Brandy for the Parson *** (1952, James Donald, Kenneth More, Jean Lodge, Frederick Piper, Charles Hawtrey) – Classic Movie Review 13,390

The 1952 British brandy smuggler comedy film Brandy for the Parson is based on a short story by Geoffrey Household, and stars James Donald, Kenneth More, and Jean Lodge

Director John Eldridge’s 1952 British comedy film Brandy for the Parson is based on a short story by Geoffrey Household, and stars James Donald, Kenneth More, and Jean Lodge.

Brandy for the Parson is an amiably appealing, laidback-style hit comedy about a British boat-holiday pair Bill and Petronilla (James Donald and Jean Lodge) who give a lift to friendly brandy smuggler Tony (Kenneth More) and his cargo, and thus unknowingly bring in brandy for the smuggler, and are pursued across country by UK Customs officers.

There is no real punch here, but it is all gently entertaining and pleasantly acted on fresh-looking scenery. Kenneth More shows his class and there is the usual 50s strong British character actor cast to enjoy.

The screenplay is written by John Dighton, Walter Meade and Alfred Shaughnessy, based on the short story by Geoffrey (Rogue Male) Household from Tales of Adventurers (1952), with one of his typical cross-country chase themes.

The title refers to the refrain of the poem A Smuggler’s Song by Rudyard Kipling.

The screenplay was based on an unused script from Ealing Studios, who passed it on to Group Three Films who produced it on a low budget of just £50,000. Everything about it shouts Ealing Studios. The poster even makes it look like an Ealing film. John Eldridge had worked in documentary films and this was his first feature film.

The film was produced by the British government-backed Group 3 Films and shot at Southall Studios, with location shooting around Salcombe and the Kingsbridge Estuary in Devon as well as Dorchester in Dorset, for a total of seven weeks.

Group 3 Films (1951 to 1955) was set up by the National Film Finance Corporation to finance films from newer film-makers. It was run by John Grierson and John Baxter, and made more than 20 films but lost £500,000.

The film’s executive producer and group head John Grierson described it as ‘a sweet lemon of a picture with a feel of old oak and seaweed’.

Production delays led to Audrey Hepburn being replaced by Jean Lodge who was married to the film’s associate producer and co-screenwriter Alfred Shaughnessy.

Release date: 20 May 1952.

John Eldridge went on to direct Laxdale Hall [Scotch on the Rocks].

Charles Hawtrey (born George Frederick Joffre Hartree (30 November 1914 – 27 October 1988).

The cast

The cast are James Donald as Bill Harper, Kenneth More as Tony Rackham, Jean Lodge as Petronilla Brand, Frederick Piper as customs inspector, Charles Hawtrey as George Crumb, Michael Trubshawe as Redworth, Alfie Bass as Dallyn, Wilfrid Caithness [Wilfred Caithness] as Mr Minch, Lionel Harris as Mr Frost, Richard Molinas as Massaud, Reginald Beckwith as scoutmaster, Stanley Lemin as customs officer, Arthur Wontner as Major Glockleigh, Frank Tickle as vicar, Amy Dalby as postmistress, Wensley Pithey as circus owner, Sam Kydd as lorry driver, Stanley Lemin, and Frank Tickle.

Brandy for the Parson is directed by John Eldridge, runs 80 minutes, is made by Group 3 Films, is released by Associated British-Pathé (UK), is written by John Dighton (screenplay), Walter Meade (screenplay) and Alfred Shaughnessy (additional scenes and dialogue), is shot in black and white by Martin Curtis, is produced by John Grierson (executive producer) and Alfred Shaughnessy (associate producer), is scored by John Addison, and is designed by Ray Simm.

Jean Margaret Lodge (born 4 August 1927)

Lodge had two children with Alfred Shaughnessy (died 2005): the actor Charles and producer/ actor David.

© Derek Winnert 2025 – Classic Movie Review 13,390

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