Movie review - "The Detective" (1954) **1/2 aka "Father Brown"

Probably the best version of the Father Brown stories, turned into a vehicle for Alec Guinness by director Robert Hamer, he of the very high reputation, in part because he died so young. It's not a remarkable work, more a solid piece of entertainment that will be of most interest to fans of the stories and/or Guinness. He's bespectacled, fuddy-duddy and a dab hand with martial arts. He's also constantly in trouble with his superiors and police for getting involved in investigations.

The guts of the plot concerns a bromance between Father Brown and Flambeau (Peter Finch) whose should Brown is determined to save even though he is robbed by him. Brown even hides the guy from police and there's one scene where they wrestle and Brown lies on top of him which are things to make you go mmmm.

It's not overly clever or entertaining or even clever, but it's not too bad. There's some nice photography, cute lines, neat sets (hidden catacombs and so on) and art design (religious items). The support cast is very impressive - it includes Joan Greenwood (she of the sexy voice) in a nothing role as a rich friend of Brown's, Cecil Parker as his boss, Bernard Lee as a cop. Finch gives an accomplished performance - his biographer Elaine Dundy raves about it; I wouldn't call it that great but it's solid work (he gets to put on disguises - fellow priest, old man - and be suave and sophisticated).