The Franchise Affair is a 1951 film closely based on Josephine Tey's excellent novel. It offers a crime story, but not a murder mystery. Rather, the puzzle is based on the real life Elizabeth Canning case. A girl accuses a woman and her grumpy old mother of kidnapping her, and forcing her to become their servant. The accused women call in a local solicitor, Robert Blair, to defend them.
It's a low-key premise, one which is, I think, better suited to a book than a film, because it's not an obviously dramatic situation, despite a courtroom scene (in which the key twist comes rather out of the blue - a flaw in the writing). That said, I found The Franchise Affair to be a good example of the "well-make" post-war British film, with good performances from an excellent cast who make the most of the story's potential.
Michael Denison plays Blair, one of those small town solicitors from the Good Old Days, when you could take on a client without worrying about letters of engagement, or compliance with the anti money laundering legislation. Nor does he have to bother with computerised time recording, or targets for chargeable hours, lucky fellow. This freedom enables him to take on a case for which he's not really equipped in terms of experience. But determination sees him through.
Marion Sharp is played by Dulcie Gray, who was Denison's wife in real life. She was also a writer of mystery stories. As it happens, I've recently bought one of her books, and look forward to reading it. The remaining cast includes such future stars as Kenneth More (later Father Brown) and Patrick Troughton (a future Doctor Who). All in all, I enjoyed this film. I watched it the day after watching the much more dramatic The Shining. But in its quiet and unambitious way, it was equally entertaining.
9 comments:
Did you read both the book and watch the movie? It was interesting that you say the story made better for a book than film; because it was not hugely dramatic. I say this as a fledgling writer and not past the first hurdle of believing in my writing and being crushed by reading "How to write a novel' advice . Advice which says your manuscript must be dramatic, hugely entertaining etc, etc blah blah ...
Anyway, thanks for your post ... Enjoyed (:
Sharon
A favorite book. Didn't know there was a movie.
It's a favourite story and I enjoyed the film too ...although it's a while since I watched it ..I'd forgotten Kenneth More was in it ..but now you remind me he was one of Robert's friends at the garage I think.
Have you heard any of the radio versions? they are entertaining.
I'm surprised I've never come across or even heard of the film - I was a big fan of the book for years(tbh I re-read it recently and was a teensy bit disappointed...), and also love that kind of b/w film whatever the source material. It sounds rather good, just the thing for a wet Sunday afternoon on the sofa...
I've not seen this but must try to do so. Tey was not well served by Hitchcock's Young and Innocent (though if you forget the book, it is not a bad film on its own terms) and definitely not by Paranoiac from the Hammer stable which murders (so to speak) her lovely Brat Farrar!
Sharon, I read the book quite a long time before I saw the movie. And yes, the book's definitely more effective, even though it's a "quiet" sort of story.
Val, thanks. I haven't heard the radio versions. I can imagine it's a good medium for this story.
Juxtabook, thanks. I didn't know about Paranoiac. Tempted to seek it out, even if it is a dud....
Recently got the Network DVD release of this and thoroughly enjoyed it - much more than I thought I would actually! I had no idea Dulcie Gray wrote mysteries - ha! Thanks for that.
Post a Comment