ThiefHott
Too much of everything
Humaira Grant
It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.
Fleur
Actress is magnificent and exudes a hypnotic screen presence in this affecting drama.
ctyankee1
Father Brown is an unusual Priest. He tries to get people back on the right track that have sinned and gone a stray.He does this by undoing the crimes they have committed like stealing. He will return the stolen items.He has a Cross that is likely to be stolen by a crook no one can identify. Father Brown is out to find that crook and bring him back to Christ.Some of the story takes place in church to me it is very inspirational. He explains what most people do not know is that he hears the confessions of a lot of different kinds of people and he wants them to repent and come back to God.It is heart warming to hear Scripture and also the stories of the bad people he meets and then tells them they don't have to be the way they are.This is one movie where they are not mocking Priest, Catholics or those who believe in God. Funny and inspirational.You can see it on Youtube. Father Brown The Detective 1954 (Alec Guiness) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gqwXeHI85A
dbborroughs
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
MartinHafer
This was a completely mediocre film--and that's a real shame, as I usually LOVE Alec Guinness movies. This movie lacks so much of the imagination and energy of his other movies from this same era (such as THE LADY KILLERS or THE MAN IN THE WHITE SUIT) and overall is just a standard amateur detective flick in the guise of a rather unbelievable priest. Guinness plays Father Brown--a very idealistic, and at times bumbling, clergy man. Peter Finch plays an international thief who loves to steal one-of-a-kind relics--the type that really can't be re-sold--so he's obviously some kind of nutter (that's British for "loony"). Despite ample opportunities to turn in Finch to the coppers, Guinness actually hinders the police and lies repeatedly (oh well, since he's a priest I guess he can always give himself absolution for these sins). Why? Well, because Guinness knows that it's more important to save the man's soul than find the booty. While this is true in a spiritual sense, it was awfully idealistic (not to mention stupid), but since this is a rather predictable film, in the end Finch somehow sees the light (though I really wasn't sure why). The film earns a 5 simply because I like watching Alec Guinness and Finch does a pretty good job, though the material is awfully lame.
BaronBl00d
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.
