Serious Charge
| Serious Charge | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Terence Young |
| Produced by | Mickey Delamar |
| Written by |
Mickey Delamar Guy Elmes |
| Starring |
Anthony Quayle Sarah Churchill Andrew Ray Irene Browne |
| Music by |
Leighton Lewis (Score) Lionel Bart (Songs) |
| Cinematography | Georges Périnal |
| Editing by | Allan Harris |
| Release dates |
|
| Running time | 107 mins |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
Serious Charge is a 1959 film now most notable for being Cliff Richard’s screen acting début in a very minor supporting role, playing a layabout teenage musician called Curley Thompson.
The film was adapted from a stage play written by Philip King. One of the teenage delinquent gang members was played by another 1950s rock and roll star, the uncredited Jess Conrad in an early acting performance.
Plot
The unmarried vicar Reverend Howard Phillips (Anthony Quayle), newly arrived in a parish, accuses a local 19 year old thug and petty criminal, Larry Thompson (Andrew Ray) of being partially responsible for the recent death of a teenage girl (Leigh Madison). In retaliation and as an attempt to divert attention, the teenager accuses the vicar of molesting him. His invented story is substantiated out of spite by another local woman still furious that the vicar rejected her amorous advances. Unfortunately for the vicar, the woman is a highly respected member of the community, her father being the parish’s previous clergyman.[1]
The film features musical performances by Cliff Richard and the Shadows, still called the Drifters at the time. Richard plays the thug’s younger brother. He barely speaks in the film, other than to sing three songs in coffee bar scenes.
Cast
- Anthony Quayle as Howard Phillips
- Sarah Churchill as Hester Peters
- Andrew Ray as Larry Thompson
- Irene Browne as Mrs. Phillips
- Percy Herbert as Mr. Thompson
- Noel Howlett as Mr. Peters
- Wensley Pithey as Police Sergeant
- Leigh Madison as Mary Williams
- Judith Furse as Probation Officer
- Jean Cadell as Almshouse Matron
- Wilfrid Brambell as Verger
- Olive Sloane as Mrs. Browning
- George Roderick as Fishmonger
- Cliff Richard as Curley Thompson
- Liliane Brousse as Michelle