Conduct Unbecoming ** (1975, Michael York, Stacy Keach, Trevor Howard, Christopher Plummer, Richard Attenborough, Susannah York, James Faulkner, Helen Cherry) – Classic Movie Review 10,969

Director Michael Anderson’s 1975 British courtroom drama Conduct Unbecoming stars Michael York, Stacy Keach, Trevor Howard, Christopher Plummer, Richard Attenborough, Susannah York, James Faulkner, James Donald, Michael Culver and Helen Cherry.

A British officer, Second Lieutenant Edward Millington (James Faulkner), in 1890s India is accused of the unspeakable crime of dishonouring a lady, heroic officer’s widow Mrs Marjorie Scarlett (Susannah York) in the garden at a British regimental party, in this rather tepid and stagebound film of Barry England’s hit London stage play. It is up to young fellow officer Second Lieutenant Arthur Drake (Michael York) to defend Millington from the charges in a court-martial, and investigate the mystery behind the attack.

Some of the talented performers, relishing fair dialogue, act impressively and command attention, but Anderson’s direction is unimaginative and unexciting, producing a dull and dated if worthy enough movie.

What it has to say about the British Raj and its characters and morals seems a tad obvious and ordinary.

Helen Cherry (1915–2001) was the wife of Trevor Howard, who died in 1988. She plays his on-screen wife in this movie.

Also in the cast are Rafiq Anwar, Michael Fleming, David Robb, David Purcell, David Neville, Andrew Lodge, Persis Khambatta and Michael Byrne.

Terence Rattigan and Bryan Forbes also contributed to the screenplay.

It was shot for about five weeks around November 1974 at Shepperton Studios, Shepperton, Surrey, England, and Islamabad, Pakistan.

The film was released six years after the stage play by Barry England was first performed in May 1969, at the Theatre Royal in Bristol, England. It transferred to Broadway where its original production opened on 12 October 1970 at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre in New York City, and ran for 144 performances till 14 February 1971. The play reads: ‘Setting: India in the late Eighteen Hundreds. The Ante-room to the Officers’ Mess of a regiment in the Indian Army.’

Jeremy Clyde of the singing group Chad and Jeremy played the lead in the play in London but the film producers wanted an established star.

Conduct Unbecoming is directed by Michael Anderson, runs 107 minutes, is made by Crown and Lion International, is released by British Lion Film Corporation (1975) (UK) and Allied Artists Pictures (1975) (US), is written by Robert Enders, based on Barry England’s play, is shot by Robert Huke, is produced by Michael Deeley, Andrew Donally and Barry Spikings, is scored by Stanley Myers and designed by Ted Tester.

Susannah York and Plummer also appeared together in Battle of Britain (1969) and The Silent Partner (1978).

Michael York and Anderson went on to make Logan’s Run (1976) and Sword of Gideon (1986) together.

© Derek Winnert 2021 Classic Movie Review 10,969

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