Father Brown (Original title)The Detective (Alternative title)
Dates: 1954 (Copyright), 19 July 1954 (Release)Country: United KingdomDirected by: Robert Hamer
Synopsis: Detective story featuring Father Brown, a Roman Catholic priest with a gift for understanding the way criminals think, and uses this information against them. When he learns that the master of disguise Flambeau plans to steal his parish's priceless cross as it is being taken to a gathering of priests in Rome, Father Brown sets a trap to catch the thief at it, so he can keep the cross and save the criminal's soul too. Brown and Flambeau duly match wits in Paris and this becomes the first in a series of encounters in which Brown continues his pursuit of the worldly thief's soul.
Genre: Detective drama
Subjects: Priests, Detective Fiction
Releases
Date: 1954Country: United KingdomRelease type: unknownFormat: 35mm Film - Black and White - SoundRuntime: 91 mins Length: 8200 FeetDialogue (original): English
Title: [Kinematograph Weekly - n2450 10 Jun 1954: no known title]Language: English
In: Variety 16 Jun 1954
Title: [Variety - 16 Jun 1954: no known title]Language: English
In: Sight and Sound v24 n1 Jul/Sep 1954 Page: 33
Title: [Sight and Sound - v24 n1 Jul/Sep 1954: no known title]Language: English
In: Monthly Film Bulletin v21 n246 July 1954 Page: 98
Title: [Monthly Film Bulletin - v21 n246 July 1954: no known title]Language: English
In: The Hollywood Reporter v131 n20 27 Sep 1954 Page: 3
Title: [The Hollywood Reporter - v131 n20 27 Sep 1954: no known title]Language: English
In: Motion Picture Herald v197 n2 9 Oct 1954 Page: 18
Title: [Motion Picture Herald - v197 n2 9 Oct 1954: no known title]Language: English
Description: See prog. notes.
In: Today's Cinema v82 n7026 3 Jun 1954 Page: 6
Title: [Today's Cinema - v82 n7026 3 Jun 1954: no known title]Language: English
In: Kinematograph Weekly n2411 10 Sep 1953 Page: 29
Title: [Kinematograph Weekly - n2411 10 Sep 1953: no known title]Language: English
In: Today's Cinema v81 n6867 19 Oct 1953 Page: 8
Title: [Today's Cinema - v81 n6867 19 Oct 1953: no known title]Language: English
In:
Title: [ - : no known title]
Film, Video or Digital materials held in BFI National Archive(4)
Accessible materials to view(2)
Description: 35mm BW PositiveBase: CTASound: CombinedLength: 8206 FeetStock date: 1954BFI identifier: C-54302
Status: Viewing - Film print can be requested for access (servicing required)
Description: 35mm BW PositiveBase: CTASound: CombinedLength: 8165 FeetStock date: 1954BFI identifier: C-54301
Status: Viewing - Film print can be requested for access (servicing required)
Film materials(4)
Description: 35mm BW PositiveBase: CTASound: CombinedLength: 8206 FeetStock date: 1954BFI identifier: C-54302
Status: Viewing - Film print can be requested for access (servicing required)
Description: 35mm BW PositiveBase: CTASound: CombinedLength: 8165 FeetStock date: 1954BFI identifier: C-54301
Status: Viewing - Film print can be requested for access (servicing required)
Description: 35mm Dupe NegativeBase: CTASound: Combined as MuteLength: 8215 FeetStock date: 1953BFI identifier: C-54303
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved film
Description: 35mm Original NegativeBase: CTASound: SoundLength: 8215 FeetStock date: 1953BFI identifier: C-54304
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved film
Dates: 1954 (Copyright), 19 July 1954 (Release)Country: United KingdomDirected by: Robert Hamer
Synopsis: Detective story featuring Father Brown, a Roman Catholic priest with a gift for understanding the way criminals think, and uses this information against them. When he learns that the master of disguise Flambeau plans to steal his parish's priceless cross as it is being taken to a gathering of priests in Rome, Father Brown sets a trap to catch the thief at it, so he can keep the cross and save the criminal's soul too. Brown and Flambeau duly match wits in Paris and this becomes the first in a series of encounters in which Brown continues his pursuit of the worldly thief's soul.
Genre: Detective drama
Subjects: Priests, Detective Fiction
Releases
Date: 1954Country: United KingdomRelease type: unknownFormat: 35mm Film - Black and White - SoundRuntime: 91 mins Length: 8200 FeetDialogue (original): English
Credits
(25)
Production Company/©: Facet Productions, Executive Producer: Paul F. Moss, Produced by: Vivian A. Cox, Production Manager: Leigh Aman, Assistant Director: Max Varnel, Continuity: Phyllis Crocker, Screenplay by: Thelma Schnee, Robert Hamer, Adapted by: Thelma Schnee, Based on the stories [principally 'The Blue Cross'] by: G.K. Chesterton, Director of Photography: Harry Waxman, Camera Operator: Jimmy Bawden, Editor: Gordon Hales, Art Director: John Hawkesworth, [Set Dresser]: Dario Simoni, Costume Designer: Julia Squire, Make-up: Bob Lawrance, Hair Stylist: Pauline Trent, Music composed by: Georges Auric, Music played by: Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra conducted by: Muir Mathieson, Sound Recordist: George Burgess, L.B. Bulkely, Studio: Riverside Studios
Cast
(32)
Alec Guinness (Father Ignatius Brown), Joan Greenwood (Lady Warren), Peter Finch (Gustave Flambeau), Cecil Parker (the bishop), Bernard Lee (Inspector Valentine), Sidney James (Bert Parkinson), Gerard Oury (Inspector Dubois), Ernest Clark (the bishop's secretary), Aubrey Woods (Charlie), John Salew (station sergeant), Sam Kydd (Scotland Yard sergeant), John Horsley (Inspector Wilkins), Jack McNaughton (railway guard), Hugh Dempster (man in bowler hat), Eugene Deckers (French cavalry officer), Betty Baskcomb (French widow), Diana Van Proosdy (waitress), Dino Galvani (Conte della Molle, Italian professor), Lance Maraschal (Texan millionaire), Noel Howlett (auctioneer), Marne Maitland (maharajah), Austin Trevor (the herald), Ernest Thesiger (Vicomte de Verdigris), Hugo Schuster (optician), Guido Lorraine (café patron), Jim Gerald (French stationmaster), Daniel Clérice (garagiste), Everley Gregg (governess), the singers and dancers of Matisconia de Mâcon (singers and dancers), Bill Shine ([helpful Victoria station ticket inspector]), Wendy Adams ([uncredited]), Hyma Beckley (auctioneer house clerk)
Articles held in BFI Reuben Library
(10)
In: Kinematograph Weekly n2450 10 Jun 1954 Page: 22Title: [Kinematograph Weekly - n2450 10 Jun 1954: no known title]Language: English
In: Variety 16 Jun 1954
Title: [Variety - 16 Jun 1954: no known title]Language: English
In: Sight and Sound v24 n1 Jul/Sep 1954 Page: 33
Title: [Sight and Sound - v24 n1 Jul/Sep 1954: no known title]Language: English
In: Monthly Film Bulletin v21 n246 July 1954 Page: 98
Title: [Monthly Film Bulletin - v21 n246 July 1954: no known title]Language: English
In: The Hollywood Reporter v131 n20 27 Sep 1954 Page: 3
Title: [The Hollywood Reporter - v131 n20 27 Sep 1954: no known title]Language: English
In: Motion Picture Herald v197 n2 9 Oct 1954 Page: 18
Title: [Motion Picture Herald - v197 n2 9 Oct 1954: no known title]Language: English
Description: See prog. notes.
In: Today's Cinema v82 n7026 3 Jun 1954 Page: 6
Title: [Today's Cinema - v82 n7026 3 Jun 1954: no known title]Language: English
In: Kinematograph Weekly n2411 10 Sep 1953 Page: 29
Title: [Kinematograph Weekly - n2411 10 Sep 1953: no known title]Language: English
In: Today's Cinema v81 n6867 19 Oct 1953 Page: 8
Title: [Today's Cinema - v81 n6867 19 Oct 1953: no known title]Language: English
In:
Title: [ - : no known title]
Film, Video or Digital materials held in BFI National Archive(4)
Accessible materials to view(2)
Description: 35mm BW PositiveBase: CTASound: CombinedLength: 8206 FeetStock date: 1954BFI identifier: C-54302
Status: Viewing - Film print can be requested for access (servicing required)
Description: 35mm BW PositiveBase: CTASound: CombinedLength: 8165 FeetStock date: 1954BFI identifier: C-54301
Status: Viewing - Film print can be requested for access (servicing required)
Film materials(4)
Description: 35mm BW PositiveBase: CTASound: CombinedLength: 8206 FeetStock date: 1954BFI identifier: C-54302
Status: Viewing - Film print can be requested for access (servicing required)
Description: 35mm BW PositiveBase: CTASound: CombinedLength: 8165 FeetStock date: 1954BFI identifier: C-54301
Status: Viewing - Film print can be requested for access (servicing required)
Description: 35mm Dupe NegativeBase: CTASound: Combined as MuteLength: 8215 FeetStock date: 1953BFI identifier: C-54303
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved film
Description: 35mm Original NegativeBase: CTASound: SoundLength: 8215 FeetStock date: 1953BFI identifier: C-54304
Status: Master - Restricted access to preserved film