Law and Disorder

Michael Redgrave stars as a con man who desperately tries to conceal his crooked life from his budding lawyer son. However, that is easier said than done when he is tempted into smuggling Brandy and faces the prospect of appearing in court...in front of his oblivious son!.

Law and Disorder is directed by Charles Crichton (Hue and Cry, The Lavender Hill Mob, The Titfield Thunderbolt) and joining Redgrave in the cast are Robert Morley, Ronald Squire, Joan Hickson, Lionel Jeffries & Jeremy Burnham. T.E.B. Clarke, Patrick Campbell & Vivienne Knight adapt for the screen from the novel "Smuggler's Circuit" written by Denys Roberts.

Ealing lite but still enough here to have the discerning British comedy fan grinning from ear to ear. Tho essential a one joke law and order lampoon premise, the writing is so bright in its set ups and the cast cast give it such effort (they all seem to be enjoying themselves), the thinness of the plot is easily forgiven. Redgrave lays on the charm and gentlemanly wit with consummate ease, and Hickson is a delight as Redgrave's card-sharping sister. But it's Morley's movie as a stern, never smiling judge who finds himself at the centre of the crooked goings on. A little known Brit effort that is is only shown once in a blue moon on terrestrial television. So if you get the chance to see it then take the plunge because it should put a smile on your face. 6.5/10

This is an absolutely delightful comedy crime flick that will have one smiling throughout. It's not loaded or even peppered with funny lines, or clever quips and witty dialog. Rather, it's a situational comedy - one in which the happenings are the humor. And, this isn't antics either, until near the very end. It's just plain ordinary goings-on, but in a story in which the goings-on are often a hoax or a cover-up or a disguise.

And, what makes "Law and Disorder" such a pleasant, feel-good film to watch, besides the plot and excellent screenplay, is the cast. More than a handful of actors from some of the funniest and best British comedy films of the mid-20th century are here. Robert Morley, Lionel Jeffries, George Coulouris, John Le Mesurier, Meredith Edwards and more are joined by wonder actresses Joan Hickson and Brenda Bruce.

But Michael Redgrave has the main role and is perfect as Percy Brand, who always pleads guilty to some scam or crime he has attempted. From the opening in 1938 when he is released from "one of His Majesty's prisons," Brand goes to his underground friends for an appropriate makeover with clothing, appearance, and souvenirs, etc., to reappear at the home of his sister who is raising his son. So, he serves three years, and then five, etc. Up until the late -1950s. He has returned as a clergyman, as a British officer, and more. Indeed, Percy's quite at home when away from home. Yet, he's never far from home, even when he's halfway around the world.

As of the last trip, his son, now grown, has completed law school and is being assigned as marshal to a prominent judge, Sir Edward Crichton. Robert Morely was never more ostentatious in any other role than he is here as the perfect upholder of the law and the justice system. The one hitch that drives the bulk of this film after Percy's last long trip away from home, is that each time Percy was sentenced to prison in the past, it was by Judge Crichton.

Not wanting his son, Colin Brand (played very well by Jeremy Burnham) to know the truth of his past. Percy must rely on the large cohort of friends from lowly places (i.e., the crime caper underground) to keep son Colin from finding out the truth. And what a frantic, hilarious, last round of goings-on this turns into. It's all much fun and very funny.

Joan Hickson is in her early film years playing Aunt Florence, Percy's sister and Colin's aunt. She's a real card in this role, and a little cards with the help of some marking are her main form of entertainment. Percy's accomplices bring his last arrest to a head by diverting the court proceedings to get Colin out of the way. John Le Mesurier appears as a known misogynistic barrister and judge in a case before Morley's court The bad-mouth parrot case is so obliquely played by Mary and Freddie Cooper (Brenda Bruce and David Hutcheson), that one can't help but laugh, especially as Morley's Chrichton becomes more and more impatient with the whole show.

This is a most delightful and entertaining comedy farce that most movie buffs should enjoy.

Percy Brand is a congenital con' man who, despite his best efforts, can't quite manage to keep out of jail for very long. However he is able to keep his son in blissful ignorance, pretending that for each 'stretch' inside he has really been working 'overseas'. In cahoots with his sister Florence he keeps this subterfuge up for years until one day he discovers his son has begun work as an assistant to the very judge who has repeatedly sent him down!

Nice, sophisticated and fizzily paced little comedy with Redgrave obviously enjoying himself as the genial jailbird, finally deciding to go straight only to be lured back for one last con' (involving French sailors, sharks and illicit brandy), Hickson in typically hilarious form as his accomplice in duplicity, and Morley and Jeffries doing what they do best. Hunt it down if you can.

This underrated film was recently shown again on TV.Despite having seen this a number of times i still found it as fresh as on its first viewing.There are so many fresh faces in even bit parts.The film shows off Redgraves comedic talent to the full.The fact that everything is underplayed and the comedy is so wry makes it all the more funny.The situations are well thought out and the comedic aspects of the plot are fully exploited.Robert Morley is in good form as the pompous judge and Lionel Jeffries plays the sort of role that he could do blindfold.Another classic comedy from the 50s which i believe is every much as good as the revered Carry Ons.