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Alec Guinness stars as Father Brown, full-time priest and part-time sleuth, in this comic mystery based on the character created by novelist G.K. Chesterton. When Father Brown is entrusted with transporting a valuable religious artefact from London to Rome, he's understandably upset when it's stolen from him. Brown has reason to believe that a notorious international thief lifted the cross he was carrying, and the good Father finds himself on a dual-purpose mission: to recover the stolen goods and to compel the thief to repent before God. The supporting cast includes Peter Finch, Joan Greenwood, and Cecil Parker as the Bishop.
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40 of 41 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
"What are you really after, your cross or my soul?" asks the international art thief, Flambeau, of Father Brown.
"Both, of course," Father Brown replies.
"Well, come and find us," Flambeau says. "I'll make you a bargain. Whatever you can find you shall have."
"I accept your bargain," Father Brown says, and we're off into a gentle, amusing and thoughtful movie which stars Alec Guinness as Father Brown and Peter Finch as Flambeau.
Father Brown is a parish priest in an English village. He takes care of his flock, saves the souls he can, and tries to put the erring members on more wholesome paths. He also is eccentric -- or at least very honest. He practices karate, loves mysteries, is very near-sighted, is no one's fool and has great but realistic empathy. "I'm disappointed in you, Bert." he tells one of his flock who is a petty thief. "I'm sorry, Father, it was just..." "Firstly," Father Brown interrupts, "because you did wrong. Secondly, because you did wrong in the wrong way. Frankly, you are an incompetent thief." "Well, I wouldn't go that far," Bert says. "I would," Father Brown says. "You are clearly incapable of earning a dishonest living. Why not experiment with an honest one?"
A master art thief has been stealing works of art throughout Europe and one day manages to steal a priceless cross from Father Brown's church. With the assistance of Lady Warren (Joan Greenwood) and over the exasperated objections of his bishop, Father Brown is determined to find the cross, locate Flambeau and in the process, if he can, save Flambeau's soul. The search takes Father Brown to Paris and the French country side, down into catacombs and into Flambeau's chateau. At last there is a confrontation, and then a resolution that involves Lady Warren as well as Flambeau.
There are some first-rate, clever set pieces in the movie. An amusing triple exchange of packages takes place at a Parisian table. An excursion deep into the catacombs is complicated by the French police following Father Brown who is trying to follow Flambeau. Ernest Thesiger makes a brief but very funny appearance as an aged fellow assisting Father Brown in locating a document very high up on a shelf. In the process they break both their glasses. There also are a number of thoughtful exchanges between Flambeau and Father Brown as the one explains his philosophy of life and thievery and the other explains his philosophy of faith.
The movie can get a bit talky at times, but who cares when the talking is by three such first-rate actors as Guinness, Finch and Greenwood.
"Both, of course," Father Brown replies.
"Well, come and find us," Flambeau says. "I'll make you a bargain. Whatever you can find you shall have."
"I accept your bargain," Father Brown says, and we're off into a gentle, amusing and thoughtful movie which stars Alec Guinness as Father Brown and Peter Finch as Flambeau.
Father Brown is a parish priest in an English village. He takes care of his flock, saves the souls he can, and tries to put the erring members on more wholesome paths. He also is eccentric -- or at least very honest. He practices karate, loves mysteries, is very near-sighted, is no one's fool and has great but realistic empathy. "I'm disappointed in you, Bert." he tells one of his flock who is a petty thief. "I'm sorry, Father, it was just..." "Firstly," Father Brown interrupts, "because you did wrong. Secondly, because you did wrong in the wrong way. Frankly, you are an incompetent thief." "Well, I wouldn't go that far," Bert says. "I would," Father Brown says. "You are clearly incapable of earning a dishonest living. Why not experiment with an honest one?"
A master art thief has been stealing works of art throughout Europe and one day manages to steal a priceless cross from Father Brown's church. With the assistance of Lady Warren (Joan Greenwood) and over the exasperated objections of his bishop, Father Brown is determined to find the cross, locate Flambeau and in the process, if he can, save Flambeau's soul. The search takes Father Brown to Paris and the French country side, down into catacombs and into Flambeau's chateau. At last there is a confrontation, and then a resolution that involves Lady Warren as well as Flambeau.
There are some first-rate, clever set pieces in the movie. An amusing triple exchange of packages takes place at a Parisian table. An excursion deep into the catacombs is complicated by the French police following Father Brown who is trying to follow Flambeau. Ernest Thesiger makes a brief but very funny appearance as an aged fellow assisting Father Brown in locating a document very high up on a shelf. In the process they break both their glasses. There also are a number of thoughtful exchanges between Flambeau and Father Brown as the one explains his philosophy of life and thievery and the other explains his philosophy of faith.
The movie can get a bit talky at times, but who cares when the talking is by three such first-rate actors as Guinness, Finch and Greenwood.
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I was 11 when they made that film, I saw it first on television I think twenty or thirty years later, I bought a very bad NTSC tape copy titled "The Detective" about ten years ago - and I'm very happy to have it now on DVD. Good b&w transfer, good soundtrack (well, compared to the screeching NTSC tape). No extras, sorry, so what. I love it! It's old fashioned as well in its positive message and happy end, as well in its splendid actors and slow, unhurried, logical development. Good old times! No splatter, computer animation, the like. Just acting, good camera angles, putting scenes together. Alec Guinness is great, filling out this role as any other one, so is Joan Greenwood (in a positive role after all, cutting off her ambiguity) and a very elegant Peter Finch, also long suffering Cecil Parker. I wonder the advertisement insists on actor Gerard Oury: I do like him as a director of great French comedies, but he didn't direct this film, and as an actor he is rather by the way.
If you like film classics, this one will make you happy. You seldom leave the screen with a smile these days. But beware: it will spoil you for all the followers-up of Father Brown. Guinness will always be on top.
If you like film classics, this one will make you happy. You seldom leave the screen with a smile these days. But beware: it will spoil you for all the followers-up of Father Brown. Guinness will always be on top.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Although in black and white and a little dated, this is a great film for the whole family to watch. It is full of well known actors, Alec Guinness, Joan Greenwood & Peter Finch to name just 3, all of whom give fine performances. An utterly charming film!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
oldie but goody
The acting was great and it is a lovely story well told. The humour is gentle - Alec Guiness is perfection.
Published 4 months ago by jan
The Father Brown Stories by G. K. Chesterton.
This collection of Father Brown detective stories is wonderful. The way Father Brown puts himself in the shoes of the criminals to solve the various crimes pre-empts modern... Read more
Published 6 months ago by Mr. D. G. Hodder
Only OK.
I love older English mysteries and was prepared to enjoy this one, but it just didn't click. Father Brown here is a little too cute, too 'affected'. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Doug
Bless us, Father!
Sir Alec Guinness is without doubt a treasure to be shared and enjoyed even long after he's gone from us. As can also be said for the fine supporting cast. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Marysia
Your face was old, but your hands were young
A perfectly cast production, at last!
Alec Guiness, probably the best English actor who ever lived, and Peter Finch, certainly the best Australian one, (see him in... Read more
Alec Guiness, probably the best English actor who ever lived, and Peter Finch, certainly the best Australian one, (see him in... Read more
Published 12 months ago by vbprogman
Not bad, but it never works quite as well as it should
There seem to be two main schools of thought regarding Father Brown: that the film isn't nearly so bad as its reputation or that, considering the material and the talents involved,... Read more
Published 12 months ago by Trevor Willsmer
Bless us further then!
Well.. I had heard of it but never seen it in the cinema and bearing in mind Alec Guinness has not appeared in many clunkers, decided to give it a go as they say.. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Johan Wood
Good, but not one of his best.
I could watch Alec Guinness in just about anything, even the proverbial weather report! Nevertheless I'm afraid I can only bring myself to award this film three stars. Read more
Published 17 months ago by Hand over the toffees
B & W Film Fan
Cracking film, thoroughly enjoyable, Guinness really brilliant along with a cameo from Sid James. Wonderful.
Published 21 months ago by Ms. Nicola J. Booth
Surprisingly good British mystery classic
While this film is not one of Alec Guinness' best known works, he's most effective and believable a priest/detective who is as concerned in the salvation of the thieves he tracks... Read more
Published 23 months ago by G. Skora
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