Rotten Tomatoes
Cancel Movies Tv shows RT App News Showtimes

The Detective

Play trailer Poster for The Detective 1954 1h 31m Mystery & Thriller Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
57% Tomatometer 7 Reviews 61% 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.

Critics Reviews

View More
Variety Staff Variety 03/26/2009
Father Brown is distinguished mainly by the excellent casting of Alec Guinness in the title role. Go to Full Review Bosley Crowther New York Times 03/25/2006
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. Go to Full Review Tom Milne Time Out 01/26/2006
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, Go to Full Review Vernon Young Arts Digest 01/17/2024
Alec Guinness commits his first major blunder since his comic ascendancy. Go to Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com 05/31/2005
3/5
Film4 Staff Film4 05/24/2003
Guinness is faultless in the lead and judges the comedy to perfection, while the thriller elements work adequately. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View More
Isla S 09/03/2022 This is a gentle amusing crime/comedy film from the 1950s. Its an easy and enjoyable watch, with some plot twists. Not bad. See more 01/21/2013 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. See more 01/15/2013 good mystery suspencer See more 09/11/2012 Guinness is the show in this rather self-conscious adaptation. See more 03/08/2012 Underfilmed Sleuth!! See more 02/23/2012 Juntar um dos melhores actores e um dos melhores escritores não garante um filme superlativo, mas ainda assim à (C) tocante e divertido. See more Read all reviews
The Detective

My Rating

Read More Read Less POST RATING WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW

Cast & Crew

View All

Robert Hamer

Director

Alec Guinness

Father Brown

Joan Greenwood

Lady Warren

Peter Finch

Gustave Flambeau

Cecil Parker

The Bishop

Bernard Lee

Inspector Valentine

More Like This

View All
Our Man in Havana 95% 77% Our Man in Havana Watchlist Nobel Son 25% 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 All

The Detective

The Detective (1954) The Detective (1954) The Detective (1954) View more photos

Movie Info

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