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.
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.