Product Details

• Actors: Anthony Quayle, Cliff Richard, Sarah Churchill, Andrew Ray
• Directors: Terence Young
• Format: Black & White, Dolby, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: VCI Entertainment
• DVD Release Date: June 30, 2009
• Run Time: 99 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B0027ZH9IC
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #170,686 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "Serious Charge: Renown Picture Classics" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

SERIOUS CHARGE - DVD Movie

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars It starts out like a "teen delinquent" film from the 50s and then moves into "Primal Fear" territory., January 24, 2011

By 

Steven I. Ramm "Steve Ramm "Anything Phon... (Phila, PA USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Serious Charge: Renown Picture Classics (DVD)

This well acted late 1950s (1959 to be exact) British drama was one of two films which "featured" British rock and roller Cliff Richard. (The other was Espresso Bongo.) But he really has a small role here with only a few lines of dialogue and three songs. Actually he only performs one complete and the others are curtailed when action occurs. Still the first 30 minutes gives a nice feel for "teenage rock and roll" in the 50s. But that's not the main plot here. As you will probably see by the plot summary or other reviews, this is about a new Vicar who moves into a community and later has to face charges of "inappropriate behavior". The British - where the Church is even more powerful than in the US - were years ahead of American films in broaching the subject.

Though I had seen Espresso Bongo years ago, this film was new to me and the print from VCI is clean and sharp with great sound.

Sure it's a "period piece" (the late 50s) but the story is interesting, with a few nice turns, the acting well done, and it'll certainly hold your attention. The Richard performances may lead you to the film, but you'll stay for the story and the acting.

There's a fun six-minute collage of British film trailers to the soundtrack of a new British pop song that preceded the feature. Nice added touch!

Steve Ramm
"Anything Phonographic"

3.0 out of 5 stars A Serious Charge, June 1, 2011

By 

MTS (New Jersey) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Serious Charge: Renown Picture Classics (DVD)

An interesting if not great film. A 50's teenager movie with a strong plot line. Anthony Quayle is great and Cliff Richard is Cliff so if you are a Cliff fan you will want to see this movie.

4 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars "Serious Charge (1959) ... Anthony Quayle ... VCI Ent. (2009)", June 15, 2009

By 

J. Lovins "Mr. Jim" (Missouri-USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Serious Charge: Renown Picture Classics (DVD)

VCI Entertainment presents "SERIOUS CHARGE" (May 1959) (95 mins/B&W) (Fully Restored/Dolby Digitally Remastered) --- Some outstanding performances with a great cast, as an unmarried vicar in a new parish Reverend Howard Phillips (Anthony Quayle) accuses a local 19 year old of being partially responsible for the death of a teenage girl --- In defiance, the young man claims the vicar molested him --- Out of spite, his story is backed up by a local woman Hester Peters (Sarah Churchill) still furious that the vicar rejected her advances --- Unfortunately for the Reverend, Hester Peters is a highly respected member of the community - her father is the previous clergyman --- A film ahead of its time, with some hard to watch scenes that will keep you glued to the small screen till the very end.

Under the production staff of:
Terence Young - Director
Mickey Delamar - Screenwriter
Guy Elmes - Screenwriter
Philip King - Author from the play "Serious Charge"
Mickey Delamar - Producer
Leighton Lucas - Original Music
Georges Périnal - Cinematographer
Reginald Beck - Film Editor

SPECIAL FEATURES:
1. Scene Selection
2. Trailers
3. British Cinema Promo

BIOS:
1. Anthony Quayle
Date of Birth: 7 September 1913 - Ainsdale, Southport, Lancashire (now Aindale, Sefton, Merseyside), England, UK
Date of Death: 20 October 1989 - London, England, UK

2. Sarah Churchill
Date of Birth: 7 October 1914 - London, England, UK
Date of Death: 24 September 1982 - London, England, UK

3. Terence Young (Director)
Date of Birth: 20 June 1915 - Shanghai, China
Date of Death: 7 September 1994 - Cannes, Alpes-Maritimes, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France

the cast includes:
Anthony Quayle ... The Reverend Howard Phillips
Sarah Churchill ... Hester Peters
Andrew Ray ... Larry Thompson
Irene Browne ... Mrs. Phillips
Percy Herbert ... Mr. Thompson
Noel Howlett ... Mr. Peters
Wilfrid Brambell ... Verger
Liliane Brousse ... Michelle
Jean Cadell ... Almshouse Matron
Judith Furse ... Probation Officer
Leigh Madison ... Mary Williams
Julie Martin
Wilfred Pickles ... Magistrate
Wensley Pithey ... Police Sergeant
Cliff Richard ... Curley Thompson
George Roderick ... Fishmonger
Olive Sloane ... Mrs. Browning

Hats off and thanks to Robert Blair and his staff at VCI Entertainment --- VCI was named in Variety and Hollywood Reporter as the first company to produce and release motion pictures directly to the home marketplace --- order your copy now from Amazon or VCI Entertainment where there are plenty of copies available on DVD, stay tuned once again for top notch releases --- VCI are experts in releasing long forgotten films and treasures to the collector -- looking forward to more Nostalgic Collections.

Total Time: 95 mins on DVD ~ VCI Entertainment ~ (06/30/2009)