Serious Charge
| Serious Charge | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Terence Young |
| Written by | Mickey Delamar Guy Elmes |
| Produced by | Mickey Delamar |
| Starring | Anthony Quayle Sarah Churchill Andrew Ray Irene Browne |
| Cinematography | Georges Périnal |
| Edited by | Allan Harris |
| Music by | Leighton Lucas (score) Lionel Bart (songs) |
Production company | Alva Films |
| Distributed by | Eros Films |
Release date |
|
Running time | 87 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
Serious Charge (U.S.: A Touch of Hell, also known as Immoral Charge) is a 1959 British film, directed by Terence Young and starring Anthony Quayle, Sarah Churchill, Andrew Ray and Irene Browne.[1] It was produced and co-written by Mickey Delamar and Guy Elmes, and adapted from the 1956 stage play of the same name by Philip King. The film is notable for the screen acting debut of Cliff Richard in a minor role.
Plot
Unmarried ex-army vicar Reverend Howard Phillips, newly arrived in the parish, attempts to get local 19-year-old thug and petty criminal Larry Thompson to face up to his responsibilities to Mary Williams, the naive young girl he has made pregnant. When Howard threatens to tell his coffee-bar friends, Larry trashes the room and fakes a struggle. As a dishevelled Larry leaves, Hester Peters arrives, and he tells her that Howard
As a consequence of the malicious accusation, Howard is subjected to suspicion and abuse by his parishioners, including having his car's tyres slashed and receiving
Cast
- Anthony Quayle as Reverend Howard Phillips
- Sarah Churchill as Hester Peters
- Andrew Ray as Larry Thompson
- Irene Browne as Mrs. Phillips
- Percy Herbert as Mr. Thompson
- Noel Howlett as Reverend Peters
- Wensley Pithey as Police Sergeant
- Leigh Madison as Mary Williams
- Jean Spaul as the girl at lido (uncredited)
- Judith Furse as probation officer
- Jean Cadell as almshouse matron
- Wilfrid Brambell as verger
- Olive Sloane as Mrs. Browning
- George Roderick as fishmonger
- Cliff Richard as Curley Thompson
- Liliane Brousse as Michelle
- Wilfred Pickles as chairman of the court (uncredited)
- Philip Lowrie as member of Larry's gang (uncredited)
- Jess Conrad as Teddy Boy (uncredited)
- Marie Devereux as attractive girl in coffee bar (uncredited)
Production
It was the film debut of Cliff Richard, at that time a teenage pop idol. Richard sings three songs, although none is heard in its entirety: "No Turning Back", "Mad About You", and "Living Doll" (the latter a different version from the No. 1 hit in the British charts).
The scene at the lido was captured in three distinct versions. Harrison Mark's model Jean Spaul appeared topless for the French market. In the second, she sported a bikini, catering to UK tastes. The third had her donning a petticoat for the US market.[2]
Reception
Box office
According to Kinematograph Weekly the film performed "better than average" at the British box office in 1959.[3]
Critical
The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "The story in outline seems melodramatic and contrived, but an imaginative script, sensitive and crisp direction, and the authoritative performance of Anthony Quayle make this an absorbing film. If some of the background detail seems unconvincing (the juvenile delinquents are seen from the conventional middle-class viewpoint, and the vicars, retired or active, enjoy too luxurious a standard of living) the personal conflicts that occupy the foreground are authentic and well observed."[4]
Soundtrack
References
- ^ "Serious Charge". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
- ^ "Jean Sporle". Pamela Green: Never Knowingly Overdressed. 12 November 2012.
- ^ Billings, Josh (17 December 1959). "Other better-than-average offerings". Kinematograph Weekly. p. 7.
- ProQuest 1305821500– via ProQuest.
External links
- Serious Charge at IMDb
- Review of film at Variety
- Serious Charge then-and-now location photographs at ReelStreets
