The Detective

Play trailer

The Detective

1954

1h 31m

Mystery & Thriller

Comedy

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

57%

Tomatometer

7 Reviews

62%

Popcornmeter

100+ Ratings

When amateur detective Father Brown (Alec Guinness) is put in charge of shipping an extremely valuable religious artifact -- a crucifix -- from London to Rome, a master thief and master of disguise named Flambeau (Peter Finch) outwits the young priest and steals the cross for himself. Now Father Brown must track down Flambeau, try to reclaim the crucifix and also convince Flambeau not only to abandon his criminal career but also to save his immortal soul.

Variety Staff

Variety

Father Brown is distinguished mainly by the excellent casting of Alec Guinness in the title role.

Mar 26, 2009

Full Review

Bosley Crowther

New York Times

There are moments when [Guinness] tentatively wanders close to the edge of farce, then jumps back and shies away from it, like a child that has poked a finger into hot fudge. He seems to be tempted but helpless to get some sharp spice into the film.

Mar 25, 2006

Full Review

Tom Milne

Time Out

Far from Hamer at his best, but still a stylishly civilised comedy thriller, with an engagingly sly (if occasionally too ingratiating) performance from Guinness as GK Chesterton's sleuthing priest,

Jan 26, 2006

Full Review

Vernon Young

Arts Digest

Alec Guinness commits his first major blunder since his comic ascendancy.

Jan 17, 2024

Full Review

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Rated: 3/5

May 31, 2005

Full Review

Film4 Staff

Film4

Guinness is faultless in the lead and judges the comedy to perfection, while the thriller elements work adequately.

May 24, 2003

Full Review

Read all reviews

isla s

This is a gentle amusing crime/comedy film from the 1950s. Its an easy and enjoyable watch, with some plot twists. Not bad.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Alec Guiness is always a treat to watch and this is no exception. Peter Finch is a bit odd as Flambeau and Joan Greenwood can melt the polar icecaps with that voice. Very true to the Chesterton stories and a lot of fun to watch.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/02/23

Full Review

Audience Member

good mystery suspencer

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/21/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Guinness is the show in this rather self-conscious adaptation.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/27/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Underfilmed Sleuth!!

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/22/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Juntar um dos melhores actores e um dos melhores escritores nÃ£o garante um filme superlativo, mas ainda assim Ã (C) tocante e divertido.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/26/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Robert Hamer

Director

Alec Guinness

Father Brown

Joan Greenwood

Lady Warren

Peter Finch

Gustave Flambeau

Cecil Parker

The Bishop

Bernard Lee

Inspector Valentine

Our Man in Havana

95%

77%

Our Man in Havana

Watchlist

Nobel Son

27%

44%

Nobel Son

Watchlist

If Looks Could Kill

29%

50%

If Looks Could Kill

Watchlist

Who Is Cletis Tout?

23%

52%

Who Is Cletis Tout?

Watchlist

Haunted Honeymoon

10%

53%

Haunted Honeymoon

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Synopsis

When amateur detective Father Brown (Alec Guinness) is put in charge of shipping an extremely valuable religious artifact -- a crucifix -- from London to Rome, a master thief and master of disguise named Flambeau (Peter Finch) outwits the young priest and steals the cross for himself. Now Father Brown must track down Flambeau, try to reclaim the crucifix and also convince Flambeau not only to abandon his criminal career but also to save his immortal soul.

Director: Robert Hamer
Screenwriter: Robert Hamer, Thelma Schnee
Production Co: Columbia Pictures Corporation
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Comedy
Original Language: British English
Runtime: 1h 31m