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	\| image = ~~"Law_and_Disorder"_~~(1958).jpg		\| image = Law and Disorder (1958).jpg
	\| caption = U.S. theatrical poster		\| caption = U.S. theatrical poster
	\| director = [[Charles Crichton]]		\| director = [[Charles Crichton]]
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	[[Category:1950s English-language films]]		[[Category:1950s English-language films]]
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			[[Category:British comedy films]]

Kurt at 14:08, 30 January 2023

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	~~{{For\|other films of the same name\|Law and Disorder (disambiguation){{!}}Law and Disorder}}~~
	~~{{Use dmy dates\|date=May 2016}}~~
	~~{{Use British English\|date=May 2016}}~~
	{{Infobox film		{{Infobox film
	\| name = Law and Disorder		\| name = Law and Disorder
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	==External links==		==External links==
	*{{IMDb title\|0051847}}		*{{IMDb title\|0051847}}

	~~{{Charles Crichton}}~~
	~~{{Humphrey Searle}}~~

	[[Category:1958 films]]		[[Category:1958 films]]

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en>Sc2353: general cleanup

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{{For|other films of the same name|Law and Disorder (disambiguation){{!}}Law and Disorder}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2016}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2016}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Law and Disorder
| image_size =
| image = "Law_and_Disorder"_(1958).jpg
| caption = U.S. theatrical poster
| director = [[Charles Crichton]]
| producer = [[Paul Soskin]]
| writer = [[T. E. B. Clarke]]<br>[[Patrick Campbell, 3rd Baron Glenavy|Patrick Campbell]]<br>Vivienne Knight
| based_on = novel ''Smugglers' Circuit'' by [[Denys Roberts]]
| starring = [[Michael Redgrave]]<br> [[Robert Morley]]
| music = [[Humphrey Searle]]
| cinematography = [[Edward Scaife|Ted Scaife]]
| editing = [[Oswald Hafenrichter]]
| studio = A Paul Soskin Production<br>[[British Lion Film Corporation|British Lion Films Limited]]
| distributor = British Lion Film Corporation (UK)
| released = 10 June 1958 (London) (UK)
| runtime = 76 minutes
| country = United Kingdom
| language = English
}}
'''''Law and Disorder''''' is a 1958 British [[crime comedy film]] directed by [[Charles Crichton]] and starring [[Michael Redgrave]], [[Robert Morley]], [[Joan Hickson]], and [[Lionel Jeffries]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://explore.bfi.org.uk/4ce2b6ae9da4e|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120713160019/http://explore.bfi.org.uk/4ce2b6ae9da4e|url-status=dead|archive-date=2012-07-13|title=Law and Disorder|work=BFI}}</ref> It was based on the 1954 novel ''Smugglers' Circuit'' by [[Denys Roberts]]. The film was started by director [[Henry Cornelius]], who died whilst making the film. He was replaced by Charles Crichton.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/81008/Law-and-Disorder/misc-notes.html|title=Law and Disorder (1958) - Misc Notes - TCM.com|work=Turner Classic Movies}}</ref>

==Plot==
Percy Brand is a career criminal, a veteran of various cons and schemes, and he is regularly sent to prison by judge Sir Edward Crichton. That does not bother Percy too much, but what does concern him is that his son, Colin, should not discover what his father does. Percy tells him tales about being a missionary in China when he is released in 1938, a military chaplain in North Africa in 1941, and a freed [[prisoner of war]] in 1946 to cover his absences in gaol. While Percy is "away", Colin is cared for by Aunt Florence, who knows what Percy really does.

When Colin grows up, he chooses to become a barrister. By coincidence, he takes seven years to achieve his goal, the same duration as Percy's latest sentence. When Percy is freed, he arrives just after Colin is [[Call to the bar|called to the bar]]. Colin informs him that he has secured a position as an unpaid marshal, i.e. an aide, to a judge to gain experience, and not just to any judge, but to Percy's nemesis, Edward Crichton. Percy decides to retire from his life of crime rather than risk coming into court and Colin seeing him there.

Retirement to a cottage on the south coast of England is not enough to keep Percy (and Florence) out of mischief. When he hears about the smuggling that took place before the conscientious Police Sergeant Bolton arrived, Percy gets involved in bringing in brandy from France, hidden inside sharks he "catches".

Then, an old acquaintance, Major Proudfoot, comes to see him. Proudfoot has planted a story that an explorer was murdered and robbed of 100,000 [[Pound sterling|quid]] of emeralds he found in Brazil. Now he has a buyer lined up for the nonexistent jewels, which he wants Percy to pretend to smuggle in. Percy has a better idea, involving fake policemen and himself as a customs officer, but the plan goes awry when Judge Crichton arrives to meet his wife, returning from a trip abroad. Percy manages to steal a launch, but is eventually caught. To compound his misfortune, he is to be tried by Crichton, a last-minute substitute for a judge afflicted with [[gout]].

Florence comes up with the idea to add a fake case to the docket to occupy Crichton's remaining time on that particular [[circuit court]], with the assistance of Percy's friends and associates. Mary Cooper brings her publican husband into court over a slander repeatedly uttered by their pet parrot. However, the judge becomes fed up with the case and finally dismisses it, leaving Percy's trial for the next day. The gang members then try to frame Crichton for smuggling by planting contraband in the car they arrange for the judge and Colin to take that night, and then making an anonymous call to tip off the customs agents. Crichton decides to take a walk first, and Colin and he get lost. They inadvertently trigger a burglar alarm when they reach a house, and are taken at gunpoint to the police station.

Colin later "confesses" to try to straighten things out, but is not in time to prevent the judge and Percy from being driven in the same van to the [[assizes]]. Along the way, Percy confesses everything to Crichton, who is amused. He sends Colin on an errand so that, when Percy is brought into the courtroom, Colin is absent. The judge then [[recuse]]s himself, as he has had social contact with the defendant, leaving Colin none the wiser. Out on bail, but expecting another long prison sentence, Percy bids farewell to Colin, telling him that he has come out of retirement for one more trip.

==Cast==
{{Div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[Michael Redgrave]] as Percy Brand
* [[Robert Morley]] as Judge Sir Edward Crichton
* [[Ronald Squire]] as Colonel Masters
* [[Elizabeth Sellars]] as Gina Laselle
* [[Joan Hickson]] as Aunt Florence
* [[Lionel Jeffries]] as Major Proudfoot
* [[Jeremy Burnham]] as Colin Brand
* [[Brenda Bruce]] as Mrs Mary Cooper
* [[Harold Goodwin (English actor)|Harold Goodwin]] as Blacky
* [[George Coulouris]] as Bennie [Bensuson]
* [[Meredith Edwards (actor)|Meredith Edwards]] as Sergeant Bolton
* [[Reginald Beckwith]] as Vickery
* [[David Hutcheson]] as Freddie [Cooper]
* [[Mary Kerridge]] as Lady Crichton
* [[Michael Trubshawe]] as Ivan
* [[John Le Mesurier]] as Pomfret
* [[Irene Handl]] as Woman in Train
* [[Allan Cuthbertson]] as Police Inspector
* [[Sam Kydd]] as Shorty
* [[John Hewer]] as Foxy
* [[John Warwick]] as Police Superintendent
* [[Nora Nicholson]] as Mrs. Cartwright
* [[Anthony Sagar]] as Customs Officer
* [[John Paul (actor)|John Paul]] as Customs Officer
* [[Alfred Burke]] as Poacher
* [[Michael Brennan (actor)|Michael Brennan]] as Warden Ext. Prison
* [[Toke Townley]] as Rumpthorne
* [[Arthur Howard]] as Burrows
* [[John Rudling]] as Man in Train
* [[Gerald Cross]] as Hodgkin
{{div col end}}

==Critical reception==
A. H. Weiler wrote in ''[[The New York Times]]'': "Robert Morley contributes an outstanding performance as the stern judge who finds himself as much outside the law as within it. Although he never cracks a smile, chances are he will force a few on the customers. As a matter of fact, they should find most of the cheerful disorders in ''Law and Disorder'' irreverently funny and diverting".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1958/08/06/archives/screen-british-comedy-law-and-disorder-is-new-baronet-feature.html|title=Screen: British Comedy; 'Law and Disorder' Is New Baronet Feature (Published 1958)|first=A. H.|last=Weiler|date=6 August 1958|via=NYTimes.com}}</ref> The ''[[TV Guide]]'' review stated it had "a tight screenplay, with not a word wasted, and sharp acting by some of England's best characters. This is a good example of the 1950s ''[[Brit-com]]s'' and there is so much joy in watching Morley acting with Redgrave that it seems a shame a series of films weren't made with these two characters pitted against each other."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tvguide.com/movies/law-and-disorder-103942/review/|title=Law And Disorder|work=TVGuide.com}}</ref>

==References==
<references/>

==External links==
*{{IMDb title|0051847}}

{{Charles Crichton}}
{{Humphrey Searle}}

[[Category:1958 films]]
[[Category:1950s crime comedy films]]
[[Category:British black-and-white films]]
[[Category:British crime comedy films]]
[[Category:British Lion Films films]]
[[Category:Films shot at Associated British Studios]]
[[Category:Films based on British novels]]
[[Category:Films directed by Charles Crichton]]
[[Category:Films scored by Humphrey Searle]]
[[Category:Films set in 1938]]
[[Category:Films set in 1941]]
[[Category:Films set in 1946]]
[[Category:Films set in England]]
[[Category:1958 comedy films]]
[[Category:Films produced by Paul Soskin]]
[[Category:1950s English-language films]]
[[Category:1950s British films]]

Law and Disorder (1958 film) - Revision history

Kurt at 14:01, 31 January 2023

Kurt at 14:08, 30 January 2023

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en>Sc2353: general cleanup