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