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So much average

Absolutely Brilliant!

It's not great by any means, but it's a pretty good movie that didn't leave me filled with regret for investing time in it.

It is not deep, but it is fun to watch. It does have a bit more of an edge to it than other similar films.

Music conducted by Muir Mathieson. RCA Sound Recording. Associate producer: Vivian Cox. Producer: Paul Finder Moss. Copyright 1 September 1954 by Facet Productions Ltd, London. Released through Columbia Pictures. New York opening at the Fine Arts: 1 November 1954. U.S. release: March 1955. London trade show: June 1954. Australian release: 9 June 1956 (sic). Sydney opening at the Lyceum. 8,200 feet. 91 minutes. Cut to 86 minutes in the U.S.A. (Until recently, this superb movie was only available on VHS, but Sony have now released a full 95 minutes version on DVD).U.S. release title: the DETECTIVE. U.K. release title: FATHER BROWN.SYNOPSIS: A master thief has his eyes on the priceless Cross of St Augustine carried by Father Brown on his way to Rome.COMMENT: A delight. True, the screenplay isn't quite as colorfully witty or chock-full of weird surprises as the original Chesterton pieces, (and the long arm of co-incidence in the story line strains — but by no means shatters — credulity in one or two places), but the writers make some pretty ingenious stabs in the right directions. Moreover, the direction is so deft and pacey, there's no time to ponder any trivial inconsistencies of plot or characterization. Plus the movie has been produced on a class "A" budget, with lots of extras milling around in plenty of fascinating sets and real-life locations.Aside from the polished screenplay, astute direction, sprightly music score and appealing visuals, the movie excels in its acting department. Alec Guinness makes a fine Father Brown, every inch as likable — and accurate — as Chesterton's creation, whilst Finch enjoys one of the best roles of his career as the masterful yet quirky misanthropic thief, Flambeau. Supporting honors lie in the hat-tossing hands of such stalwart character players as Bernard Lee, Sid James, Ernest Thesiger, Cecil Parker, John Salew, and Gerard Oury.Oddly, despite its credentials as one of the best British comedies of the year, plus box-office super-favorites Guinness and Finch in the leads, the movie was not successful in Australia. Perhaps the lack of a traditionally boring love interest swayed audiences to give the picture a miss. True, Joan Greenwood is co-starred, but her role is small and colorless.OTHER VIEWS: While the movie has not a great deal in common with Chesterton, does it really matter? On its own terms, the movie is mightily engaging. Not just for its performances, although these are no mean attractions. Guinness makes Brown so deliciously sly, full of almost mischievous humour, whilst Finch's equally appealing portrait of the suave, melancholy Flambeau, Joan Greenwood's charmingly mannered aristocratic parishioner, Sid James' fluent reformed thief, Cecil Parker's lordly bishop and Ernest Thesiger's fumbling master of heraldry, add greatly to the overall merriment. What makes Father Brown such an unalloyed delight is not just the story and the stars — appealingly attractive though they be — but Robert Hamer's stylish direction which — as Penelope Houston points out in her Monthly Film Bulletin review — has such a wonderfully detached, highly civilized air, "the more welcome because, in the British cinema, it is so uncommon."But what more could you expect of the director of Pink String and Sealing Wax, It Always Rains on Sunday, Kind Hearts and Coronets, and The Long Memory? JHR writing as George Addison.

Having become a faithful watcher of the British television series starring the wonderful Mark Williams, I was delighted (and a bit apprehensive) to find this 1954 rendition of a Father Brown story starring, of all people, Sir Alec Guinness.Occasionally, when a character is portrayed by an actor who just seems to be the perfect one, it's difficult to accept anyone else in the role BUT that is not the case here. Guinness is also "just right" as Father Brown. Humorous but not ridiculous, gentle but tough, smart but not smart-alecky. In short, just right.The film is populated by that British stable of character actors that made the 1950's such a wonderful time for film making. It was filmed in Paris so the ge3nuine Parisian atmosphere is there.The criminal looked vaguely familiar and it took reading the credits to actually confirm that it was, indeed, Peter Finch of "Network" fame ! Never saw him before in "young mode".Enjoyed it. Will watch it again. Good bag sale purchase that is staying in the collection and that is high praise.

Second screen adaption of GK Chesterton's classic story that has Father Brown taking on Flambeau a notorious thief. In the original Walter Connelly took on Paul Lukas. Here its Alec Guinness taking on Peter Finch and for my money its the better of the two versions I've seen. In th original I found everything stilted and Brown came across as very annoying with an attitude that he was some how better than everyone else. Here Guinness is clearly in charge of the situation, however he never lets anyone think anything other than that they are in control, which he manages to twist so that he comes up on top. Its a winning performance. I think the fact that this film originated in England helps give it the right feel. The film makers clearly understand Chesterton and their film is an enjoyable representation of his story. Very recommended

Of all the names in the pantheon of great literary detectives, G. K. Chesterton's Father Brown is easily the most overlooked. The character has appeared in only a handful of films and a 13 episode television series in the early seventies. Of the films, The Detective(US title) is the best. Alec Guinness plays the affable cleric with an insatiable appetite for puzzles very nicely. Guinness shows us the heart and dedication Father Brown has to his calling spiritually over any temporal considerations. He also shows us that Father Brown is a character with depth as he takes lessons in karate and truly learns what the lives of his less than well-off parishioners are like. The heart of this film is Gunness's subtle comedic performance as a man challenging himself to catch a thief named Flambeau in the act of stealing his own church's cross that belonged to St. Augustine. Father Brown wants to save the soul of this man as well as the cross. The cat and mouse game between the two is fun fluff, and is vastly entertaining as that rather than a true mystery. Flambeau is played by a very young Peter Finch with class and style.The film boasts a fine array of British character actors with the likes of Bernard Lee(M from James Bond fame), Cecil Parker(King Roderick from The Court Jester and more), Joan Greenwood(Kind Hearts and Coronets), and my personal favourite, Ernest Thesiger from The Bride of Frankenstein. Thesiger has little screen time yet is very amusing in his role. A nice little mystery once again showcasing the comedic talent of one of our century's best actors...Sir Alec Guinness.