, is actually a thief. He and his associates, including partner Lyda Kebanov, plan to tunnel into the vault and blow it up with TNT, just as a Fourth of July celebration drowns out the noise. There are complications. A number of rival gangs also are after the loot. Then there is Ben Quick of the Texas Rangers, a lawman out to find evidence confirming the corruption of banker and mayor Kincaid that is also inside the vault. The reverend's band is successful, distracting the bank's guards by having Lyda pretend to be Lady Godiva, riding nude on a white horse, with just small flower pasties covering her nipples and groin. They intend to escape by hot-air balloon. The gold is too heavy for liftoff, however. Lyda volunteers to abandon ship, in part because she has fallen for Quick, who finds the proof he needs to convict Kincaid while the reverend and the gold fly safely away.
