Carrington V.C. (1954)

Redundant and unnecessary.

One of my all time favorites.

For all the hype it got I was expecting a lot more!

A different way of telling a story

Asquith's courtroom drama is surprisingly gripping. Trapped within the rigid confines of a military structure, a social structure and his own personal integrity, Niven plays a man whose career and reputation (if not his stiff upper lip) are at stake in a court martial. This film was made sixty years ago and things have changed a lot since then; unless one bears in mind how things were then, this film's plot make less sense. However if you take this into account, it is a pretty good film.it has been commented by others that there are commonly certain protocols observed whenever a VC holder enters a room; there is no formal requirement that this is done but traditionally VC holders may be saluted by others regardless of rank. This may or may not be the case within a court-martial situation but that this was omitted in the film is understandable since it would have been distracting to the thrust of the plot, with the whole court up and down like jack-in-the-boxes all the time.Taken on its merits this is a pretty good film, IMHO deserving of a better score than it currently has on here.

Director: ANTHONY ASQUITH. Screenplay: John Hunter. Based on the stage play by Dorothy Christie, Campbell Christie. Photography: Desmond Dickinson. Film editor: Ralph Kemplen. Art director: Wilfred Shingleton. Make-up: David Aylott. Hair styles: Ida Mills. Miss Leighton's costumes: Rahvis. Wardrobe: Dolly Smith. Camera operator: William Allan. Set continuity: Beryl Booth. Military technical adviser: David Rooke. Court-martial technical adviser: A.G.C. Grant. Production manager and assistant director: Basil Keys. Dubbing editor: Stanley Hawkes. Sound recording: A. G. Ambler, Red Law. Producer: Teddy Baird.A Remus Production for Romulus, released in the U.K. by Independent/British Lion: 10 January 1955; in Australia by 20th Century-Fox: 19 July 1956; in the U.S.A. by Kingsley International: August 1955. Registered: November 1954. "A" certificate. New York opening at the Trans-Lux 52nd Street: 1 August 1955. Sydney opening at The Embassy. 9,532 feet. 106 minutes. U.S. title: Court Martial. (Available on an excellent Network DVD).SYNOPSIS: Major Carrington V.C., is accused of stealing military funds.COMMENT: "Carrington, V.C." holds the interest throughout, though it is not one of Asquith's best films. In fact the direction is quite routine and even at times uninspired. This, along with all the dialogue, the complete lack of on-camera action and the fact that most of the scenes take place in the court, reinforces the impression of a photographed stage play. Still, the characters are engagingly if one-dimensionally drawn, and the players, particularly Allan Cuthbertson, breathe them convincingly into life. The photography has little contrast and is even at times under-lit. And the film was made at a time when a complete absence of background music and an emphasis on sound effects was considered the "in" thing.

A brilliant courtroom drama that doesn't rely on flashbacks to present its case but sticks solely to the testimonies of the various parties involved. Carrington is a major being court-martialed for stealing money which he claims was his by right. It's superbly written, (by John Hunter), directed, (by Anthony Asquith) and played, (by a superlative cast of British character actors). David Niven, at his very best, is Carrington and Margaret Leighton is terrific as his highly strung and jealous wife. The Irish actress, Noelle Middleton, is also excellent as the captain with more than a soft spot for Niven. This is a gripping and intelligent film that really deserves to be seen.

Released at a time when the majority of the audience would have been only too familiar with the culture of the armed forces,"Carrington VC"raises the thorny issue of the different qualities required of an army officer in peace and war."Copper" Carrington,brave,dashing and debonair as he might have been when up to his neck in mud and bullets has failed to impress his war - dodging CO Col.Henniker(the splendidly disdainful Mr Alan Cuthbertson)in the performance of his more mundane administrative duties.Furthermore he is admired and respected by his men in a way Henniker will never be.Carrington(Mr D.Niven) and his wife(Miss M Leighton) have been moved from base to base so often that his allowances have not kept up with him,and,fed up with receiving no co - operation in this matter,Carrington informs Henniker that he is removing a sum of money from the safe consistent with that owed to him which he will repay when his overdue cash arrives. The money is found to be missing and Henniker denies having been spoken to about it.Carrington is consequently put up for Court Martial. To add to his woes,distraught about the behaviour of his increasingly drunken wife,Carrington embarks on a brief fling with a female colleague(the winsome Miss N.Middleton)and is further charged with that. Back in the 1950s adultery was a serious matter whether committed by serving army officers or no.He is in serious trouble. At his trial his defence - obviously - is that as he informed his CO that he was taking the money there was no criminal intent involved. Unfortunately the malevolent Henniker perjures himself,the wronged wife perjures herself and he is convicted on all charges despite the doubt of two of the five "Judges". Jealousy,envy and prudishness have won out over courage and integrity. The career,indeed, the life of one of the bravest of the brave is in tatters. Further,ridiculously,in my opinion,he could have been stripped of his VC as a result of his conviction,as if his subsequent conduct - however reprehensible - could have any bearing on the act of heroism that earned him the medal in the first place. Carington refuses to appeal in order to prevent his wife having to undergo a further ordeal but at the last minute,having been left in no doubt how his men felt about the verdict,a witness emerges,a switchboard operator who overheard Carrington's telephone conversation to Henniker about taking the money from the safe.Immediately,Carrington's Defending Officer (Mr R.Francis)gives Notice of Appeal,but it is hard to see how his career will remain unaffected even if he is acquitted at a later date. Henniker,the bean counter/flower grader/button pusher will have succeeded in ruining the "lead from the front" hero officer. A good reputation is hard to win,easy to lose and almost impossible to regain. Mr Niven's Carrington is seemingly a rather ineffectual,hesitant character.Clearly in his moment of glory it was a case of "cometh the hour,cometh the man".Susceptible to a well - turned ankle,he has many of the ills the flesh is heir to yet was capable of selfless bravery at the right time.No vainglorious Flashman - type hero he. "Carrington VC" tells us that literally anyone can be a hero given the circumstances,that it can be thrust upon those least likely to be seeking it,and that it's blessings can be considerably mixed.