Serious Charge (1959 film)
Encyclopedia
Serious Charge is a 1959 film now most notable for being Cliff Richard
’s screen acting début in a very minor supporting role, playing a layabout teenage musician called Curley Thompson.
The film was adapted from a stage play written by Philip King
. One of the teenage delinquent gang members was played by another 1950s rock and roll star, the uncredited Jess Conrad
in an early acting performance.
), newly arrived in a parish, accuses a local 19 year old thug and petty criminal (Andrew Ray
) of being partially responsible for the recent death of a teenage girl (Leigh Madison). In retaliation and as an attempt to divert attention, the teenager accuses the vicar of molesting him. His invented story is substantiated out of spite by another local woman still furious that the vicar rejected her amorous advances. Unfortunately for the vicar, the woman is a highly respected member of the community, her father being the parish’s previous clergyman.
The film features musical performances by Cliff Richard and the Shadows, still called the Drifters at the time. Richard plays the thug’s younger brother. He barely speaks in the film, other than to sing three songs in coffee bar scenes.
Cliff Richard
Sir Cliff Richard, OBE is a British pop singer, musician, performer, actor, and philanthropist who has sold over an estimated 250 million records worldwide....
’s screen acting début in a very minor supporting role, playing a layabout teenage musician called Curley Thompson.
The film was adapted from a stage play written by Philip King
Philip King (playwright)
Philip King, a British playwright and actor, was born in Yorkshire in 1904. He is best known as the author of the farce See How They Run . He lived in Brighton and many of his plays were first produced in nearby Worthing. He continued to act throughout his writing career, often appearing in his...
. One of the teenage delinquent gang members was played by another 1950s rock and roll star, the uncredited Jess Conrad
Jess Conrad
Jess Conrad OBE is an actor and singer from England.-Career:Having started his career as a repertory actor and film extra, Jess Conrad was cast in a television play "Bye, Bye Barney" as a pop singer...
in an early acting performance.
Plot
The unmarried vicar Reverend Howard Phillips (Anthony QuayleAnthony Quayle
Sir John Anthony Quayle, CBE was an English actor and director.-Early life:Quayle was born in Ainsdale, Southport, in Lancashire to a Manx family....
), newly arrived in a parish, accuses a local 19 year old thug and petty criminal (Andrew Ray
Andrew Ray
Andrew Ray was an English actor who was best known as a child star.He was born Andrew Olden , in North London, the son of the famous radio comic Ted Ray and his wife, showgirl Dorothy...
) of being partially responsible for the recent death of a teenage girl (Leigh Madison). In retaliation and as an attempt to divert attention, the teenager accuses the vicar of molesting him. His invented story is substantiated out of spite by another local woman still furious that the vicar rejected her amorous advances. Unfortunately for the vicar, the woman is a highly respected member of the community, her father being the parish’s previous clergyman.
The film features musical performances by Cliff Richard and the Shadows, still called the Drifters at the time. Richard plays the thug’s younger brother. He barely speaks in the film, other than to sing three songs in coffee bar scenes.
Cast
- Anthony QuayleAnthony QuayleSir John Anthony Quayle, CBE was an English actor and director.-Early life:Quayle was born in Ainsdale, Southport, in Lancashire to a Manx family....
as Howard Phillips - Sarah ChurchillSarah Churchill (actress)Sarah Millicent Hermione Tuchet-Jesson, Baroness Audley, usually known as Sarah Churchill , was a British actress and dancer.- Early life :...
as Hester Peters - Andrew RayAndrew RayAndrew Ray was an English actor who was best known as a child star.He was born Andrew Olden , in North London, the son of the famous radio comic Ted Ray and his wife, showgirl Dorothy...
as Larry Thompson - Irene BrowneIrene BrowneIrene Browne was an English stage and film actress and singer who appeared in plays and musicals such as No, No, Nanette. Later in her career, she became particularly associated with the works of Noel Coward and acted in films....
as Mrs. Phillips - Percy HerbertPercy Herbert (actor)Percy Herbert was an English character actor who often played soldiers, most notably in The Bridge on the River Kwai, The Wild Geese and Tunes of Glory. However, he was equally at home in comedies and science fiction...
as Mr. Thompson - Noel HowlettNoel HowlettNoel Howlett was an English actor, principally remembered as the incompetent headmaster, Morris Cromwell, in the ITV 1970s cult television programme Please Sir!...
as Mr. Peters - Wensley PitheyWensley PitheyWensley Pithey was a South African character actor who had a long stage career.Pithey was born in Cape Town, South Africa. A graduate of the University of Cape Town where he studied music and drama, he travelled to England in 1947...
as Police Sergeant - Leigh Madison as Mary Williams
- Judith FurseJudith Furse-Career:A member of the noted Furse family, her father was Lieutenant-General Sir William Furse. Her brother, Roger, became a celebrated stage designer and painter who occasionally worked in films....
as Probation Officer - Jean CadellJean CadellJean Cadell was a Scottish character actress.Born in Edinburgh, she performed in the cinema and on the stage. One of her best known cinema roles was in the Ealing Studios comedy Whisky Galore! . She once performed opposite W.C. Fields in Hollywood, cast as Mrs...
as Almshouse Matron - Wilfrid BrambellWilfrid BrambellHenry Wilfrid Brambell was an Irish film and television actor best known for his role in the British television series Steptoe and Son. He also performed alongside The Beatles in their film A Hard Day's Night, playing Paul McCartney's fictional grandfather.- Early life :Brambell was born in Dublin...
as Verger - Olive SloaneOlive SloaneOlive Sloane was an English actress whose film career spanned over 40 years from the silent era through to her death...
as Mrs. Browning - George Roderick as Fishmonger
- Cliff RichardCliff RichardSir Cliff Richard, OBE is a British pop singer, musician, performer, actor, and philanthropist who has sold over an estimated 250 million records worldwide....
as Curley Thompson - Liliane Brousse as Michelle
Soundtrack
Released on Columbia – SEG7895 as a 7” four track EP entitled “Serious Charge” by Cliff Richard and the Drifters. Tracks were:- Living Doll – also released as a single
- No Turning Back
- Mad about you
- Chinchilla (Instrumental by The Drifters)