Highly enjoyable British comedy about a man who just can’t go straight and the Judge who keeps locking him up. Then he tries to retire…he tries.
Percy Brand (Michael Redgrave) is a swindler who always gets caught. He always ends up before Judge Sir Edward Crichton (Robert Morley). In between jail time he comes home where his sister Florence takes care of his young son Colin.
Florence knows the real deal but Colin and the neighbors all think he’s a missionary. After a seven year stretch Percy finds out Colin is admitted to the bar and is the marshal for Judge Crichton. He’s proud of him and decides to retire.
He and Florence move to a seaside village Her sideline is playing bridge with marked cards. Still she manages to lose. It’s too peaceful for Percy and he becomes involved in smuggling brandy. It’s brought in inside a shark.
Everything is going right along and then his old crony Major Proudfoot (Lionel Jeffries) shows up with a can’t miss caper. The Major had an article printed in the paper about an explorer who was killed and his stash of emeralds stolen.
It’s all a scam to fool a crooked jeweler. The Major wants to substitute a box of chocolates to make the jeweler think they’re the emeralds. After an elaborate set up involving more old cronies it all goes wrong and Percy is caught. To make matters worse, the circuit judge is ill and substituting….Judge Crichton.
Percy knows his son will be right next to the Judge in court and then the whole story of his life will come out. Time now to figure out how to keep him from going before Judge Crichton.
This movie is a lot of fun. When you’re in the mood for a good comedy, see this one.
Vintage45's Blog 