Carrington V.C. (1954)

Sadly Over-hyped

Good concept, poorly executed.

In other words,this film is a surreal ride.

If you're interested in the topic at hand, you should just watch it and judge yourself because the reviews have gone very biased by people that didn't even watch it and just hate (or love) the creator. I liked it, it was well written, narrated, and directed and it was about a topic that interests me.

Carrington, VC finds career army officer David Niven doing something reckless and a bit stupid besides. He borrows a bit of money from the Officer's Fund of his unit to pay some household bills. He's owed a lot of back pay allowances that the fine military machine of the British army hasn't seen fit to cough up. But he is a winner of the Victoria Cross, the VC of the title and the commander of the regiment Allan Cuthbertson is a most jealous man. He might be the head of the regiment, but the men look to Niven.If you remember the Clint Eastwood film Heartbreak Ridge at one point Gunnery Sergeant Eastwood helps out one of his enlisted men make ends meet the way Niven is having problems with his wife and family. But officers don't have concerned gunnery sergeants.In any event Niven is being court martialed for the offense, charges brought by Cuthbertson. How it goes I will not say, but Niven is given a royal kick in the keester by a jealous wife Margaret Leighton who suspects some hanky panky going on with a female officer and her husband.The great critique by me and others is that David Niven more than any other actor had to carry a lot of mediocre films on the strength of being debonair and charming. Not so in Carrington, VC, this is a fine military courtroom drama that stands on its own merits. Niven does well in the lead and grateful for this being a film he didn't have to carry.Allan Cuthbertson is one of those actors who just does well in everything he's cast in. He's quite the martinet and jealous of Niven's war service and decoration. He spent the war directing a shore battery that was called upon to shoot down Mr. Hitler's Luftwaffe planes, no chance for medals or glory there.The second member of the supporting cast who is outstanding is Victor Maddern playing Niven's sergeant and biggest fan.Carrington, VC has a bit of The Caine Mutiny and some of The Winslow Boy in its plot and presentation. But it's a good courtroom drama and all actors love doing them.

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.

The major theme of this film is the role of the war hero in a peacetime army. Carrington is an undoubted hero but the rule-breaking qualities that made him a hero are not welcome in a peacetime army where bureaucratic procedures are the norm, represented in this film by Henniker, Carrington's commanding officer and an unbending stickler for the rules. So, Carrington is romantic but wrong and Henniker is dull but right. The film, filled with great ensemble acting performances, invites you to choose which you prefer. At the time the film was made, Germany had emerged from the ruins of war with Europe's most dynamic economy whereas Britain, the victor, was mired in post-war decline. Carrington was the dashing war hero but Henniker is in charge now. Henniker, who avoided action in the war, with his Germanic name and blond hair. There's a nice metaphor here. Britain won the war, but who won the peace?

I'm not going to discuss plots here or spoilers but my concern is to the military correctness of the film. Carrington VC indicates that he was winner of the VC and on that basis alone the respect that should have been shown a VC holder clearly was missing throughout the whole of the film. For example when a VC holder enters the room, all military personnel (regardless of rank) stand in acknowledgement of the holder of that VC action regardless of whether it was a single VC followed by other medals or on its own, at no time during the film did I feel he was shown the respect for a VC holder and in all honesty a plot that included theft of money against such a holder would have provoked an outcry in the highest echelons of military ranks not to mention his colleagues. All in all good performances, bit dry as noted in places, I have seen Maurice Denham in several pictures of late and I must admit I like the chap, a commensurate actor who is sorely missed. Disappointingly unrealistic film given Carrington's VC honour and this spoiled it for me entirely.