For Them That Trespass *½ (1949, Richard Todd, Patricia Plunkett, Stephen Murray) – Classic Movie Review 12,846

Alberto Cavalcanti’s 1949 British crime drama film For Them That Trespass marks the star film début, aged 30, of Richard Todd as an innocent man who spends 15 years in prison for the murder of a prostitute. 

Director Alberto Cavalcanti’s 1949 British crime drama film For Them That Trespass marks the inauspicious star film début, aged 30, of stiff-lipped Richard Todd as an innocent man who spends 15 years in prison for the murder of a prostitute. Patricia Plunkett and Stephen Murray also star in this adaptation of the 1944 novel by Ernest Raymond.

Richard Todd fails to impress in a dull crime melodrama about an ex-con, Herb Logan (Todd), who finally gets out of jail and sets out to prove he was innocent of killing the prostitute, Frankie (Rosalyn Boulter).

She was actually murdered by Jim Heal (Michael Laurence), but professional writer Christopher Drew (Stephen Murray) has witnessed the murder and withheld the vital information that would save Logan, because of his own association with the murdered prostitute.

The story, based on the novel by Ernest Raymond, brings no fresh air to the stale regular thriller theme of miscarriage of justice. It is complicated without being very intriguing and the actors fail to bring their stock characters to life.

Todd blamed the film, saying it was ‘dreary’. and it flopped. Against a budget of £150,232, it took £124,978 at the UK box office. But, luckily, Todd was an immediate hit in his next film, The Hasty Heart (1949). He had appeared in the 1948 London stage version of John Patrick’s play The Hasty Heart in the leading role of Cpl Lachlan McLachlan.

Kenneth More has one of his first film roles, as Prison Warder.

It was the first film made at the UK’s Elstree Studios since re-opening after World War Two.

Richard Todd was signed to a seven-year contract with Associated British in 1948 after a screen test arranged by his former agent Robert Lennard, and soon cast cast as the lead in For Them That Trespass. He had been a captain in the British Army during World War Two, fighting as part of the 7th (Light Infantry) Parachute Battalion in the D-Day landings. He had also appeared as an extra in some pre-war British films. including Good Morning, Boys (1937), A Yank at Oxford (1938) and Old Bones of the River (1939).

It goes without saying, but I will say it, For Them That Trespass is a dreadful title, not even vaguely grammatical.

The cast are Richard Todd as Herbert Edward Logan, Patricia Plunkett as Rosie, Stephen Murray as Christopher Drew, Michael Laurence as Jim Heal, Vida Hope as Olive Mockson, Rosalyn Boulter as Frankie Ketchen James Hayter as ‘Jocko’: John Cragie Glenn, Harry Fowler as Dave, George Hayes as Artist, Michael Brennan as Inspector Benstead, Joan Dowling as Gracie, Michael Medwin as Len, Mary Merrall as Mrs Drew, Irene Handl as Inn owner, John Salew as Prosecutor Ainsley, Robert Harris as Defence counsel Sir Huntley,  Kynaston Reeves as The Judge, Helen Cherry as Mary Drew, Frederick Leister as The Vicar, Edward Lexy as the Second Prison Warder, Valentine Dyall as Toastmaster, Charles Lloyd Pack as Theatre Critic, Andreas Malandrinos as Nicholas, George Merritt as Engine Driver, Kenneth More as Prison Warder, and Alan Wheatley as Librarian.

For Them That Trespass is directed by Alberto Cavalcanti, runs 95 minutes, is made Associated British Picture Corporation, is distributed by Associated British-Pathé (UK), is written by J Lee Thompson, based on the novel For Them That Trespass by Ernest Raymond, is shot in black and white by Derick Williams, is produced by Victor Skutezky, and is scored by Philip Green.

Release date: 21 April 1949 (London UK).

Patricia Plunkett was born in Streatham, London.

Patricia Plunkett (17 December 1926 – 13 October 1974) was born in Streatham, London, trained at RADA and appeared in 12 films up to The Singer Not the Song (1961). She was the female lead in both her 1949 films: Landfall and For Them That Trespass. Her best known film is her first, It Always Rains on Sunday (1947). She was married to actor Tim Turner.

© Derek Winnert 2024 – Classic Movie Review 12,846

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