Father Brown (film)
| Father Brown | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Robert Hamer |
| Produced by | Paul Finder Moss |
| Written by |
G. K. Chesterton (stories) Thelma Moss Maurice Rapf Robert Hamer |
| Starring |
Alec Guinness Joan Greenwood Peter Finch Cecil Parker Bernard Lee |
| Music by | Georges Auric |
| Cinematography | Harry Waxman |
| Edited by | Gordon Hales |
| Distributed by | Columbia Pictures |
Release date | 8 June 1954 |
Running time | 91 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
Father Brown (The Detective in the United States) is a 1954 British mystery comedy film. Like the earlier 1934 Paramount picture Father Brown, Detective starring Walter Connolly, Paul Lukas and Gertrude Michael, the film is based on "The Blue Cross", a short story by G. K. Chesterton.
Plot
Father Brown tries to transport an historically important cross to Rome engaging in battles of wits and faith with a thief and pursuing policeman. The thief, named Flambeau (Finch), is a master of disguise and is elusive, as Father Brown pursues him and tries to convince him to abandon his criminal career.
Cast
- Alec Guinness as Father Brown
- Joan Greenwood as Lady Warren
- Peter Finch as Flambeau
- Cecil Parker as The Bishop
- Bernard Lee as Inspector Valentine
- Sid James as Bert Parkinson
- Gérard Oury as Inspector Dubois
- Ernest Clark as Bishop's Secretary
- Aubrey Woods as Charlie
- John Salew as Station sergeant
- Sam Kydd as Scotland Yard sergeant
- John Horsley as Inspector Wilkins
- Ernest Thesiger as Vicomte de Verdigris
- Jack McNaughton as Railway Guard
- Hugh Dempster as Man in bowler hat
- Eugene Deckers as French Cavalry Officer
Adaptation
It is based on the G. K. Chesterton Father Brown stories and was directed by Robert Hamer. The screen adaptation was written by Thelma Moss, and is based on several of the Father Brown stories, notably "The Blue Cross".
Critical reception
- Variety said the film was, "distinguished mainly by the excellent casting of Alec Guinness in the title role."[1]
- The New York Times found it "a leisurely, good-humored film."[2]
Awards and nominations
- 1954: Nominated, "Golden Lion Award" - Robert Hamer
References
- ↑ "Father Brown". Variety. 1953-12-31. Retrieved 2014-03-12.
- ↑ Crowther, Bosley (1954-11-02). "Movie Review - Father Brown - The Screen in Review; Alec Guinness Stars in 'The Detective'". NYTimes.com. Retrieved 2014-03-12.