Serious Charge *** (1959, Anthony Quayle, Sarah Churchill, Andrew Ray, Cliff Richard) – Classic Movie Review 3953

Director Terence Young’s 1959 British drama Serious Charge is based on a play by Philip King and really presents a couple of serious charges. Anthony Quayle stars as Howard Phillips, a vicar newly arrived in the town of Bellington. Larry Thompson (Andrew Ray) accuses the vicar of making advances towards him when the vicar accuses the youth of causing a girl’s death.

Vengeful Hester Peters (Sarah Churchill), the previous vicar’s daughter, maliciously confirms the accusation after she had previously been spurned by Phillips when she wants to be his wife. The Bellington mob sides with Larry and Hester, turning against Phillips, who has a crisis of faith.

Philip King’s once-daring 1950s play becomes an over-intense and of course obviously very dated film, though there is still some dramatic charge to be found here in the screenplay by Guy Elmes and Mickey Delamar.

There is also good acting from a top cast, while a plump and surly-looking Cliff Richard makes his film debut as Curly Thompson to sing his early megahit ‘Living Doll’ and the long-forgotten song ‘No Turning Back’. ‘Living Doll’ by Cliff Richard and The Shadows (then The Drifters), released as a single in a different arrangement as a spin-off from the film, became a British number one and the UK top-selling song of 1959.

Also in the cast are Irene Browne, Percy Herbert, Noel Howlett, Wensley Pithey, Leigh Madison, Judith Furse, Jean Cadell, Wilfred Pickles, Wilfrid Brambell, Olive Sloane, George Roderick, Liliane Brousse, Marie Devereux, Carol Dourof, Harry Locke, Philip Lowrie, Julie Martin, Geremy Phillips and Jess Conrad as Dancer.

Serious Charge (also known as A Touch of Hell) is directed by Terence Young, runs 99 minutes, is made by Alva, is released by Eros, is written by Guy Elmes and Mickey Delamar, based on a play by Philip King, is shot in black and white by Georges Périnal, is produced by Mickey Delamar, and is scored by Leighton Lucas.

Cliff Richard went on to film Expresso Bongo (1959).

Cliff Richard turns 80 on 14 October 2020.

Jess Conrad tweeted on 14 October 2020: ‘After meeting in 1959 at the Two I’s Cafe & making a film, Serious Charge, together. We’ve been close friends ever since. He invites me to all his functions @VarietyGB & tonight I’m compering a show @KeyTheatre in celebration of his birthday.’

Jess Conrad tweeted on 14 October 2020: ‘Great night @KeyTheatre raising funds for the East Anglian Air Ambulance in honour of Sir Cliff’s 80th Birthday with tribute act @Cliff_As_If.’

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