Brandy for the Parson (1952)

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Director:

John Eldridge

Writers:

Geoffrey Household (novel)
Walter Meade (screenplay) ...

Genre:

Comedy | Crime | Romance

Plot:

A young couple get involved with a smuggler.

Plot Keywords:

Boat | France | Brandy | Gang | England

Cast

James Donald	...	Bill Harper
Kenneth More	...	Tony Rackham
Jean Lodge	...	Petronilla Brand
Frederick Piper	...	Customs inspector
Charles Hawtrey	...	George Crumb
Michael Trubshawe	...	Redworth
Alfie Bass	...	Dallyn
Wilfrid Caithness	...	Mr. Minch
Lionel Harris	...	Mr. Frost
Richard Molinas	...	Massaud
Reginald Beckwith	...	Scoutmaster
Stanley Lemin	...	Customs officer
Arthur Wontner	...	Maj. Glockleigh
Frank Tickle	...	Vicar
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Grace Arnold	...	Landlady
Hamlyn Benson	...	Pub Landlord
Amy Dalby	...	Postmistress
Edmund Gray	...	Photographer
Robert Hay-Smith	...	Wolf Cub
Walter Hodges	...	Admiral Bargill
W.E. Holloway	...	Chairman Of The Bench
Douglas Ives	...	Farmer
Tony Lyons	...	Boy Scout
Wensley Pithey	...	Circus Owner
John Powe	...	Whitey
Patience Rentoul	...	Yachtswoman
Gaston Richer	...	French Customs Officer
Mrs. E.M. Smith	...	Maid
Stanley Van Beers	...	Mr. Lovegrove

Runtime:

USA:75 min | UK:79 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:Approved | UK:U (video rating) | UK:U (original rating)

Filming Locations:

A30 Road - London to Exeter, Dorset, England, UK

Company:

Group 3

Trivia:

Sponsored by the (UK) Government-backed National Film Finance Corporation.

Location shots alone make it a keeper for England country-side lovers.

"Brandy for the Parson" was the first film for Britains' Group 3, Ltd., set up to "encourage young film makers of talent and promise," and this lightweight comedy comes through via cast and crew on the "talent and promise" attributes, especially with the musical background written by John Addison.

Bill Harper (James Donald) and Petronilla Brand (Jean Lodge) are a young couple that, through a series of mishaps and accidents, get unintentionally involved in a brandy-smuggling (from France) racket.

Because of an accidental sinking of Tony Rackham's (Kenneth More)boat, Bill and Patricia take him across the Channel on their boat which, to their dismay, is soon filled with several kegs of brandy. It then evolves into a series of intentional and unintentional dodges trying to evade the Customs officials.