Law and Disorder (1958) User Reviews

Thank you Your Honour.

[hitchcockthelegend · 7/10 · 24 July 2010]

Michael Redgrave stars as a con man who desperately tries to conceal his crooked life from his budding lawyer son. However, that is easier said than done when he is tempted into smuggling Brandy and faces the prospect of appearing in court...in front of his oblivious son!.

Law and Disorder is directed by Charles Crichton (Hue and Cry, The Lavender Hill Mob, The Titfield Thunderbolt) and joining Redgrave in the cast are Robert Morley, Ronald Squire, Joan Hickson, Lionel Jeffries & Jeremy Burnham. T.E.B. Clarke, Patrick Campbell & Vivienne Knight adapt for the screen from the novel "Smuggler's Circuit" written by Denys Roberts.

Ealing lite but still enough here to have the discerning British comedy fan grinning from ear to ear. Tho essential a one joke law and order lampoon premise, the writing is so bright in its set ups and the cast cast give it such effort (they all seem to be enjoying themselves), the thinness of the plot is easily forgiven. Redgrave lays on the charm and gentlemanly wit with consummate ease, and Hickson is a delight as Redgrave's card-sharping sister. But it's Morley's movie as a stern, never smiling judge who finds himself at the centre of the crooked goings on. A little known Brit effort that is is only shown once in a blue moon on terrestrial television. So if you get the chance to see it then take the plunge because it should put a smile on your face. 6.5/10

Redgrave in top comic form

[malcolmgsw · 7/10 · 16 June 2005]

This underrated film was recently shown again on TV.Despite having seen this a number of times i still found it as fresh as on its first viewing.There are so many fresh faces in even bit parts.The film shows off Redgraves comedic talent to the full.The fact that everything is underplayed and the comedy is so wry makes it all the more funny.The situations are well thought out and the comedic aspects of the plot are fully exploited.Robert Morley is in good form as the pompous judge and Lionel Jeffries plays the sort of role that he could do blindfold.Another classic comedy from the 50s which i believe is every much as good as the revered Carry Ons.

Disorder and Law.

[morrison-dylan-fan · 7/10 · 4 February 2018]

Preparing for the 1958 best movie poll on ICM,I took a look in a new DVD store for flicks to view from the year. Getting hold of the excellent Film Noir Chase a Crooked Shadow,I was pleased to find a '58 British Comedy right next to it,which led to me causing disorder to the law.

The plot:

Spending years in jail,small time thief Percy Brand (who always ends up with Judge Sir Edward Crichton handing out his sentence) lies to his son Colin that he is a missionary. Shortly after getting out of jail (again) Brand finds out that Colin is studying to become an assistant for judge Crichton. Vowing to go straight, Brand finds a local brandy smuggling plan to be a drink too tempting.

View on the film:

Opening this bottle of British Comedy,Network present a great transfer with a sharp soundtrack and pristine picture quality. Reuniting with fellow Ealing Studios film maker Charles Crichton, T.E.B. Clarke is joined by Patrick Campbell & Vivienne Knight in adapting Denys Roberts book into an utterly charming folk Comedy. Whilst never straying far from the Ealing roots,the writers give Brand and Judge Crichton wonderful dialogue that bounces along to each trip Brand makes to jail,and the brandy smuggling being well used as a mad-cap Comedy thread to unite all the locals against the cops.

Presenting Brand's various visits to jail in an episodic manner, director Charles Crichton and cinematographer Edward Scaife pour out his criminal acts with a gleeful relish,as speedy chase scenes are joined by slick back and fourth put-downs between Brand and Judge Crichton. Making their own case in the movie, Lionel Jeffries/ John Le Mesurier and Hammer Noir/Horror Elizabeth Sellars each sucsessfully steal their scenes in supporting turns. Faced with the case being based around them, Michael Redgrave and Robert Morley give excellent performances as Brand and Crichton,thanks to Redgrave giving Brand a slippery,Screwball Comedy devilish charm that is hammered by the deliciously dead-pan one-liners Mortley has Judge Crichton hand out to law and disorder.

Could have been better

[rdavies0303 · 6/10 · 27 November 2017]

It's a nice idea spoiled by poor production values. The prison has the same 1950s motor cars outside its gates whether it's 1938, 1941 or whatever. Redgrave isn't allowed to age. The whole thing looks rushed (only 70 minutes long). The quality of the print is terrible (if not the film's fault). In short I was surprised that a director of Charles Crichton's stature allowed himself to be associated with it. It could have been so much better. The original book ("Smugglers' Circuit) is in fact much better.

Typical but effective

[Leofwine_draca · 6/10 · 10 October 2019]

LAW AND DISORDER is a typical British comedy of the 1950s, full of the usual likeable, conniving characters in a tale of crime and punishment. Michael Redgrave is quite delightful as the scoundrel lead, forever in prison and yet somehow keeping the fact from his good-natured son. When his son becomes the assistant of the same judge who keeps sentencing him, things have to change - and fast. There's plenty of wit on display here in a script bought to life by the usual exemplary character actors, with Robert Morley in particular shining as usual.

Percy... you're at it again!

[robertconnor · 8/10 · 9 March 2009]

Percy Brand is a congenital con' man who, despite his best efforts, can't quite manage to keep out of jail for very long. However he is able to keep his son in blissful ignorance, pretending that for each 'stretch' inside he has really been working 'overseas'. In cahoots with his sister Florence he keeps this subterfuge up for years until one day he discovers his son has begun work as an assistant to the very judge who has repeatedly sent him down!

Nice, sophisticated and fizzily paced little comedy with Redgrave obviously enjoying himself as the genial jailbird, finally deciding to go straight only to be lured back for one last con' (involving French sailors, sharks and illicit brandy), Hickson in typically hilarious form as his accomplice in duplicity, and Morley and Jeffries doing what they do best. Hunt it down if you can.