Serious Charge: Renown Picture Classics [DVD] [1959] [US Import]

VCI Entertainment presents "SERIOUS CHARGE" (May 1959) (95 mins/B&W) (Fully Restored/Dolby Digitally Remastered) --- Some outstanding performances with a great cast, as an unmarried vicar in a new parish Reverend Howard Phillips (Anthony Quayle) accuses a local 19 year old of being partially responsible for the death of a teenage girl --- In defiance, the young man claims the vicar molested him --- Out of spite, his story is backed up by a local woman Hester Peters (Sarah Churchill) still furious that the vicar rejected her advances --- Unfortunately for the Reverend, Hester Peters is a highly respected member of the community - her father is the previous clergyman --- A film ahead of its time, with some hard to watch scenes that will keep you glued to the small screen till the very end.

Under the production staff of:
Terence Young - Director
Mickey Delamar - Screenwriter
Guy Elmes - Screenwriter
Philip King - Author from the play "Serious Charge"
Mickey Delamar - Producer
Leighton Lucas - Original Music
Georges Périnal - Cinematographer
Reginald Beck - Film Editor

SPECIAL FEATURES:
1. Scene Selection
2. Trailers
3. British Cinema Promo

BIOS:
1. Anthony Quayle
Date of Birth: 7 September 1913 - Ainsdale, Southport, Lancashire (now Aindale, Sefton, Merseyside), England, UK
Date of Death: 20 October 1989 - London, England, UK

2. Sarah Churchill
Date of Birth: 7 October 1914 - London, England, UK
Date of Death: 24 September 1982 - London, England, UK

3. Terence Young (Director)
Date of Birth: 20 June 1915 - Shanghai, China
Date of Death: 7 September 1994 - Cannes, Alpes-Maritimes, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France

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

Hats off and thanks to Robert Blair and his staff at VCI Entertainment --- VCI was named in Variety and Hollywood Reporter as the first company to produce and release motion pictures directly to the home marketplace --- order your copy now from Amazon or VCI Entertainment where there are plenty of copies available on DVD, stay tuned once again for top notch releases --- VCI are experts in releasing long forgotten films and treasures to the collector -- looking forward to more Nostalgic Collections.

Total Time: 95 mins on DVD ~ VCI Entertainment ~ (06/30/2009)

This film is mainly remembered for being the cinematic debut of Cliff Richard, who has a supporting role. Cliff is very good in his part, and displays a great depth despite his young age. The other acting throughout is pretty good, Anthony Quayle shines in the lead role. A little piece of pop trivia is that one of the gang members was played by an uncredited Jess Conrad.

The film has been carefully transferred to DVD in mostly excellent picture quality. The sound has a few crackles in places, but nothing that would spoil the viewing. The packaging is wonderful, with a great booklet about the film and Cliff.

I would encourage all Cliff fans, and anybody nostalgic for the fifties to buy the DVD.

I bought the film because of Anthony Quayle, even though the advertisement focuses on Cliff Richard. However, Richard has very little screen time and luckily doesn`t disturb the flow of the main story.
Anthony Quayle and Andrew Ray show very strong presence all along, it is worth watching it just for them and the story itself must have been something new at the time. What really caught me is that why Richard`s character is always at the juvenile court when it is obvious to everyone that the real troublemaker is his brother (Ray). It should have been explained somehow. Apart from that it is a strong, well balanced story with good characters.