A vicar falsely accused of assaulting a youth attempts to prove his innocence and save his reputation.
Turn back the clock and hit the beach with some of our favorite classic Hollywood stars.
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Title: Serious Charge (1959)
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Cast
| Complete credited cast: | |||
| Anthony Quayle | ... | Rev. Howard Phillips | |
 |
Sarah Churchill | ... | Hester Peters |
| Andrew Ray | ... | Larry Thompson | |
| Irene Browne | ... | Mrs. Phillips | |
| Percy Herbert | ... | Bill Thompson | |
| Noel Howlett | ... | Rev. Peters | |
|
|
Wensley Pithey | ... | Police Sergeant Harrison |
| Leigh Madison | ... | Mary Williams | |
| Judith Furse | ... | Miss Langton - Probation Officer | |
| Jean Cadell | ... | Almshouse Matron | |
| Wilfrid Brambell | ... | Verger | |
| Olive Sloane | ... | Mrs. Browning | |
| George Roderick | ... | Fishmonger | |
| Cliff Richard | ... | Curley Thompson | |
| Liliane Brousse | ... | Michelle | |
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Plot Summary
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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? Written by <jhailey@hotmail.com>
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Never Has the Screen Been So Bold!Genres:
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(Theme)
by Randy Starr and Dick Wolf
Performed by The Shadows (as The Drifters) (uncredited)
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Soundtracks
Chinchilla(Theme)
by Randy Starr and Dick Wolf
Performed by The Shadows (as The Drifters) (uncredited)
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See full technical specs »
Details
Country:
UKLanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
1960 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
A Touch of Hell See more »Company Credits
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Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
Mono (Westrex Recording System)Color:
Black and WhiteAspect Ratio:
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Very daring for its day (1959) "Serious Charge" may now look very much like a period piece yet this British movie about a vicar falsely accused of molesting a teenage boy still packs a punch thanks in large part to a fine script by Guy Elmes and Mickey Delamar and good performances from Anthony Quayle as the vicar, Andrew Ray as the boy who makes the allegation, Sarah Churchill as the woman who has the hots for Quayle and, perhaps best of all, Irene Browne as Quayle's no-nonsense mother. It was also the film that introduced a young Cliff Richard to the big screen as Ray's younger brother, (he sings "Livin' Doll"). Now Cliff and the teenage teraways are the films weakest links which in all other respects treats its subject seriously and with a surprising degree of intelligence. It's almost unimaginable that a similar film would have been made in America at this time.