Rent Serious Charge (1959)
3.3 of 5 from 53 ratings
1h 36min
- General info
- Available formats
- Synopsis:
Cliff Richard makes his sensational big screen debut in "Serious Charge" - and sings three great songs including his first UK Number One Smash Hit - 'Living Doll'! "Serious Charge" sees Cliff Richard playing Curley Thompson, a young tearaway in a small English town just looking for kicks. Everyone thinks he's bad - except the local vicar, Reverend Phillips (Anthony Quayle). He can see the good in Curley and stands up for him before the courts. Unfortunately, Curley's older brother Larry (Andrew Ray) is an out-and-out hoodlum, with a switchblade in his hand and nothing but contempt for his home town of 'Deadsville, England'. When Reverend Phillips first humiliates him in the local youth club and the confronts him about his pregnant girlfriend, Larry snaps. He accuses the Reverend of sexual assault - a serious charge that seems to have been witnessed by respected church-worker Hester (Sarah Churchill). Suddenly, the vicar finds himself on the receiving end of a bitter hate campaign - but he has more friends than he realises. - Actors:
- Anthony Quayle, Sarah Churchill, Andrew Ray, Irene Browne, Percy Herbert, Noel Howlett, Wensley Pithey, Leigh Madison, Judith Furse, Jean Cadell, Wilfrid Brambell, Olive Sloane, George Roderick, Cliff Richard, Liliane Brousse, Jess Conrad, Marie Devereux, Carol Dourof, Harry Locke, Philip Lowrie
- Directors:
- Terence Young
- Producers:
- Mickey Delamar
- Writers:
- Guy Elmes, Mickey Delamar, Philip King
- Studio:
- Simply Home Entertainement
- Genres:
- Classics, Drama
- Collections:
- The Golden Age of British Pop Musicals, A Brief History of Film..., Top 10 Films By Year, Top 10 Films of 1959
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Reviews (1) of Serious Charge
Brilliant and Timely British Film about a Man Falsely Accused of Sexual Assault - Serious Charge review by PV
This film surprised me. I thought it would be a silly vehicle for Cliff Richard, here making his screen debut - his character is important but rather tacked on - where he sings some great LIONAL BART (Oliver!) songs incl LIVING DOLL.
Anthony Quayle does brilliantly here in conveying how a man falsely accused by a someone (both female and male here) can be ostracised & bullied by the mob. People are like that - they believe weaponised lies, esp when told by women or children/teens. I know of 3 cases where men were falsely accused. Police responsible for hounding many innocent men including ironically Cliff Richard, as well as Paul Gambaccini etc.
The mob ASSUMES guilt by accusation and STILL DO. See #metoo feminists assuming an accusation of rape proves it. Shameful mob mentality. No different now.
That is the story, the main plot; the subplot is with the Cliff Richard character as an unlikely tearaway (with that 19/20 year old cherub face!) defended by the vicar to save him from going to borstal. Hints of ANGELS WITH DIRTY FACES as his older brother Larry (a name of the time) is an out and out rotter and then some. YES it is a tad dated, the belief in marriage, esp when a girl is 'in trouble'; the trust in vicars. The acceptance of a father beating his kids etc. But the issue is the same now, much worse actually.
Child start Andrew Ray successfully grows up here - he was on many TV shows after this.
Alfred Bramble, the dirty old men on Steptoe, also pops up briefly.
The ending is rather simple, quick and limp - why this gets 4 and not 5 stars.
But really, a partner piece to the classic film of a year or 2 later, VICTIM, with Dirk Bogarde.
4 stars
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