Serious Charge (1959)

Howard Phillips, a vicar who's new in the town of Bellington, wants to reach out to youth. The previous vicar's daughter, Hester Peters, who fears being a spinster, wants to be his wife. He... See full summary »

Director:

Terence Young

Writers:

Guy Elmes (screenplay), Mickey Delamar (screenplay)

Stars:

Anthony Quayle, Sarah Churchill, Andrew Ray

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Anthony Quayle	...	Howard Phillips
Sarah Churchill	...	Hester Peters
Andrew Ray	...	Larry Thompson
Irene Browne	...	Mrs. Phillips
Percy Herbert	...	Mr. Thompson
Noel Howlett	...	Mr. Peters
Wensley Pithey	...	Police Sergeant
Leigh Madison	...	Mary Williams
Judith Furse	...	Probation Officer
Jean Cadell	...	Almshouse Matron
Wilfrid Brambell	...	Verger
Olive Sloane	...	Mrs. Browning
George Roderick	...	Fishmonger
Cliff Richard	...	Curley Thompson
Liliane Brousse	...	Michelle

Storyline

Howard Phillips, a vicar who's new in the town of Bellington, wants to reach out to youth. The previous vicar's daughter, Hester Peters, who fears being a spinster, wants to be his wife. He tells her he's not interested. When he confronts a tough kid about something the youth has done, the lad sets out to frame the vicar. Hester, who's walked in on the confrontation, backs the youth's story. The town sides with her and the lad, turning against Phillips. He has a crisis of faith. What options does he have; can no one help him, his reputation, or his calling?

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Plot Keywords:

vicar | spinster | motorcycle | juvenile | juvenile welfare | 

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Taglines:

Never Has the Screen Been So Bold!

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

4 January 1960 (Sweden)

Also Known As:

A Touch of Hell

Filming Locations:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Alva Films (Denham)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

87 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Black and White

Did You Know?

Trivia

The song, "Living Doll" by Cliff Richard and The Shadows (as The Drifters) was released as a single (in a different arrangement) as a spin off from this film. It was a British #1, and was the top-selling song of 1959.

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Connections

Referenced in Terence Young: Bond Vivant (2000)

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Soundtracks

No Turning Back
by Lionel Bart
Cliff Richard song
Accompanied by The Shadows (as The Drifters) (uncredited)

User Reviews

Early British film highlighting homosexuality

Intriguing British drama about a priest, underplayed brilliantly by Anthony Quale, who also is a bit of a local football hero, tries to bring redemption to the local teddy boys, this being 1959, and appears to avoid women like the plague, the implication being, is he gay or not? It all comes to a head when the main thug, played by Andrew Ray, gets a girl pregnant, and after a tragic accident, is confronted by Quale who is then falsely accused of 'interferring' with Ray, a quaint 1950's way of saying he molested him. Sarah Churchill, who is perhaps a bit old for her role, she was in her mid 40's at the time, holds the key to his innocence in the matter and eventually it all plays out but we are left wondering still, was he supposed to be gay or not? I don't think we were meant to really know as it was 1959 and mainstream films only ever dropped hints back then. At one point, Percy Herbert, playing Andrew Ray's violent father says, ' We haven't got one of them in the parish have we?'. Apparently back then, it was alright to beat the hell out of your son with a strap, backed up by the local copper, but not to be gay, clearly a despicable state of being then. Nevertheless, very interesting to compare how things have changed, and I do remember when people thought like this, but best of all, a wonderful performance by Anthony Quale who hold the film together with some otherwise dodgy performances, like Cliff Richard's first acting role.