THE FRANCHISE AFFAIR is an intriguing, uniquely-told story based on a crime novel by Josephine Tey. Michael Denison plays a family lawyer, appearing with his real-life wife Dulcie Gray, in a story which keeps you guessing throughout. Gray and her delightfully acerbic mother are accused of kidnapping and false imprisonment, and Denison agrees to defend them, but the odds are stacked against them. There are some surprisingly powerful moments here which act as an indictment of small town hypocrisy and gossip, things gradually building all the while to a satisfying court case climax. The fine cast includes a star-making role for the immensely likeable Kenneth More and even future Dr Who Patrick Troughton in a bit part.
15 Reviews
Franchising the affair.
morrison-dylan-fan21 April 2019
Warning: Spoilers
For Easter I decided to try and find a title me and my dad could watch on the day. Having read up about the movie online last year,I was surprised to find out it had come out on UK DVD,which led to me joining the franchise.
View on the film:
Similar to what they did for another film of his called Warn That Man (1943-also reviewed) Network present an outstanding transfer, with the picture quality being incredibly pin-sharp, and the soundtrack being clean and crisp.
Whilst giving this adaptation of Josephine Tey's novel a refined appearance, the screenplay by co-writer/(with Robert Hall) director Lawrence Huntington keeps the mould-breaking style of Tey sharp at the edges, via the secret affairs of British Film Noir at a lake house, Chinese Whispers spread across the town, and the sordid details of a woman picking up a man to be her encounter of the night. Based around not a murder, but a kidnapping, the writers closely follow gentlemanly Robert Blair's sharp sightedness in untangling the fake threads in the kidnapping claims.
Surrounded by a great supporting cast of Kenneth More,Peter Jones and Patrick Troughton, Michael Denison gives a polished turn as Blair,who Denison keeps cool under the pressure over his clients being guilty, whilst Ann Stephens gives the accusing Kane a cheeky butter wouldn't melt in her mouth fake innocent grin. Breaking the franchise in a courtroom final, director Lawrence Huntington & cinematographer Günther Krampf (his last film) give the hearing an elegant style of panning shots down the dusty corridors of the Franchise household, and an easy-going light Film Noir/Gris atmosphere over following Blair end the franchise affair.
View on the film:
Similar to what they did for another film of his called Warn That Man (1943-also reviewed) Network present an outstanding transfer, with the picture quality being incredibly pin-sharp, and the soundtrack being clean and crisp.
Whilst giving this adaptation of Josephine Tey's novel a refined appearance, the screenplay by co-writer/(with Robert Hall) director Lawrence Huntington keeps the mould-breaking style of Tey sharp at the edges, via the secret affairs of British Film Noir at a lake house, Chinese Whispers spread across the town, and the sordid details of a woman picking up a man to be her encounter of the night. Based around not a murder, but a kidnapping, the writers closely follow gentlemanly Robert Blair's sharp sightedness in untangling the fake threads in the kidnapping claims.
Surrounded by a great supporting cast of Kenneth More,Peter Jones and Patrick Troughton, Michael Denison gives a polished turn as Blair,who Denison keeps cool under the pressure over his clients being guilty, whilst Ann Stephens gives the accusing Kane a cheeky butter wouldn't melt in her mouth fake innocent grin. Breaking the franchise in a courtroom final, director Lawrence Huntington & cinematographer Günther Krampf (his last film) give the hearing an elegant style of panning shots down the dusty corridors of the Franchise household, and an easy-going light Film Noir/Gris atmosphere over following Blair end the franchise affair.
Very good adaption of a leading novel
Yellit17 October 2019
I was drawn to this by its top-rank cast and I was glad that I stayed with it. It sets out its stall in the first 15/20 minutes and it it is one of those 'who do you beleive' type of thrillers. It dips somewhat in the middle (the Kenneth More character is entirely superfluous) but once it reaches the court scenes the satisfactory tying-up of its diverse plot lines is excellent and example of how these things should be done.
Dennison & Gray star in intriguing mystery
steve-12419 June 2004
The Franchise affair is set in 50s England when people doffed their caps, respect was given its due and everything was oh so proper. This film stars the real life married couple Dennison and Gray and you can see by their interplay that they love each other. Ann Stephens plays Betty Kane which must be the highlight of her brief career. Athene Seyler as Dennisons Aunt is as always a delight and we have a future Doctor Who as well as Tremayne from the Champions doing very professional work.Kenny More in an early part oozes his considerable charm and the film works on a quaint level. The stilted acting is a product of English film in the fifties and there is enough intrigue to keep everyone happy. All in all a lovely little picture.
The Girl in the Green Hat
richardchatten26 April 2020
A reasonably faithful adaptation of Josephine Tey's 1948 novel based on an actual case of alleged kidnapping nearly two hundred years earlier; but also all too common unfortunately in the twenty-first century.
It begins rather like 'Kiss Me Deadly' with a flimsily dressed young woman thumbing a lift at night, while the mob violence unleashed against the two 'outsiders' recalls 'Le Corbeau'. But for the most part it's content to amble along without much sense of urgency as you scratch your head pondering over the 'why' rather than the 'what'?
It begins rather like 'Kiss Me Deadly' with a flimsily dressed young woman thumbing a lift at night, while the mob violence unleashed against the two 'outsiders' recalls 'Le Corbeau'. But for the most part it's content to amble along without much sense of urgency as you scratch your head pondering over the 'why' rather than the 'what'?
A Lipstick in Her Pocket!!
kidboots29 April 2011
Warning: Spoilers
Josephine Tey combined detective fiction with good literature - she didn't crank out "who done its" to feed a greedy public. Her first book "The Man in the Queue" (1929) introduced urbane Detective Inspector Alan Grant and also incorporated a theatrical back- ground that she used again in "A Shilling For Candles". After that she alternated with historical novels until her death in 1951 and, of course, that was when her fiction really took off. Alfred Hitchcock had adapted her book "A Shilling for Candles" into the movie "Young and Innocent" (1937), one of his most light hearted movies starring Nova Pilbeam. "The Franchise Affair" also had a historical significance as it was based on a notorious 18th century case involving Elizabeth Canning.
A young traumatized girl runs through the storm and into her guardian's arms. The next day, Robert Blair (Michael Denison), a local solicitor, is telephoned by Marion Sharpe (Dulcie Grey) who lives at the Franchise (a source of gossip in the town). She and her frail mother (Marjorie Fielding) have been accused of kidnapping and beating a young girl, Betty Kane (Ann Stephens). Betty is bought to the Franchise to identify them, which she does with amazing accuracy - even to the tiny attic, the broken window and the car's painted tyres!!! Her brother goes to the press and the papers have a field day - accusations run riot!!
Blair starts to interview all the people connected with Betty - and he starts to piece together a story of a secretive girl who has a photographic memory!! It is such a superior British crime film, the kind they make so well, where clues and witnesses are followed up, towards a surprising ending. Instead of Michael Denison, it is usually John Mills. A witness comes forward - on Betty's side, but she is proved to be a girl with a grudge - she had previously worked for the Franchise but was sacked because of theft. Suddenly Betty is identified - not at a tea shop but by a waiter at a hotel, and not as a sweet schoolgirl, but as a made up tart who is not above picking men up!!!
This movie was another screen teaming for husband and wife stars, Michael Denison and Dulcie Grey. Inspector Grant is only a minor character in this movie. Along with "Brat Farrer" this is probably my most favourite mystery book and it has been made into a splendid film.
Highly, Highly Recommended.
A young traumatized girl runs through the storm and into her guardian's arms. The next day, Robert Blair (Michael Denison), a local solicitor, is telephoned by Marion Sharpe (Dulcie Grey) who lives at the Franchise (a source of gossip in the town). She and her frail mother (Marjorie Fielding) have been accused of kidnapping and beating a young girl, Betty Kane (Ann Stephens). Betty is bought to the Franchise to identify them, which she does with amazing accuracy - even to the tiny attic, the broken window and the car's painted tyres!!! Her brother goes to the press and the papers have a field day - accusations run riot!!
Blair starts to interview all the people connected with Betty - and he starts to piece together a story of a secretive girl who has a photographic memory!! It is such a superior British crime film, the kind they make so well, where clues and witnesses are followed up, towards a surprising ending. Instead of Michael Denison, it is usually John Mills. A witness comes forward - on Betty's side, but she is proved to be a girl with a grudge - she had previously worked for the Franchise but was sacked because of theft. Suddenly Betty is identified - not at a tea shop but by a waiter at a hotel, and not as a sweet schoolgirl, but as a made up tart who is not above picking men up!!!
This movie was another screen teaming for husband and wife stars, Michael Denison and Dulcie Grey. Inspector Grant is only a minor character in this movie. Along with "Brat Farrer" this is probably my most favourite mystery book and it has been made into a splendid film.
Highly, Highly Recommended.
"I don't deny that we need your prayers"
hwg1957-102-2657044 May 2021
Warning: Spoilers
A good adaptation of the novel by Josephine Tey. A young woman Betty Kane claims to have been abducted by the Sharpes, mother and daughter Marion, and ill treated but the couple deny it. Who is telling the truth? A local solicitor Robert Blair gets involved with the affair. It is perfectly paced by the director Lawrence Huntington and ably photographed by Günther Krampf. The small town ambience, sweet and sour, is well portrayed.
The acting is good. The most interesting characters though are the women, Dulcie Gray as Marion Sharpe, Marjorie Fielding as Mrs. Sharpe, Athene Seyler as Aunt Lin, Ann Stephens as Betty Kane and Avice Landon as Mrs Wynne. They convey lots of depth in their roles.
The happy ending with the couple getting together on the plane was a bit weak. The stronger ending would be the solicitor Robert Blair sitting in his office with his tea and biscuits and Marion going off to Canada with her mother. It almost seemed like that definitely was the case and poignant it would have been but the film makers lost their nerve so we got a conventional conclusion. But that didn't mar an entertaining film.
The acting is good. The most interesting characters though are the women, Dulcie Gray as Marion Sharpe, Marjorie Fielding as Mrs. Sharpe, Athene Seyler as Aunt Lin, Ann Stephens as Betty Kane and Avice Landon as Mrs Wynne. They convey lots of depth in their roles.
The happy ending with the couple getting together on the plane was a bit weak. The stronger ending would be the solicitor Robert Blair sitting in his office with his tea and biscuits and Marion going off to Canada with her mother. It almost seemed like that definitely was the case and poignant it would have been but the film makers lost their nerve so we got a conventional conclusion. But that didn't mar an entertaining film.
A most enjoyable movie
guenzeld21 April 2008
I would not be put off from watching this very enjoyable movie by some of the opinions posted here. THE FRANCHISE AFFAIR is a movie you should seek out because it is, simply, very well made.
The 1951 film was based on the Josephine Tey novel - recently voted by the Crime Writer's Association as one of the Top 100 Crime Novels of All Time - and her novel was in turn based on a true 18th century case, that of Elizabeth Canning. Canning was a woman who accused two other women of kidnapping her and forcing her to become a prostitute. As the evidence against them grows a lawyer very reluctantly agrees to take on their case.
The film was made in moody black and white, nicely photographed by Gunther Krampf, a cameraman who began his career shooting beautiful silent films in Germany before emigrating to Britain in the late 1930s. His work has graced many a film. The story was updated by author Tey to the present time and the movie presents pleasant views of English village life in the 1940s. The script is extremely well-written. True, it contains a good deal of dialog, literate dialog I might add, but I believe this enhances the story-telling in the picture rather than takes away from it.
The acting is, as always with films made in the golden years of British film making, top-notch. I was more than a little amused by the criticism of one writer on this site who disparaged Mr Denison's acting and of another who called the acting "stilted". I suppose if one is accustomed to the hilarious, idiotically over-the-top acting style of today it is hard to adjust to genuinely fine acting. Again, do not be put off by comments like this: the acting is first-rate all down the line. Look for future British film stars in small roles here and there, and relish the delightfully dotty performance of the great Athene Seyler as the lawyer's mother. Such witty and well-judged performances like those are always worth a look.
THE FRANCHISE AFFAIR is very highly recommended.
The 1951 film was based on the Josephine Tey novel - recently voted by the Crime Writer's Association as one of the Top 100 Crime Novels of All Time - and her novel was in turn based on a true 18th century case, that of Elizabeth Canning. Canning was a woman who accused two other women of kidnapping her and forcing her to become a prostitute. As the evidence against them grows a lawyer very reluctantly agrees to take on their case.
The film was made in moody black and white, nicely photographed by Gunther Krampf, a cameraman who began his career shooting beautiful silent films in Germany before emigrating to Britain in the late 1930s. His work has graced many a film. The story was updated by author Tey to the present time and the movie presents pleasant views of English village life in the 1940s. The script is extremely well-written. True, it contains a good deal of dialog, literate dialog I might add, but I believe this enhances the story-telling in the picture rather than takes away from it.
The acting is, as always with films made in the golden years of British film making, top-notch. I was more than a little amused by the criticism of one writer on this site who disparaged Mr Denison's acting and of another who called the acting "stilted". I suppose if one is accustomed to the hilarious, idiotically over-the-top acting style of today it is hard to adjust to genuinely fine acting. Again, do not be put off by comments like this: the acting is first-rate all down the line. Look for future British film stars in small roles here and there, and relish the delightfully dotty performance of the great Athene Seyler as the lawyer's mother. Such witty and well-judged performances like those are always worth a look.
THE FRANCHISE AFFAIR is very highly recommended.
based on a Josephine Tey novel
blanche-227 December 2021
Michael Denison and Dulcie Gray (real life husband and wife for 60 years!) star in "The Franchise Affair" from 1951.
This film is based on a novel by Josephine Tey, which I read years ago and remember very well. The movie is a good adaptation.
The first scene shows a dishelved, bruised young woman, Betty Kane (Ann Stephens) who runs to her home in the dark after exiting a bus.
Denison plays Robert Blair, a British solicitor who is approached by Marion Sharpe, who lives with her mother (Marjorie Fielding) in a large house called The Franchise. The young woman is question is accusing Marion and her mother of holding her prisoner for several weeks and forcing her to work for them.
Betty had been visiting a relative and seems to have overstayed, but when her mother contacts the relative, Betty had already left. So where was she? And with whom?
Marion is fighting to remain calm, but it's terrifying. Betty knows all kinds of details about the grounds that she could not have seen from a bus, for instance, and describes the room where she was kept in perfect detail.
Though Blair doesn't take criminal cases, he's sympathetic toward the womens' plight and agrees to help. The women have to handle hate mail, hate phone calls, and rocks through their windows. Blair asks the local garage man for help, and he agrees to stay in the house.
Meanwhile, Blair is desperate to get some evidence against Betty Kane. He believes the Sharpes.
Very good movie with Kenneth More in a smaller role as the garage mechanic.
Very entertaining.
This film is based on a novel by Josephine Tey, which I read years ago and remember very well. The movie is a good adaptation.
The first scene shows a dishelved, bruised young woman, Betty Kane (Ann Stephens) who runs to her home in the dark after exiting a bus.
Denison plays Robert Blair, a British solicitor who is approached by Marion Sharpe, who lives with her mother (Marjorie Fielding) in a large house called The Franchise. The young woman is question is accusing Marion and her mother of holding her prisoner for several weeks and forcing her to work for them.
Betty had been visiting a relative and seems to have overstayed, but when her mother contacts the relative, Betty had already left. So where was she? And with whom?
Marion is fighting to remain calm, but it's terrifying. Betty knows all kinds of details about the grounds that she could not have seen from a bus, for instance, and describes the room where she was kept in perfect detail.
Though Blair doesn't take criminal cases, he's sympathetic toward the womens' plight and agrees to help. The women have to handle hate mail, hate phone calls, and rocks through their windows. Blair asks the local garage man for help, and he agrees to stay in the house.
Meanwhile, Blair is desperate to get some evidence against Betty Kane. He believes the Sharpes.
Very good movie with Kenneth More in a smaller role as the garage mechanic.
Very entertaining.
Good taught directed film
kevanjohnpeters27 April 2020
Saw this yesterday for the first time.... started watching casually, but was soon drawn into the plot.
Thought the direction was spot on , and the tension was ramped up wonderfully.
Yes the dialogue was a tad clipped, but it was 1951 for goodness sake, but I thought the script was bang on , with some wonderful cameos( apart from Kenneth Moore, as said elsewhere on here who's role was superfluous)
This film was a real gem, and would recommend it to anyone.
Yes the dialogue was a tad clipped, but it was 1951 for goodness sake, but I thought the script was bang on , with some wonderful cameos( apart from Kenneth Moore, as said elsewhere on here who's role was superfluous)
This film was a real gem, and would recommend it to anyone.
Vote For This One
writers_reign5 September 2016
Warning: Spoilers
Yet another Network reissue from those long-gone days when the cinema- going public were much more unsophisticated so that probably a good ninety per cent of them would have no idea how the schoolgirl Betty Kane was privy to so much verifiable information about a house which, as it was ultimately proved in court, she had never set foot inside let alone been held captive there for several weeks. If you shot the same story today it's unlikely that the same ninety per cent of viewers would fail to work out within two reels how Kane was able to pull it off. But this of course is part of its charm, the depiction of a lost era where cynicism was all but unknown. It's undeniable that leading man Michael Dennison is yet another graduate of the Forestry Commission School of Acting but he is surrounded by several popular faces of the day, a strong script and a cameraman who knows how to remove the lens cap prior to focusing. All in all a pleasant, entertaining film.
Poorly Composed
boblipton19 October 2022
Small town solicitor Michael Denison is called in when two of his clients, Dulcie Gray and her aunt Marjorie fielding, are accused by Ann Stephens of kidnapping her and holding her at their estate to be a maid of all work. She describes the grounds and the room she was kept in, and an examination by the police show she knows the place. The village turns against the ladies, even as Denison develops feelings for Miss Gray.
Despite the derivation from a novel by Josephine Tey, I did not find this a particularly compelling movie. Things go from bad to worse, yet it only takes ten minutes in court to settle out what actually happened. Unprefigured witnesses pop up, with simple explanations of why they hadn't been heard from before. Despite a cast which includes Athene Seyler, Hy Hazell, and Patrick Troughton, there's nothing here but adequate performances in a poorly composed mystery.
Despite the derivation from a novel by Josephine Tey, I did not find this a particularly compelling movie. Things go from bad to worse, yet it only takes ten minutes in court to settle out what actually happened. Unprefigured witnesses pop up, with simple explanations of why they hadn't been heard from before. Despite a cast which includes Athene Seyler, Hy Hazell, and Patrick Troughton, there's nothing here but adequate performances in a poorly composed mystery.
Sticks to the script
lucyrf18 October 2019
The film sticks closely to the book, which is a plus. It was made soon after the war, and some of the events recall what people had been through - being demonised and having mobs graffiti your premises and throw rocks through your window, and worse.
The acting is fine, especially from old Mrs Sharp. The makers avoided the temptation to have the other characters comment on her saltiness - she just comes out with her rather acid quips. She is funny, and so is Michael Deniston as Robert Blair, the solicitor.
I agree with the commenter who regretted the static nature of the filming - yes, it is stagey. Characters don't move much, and there are few close-ups or reaction shots.
The working-class characters are more prominent in the book, but they are well-played by such as Kenneth More and Patrick Troughton.
40s films gained by the glamour and style of women's clothes and hairdos. What went so wrong in the 50s!?!? Betty Kane is supposed to look frumpy in her school clothes, but poor Dulcie Gray is saddled with middle-aged clothes and a hair-don't.
The acting is fine, especially from old Mrs Sharp. The makers avoided the temptation to have the other characters comment on her saltiness - she just comes out with her rather acid quips. She is funny, and so is Michael Deniston as Robert Blair, the solicitor.
I agree with the commenter who regretted the static nature of the filming - yes, it is stagey. Characters don't move much, and there are few close-ups or reaction shots.
The working-class characters are more prominent in the book, but they are well-played by such as Kenneth More and Patrick Troughton.
40s films gained by the glamour and style of women's clothes and hairdos. What went so wrong in the 50s!?!? Betty Kane is supposed to look frumpy in her school clothes, but poor Dulcie Gray is saddled with middle-aged clothes and a hair-don't.
Entertaining but ending is a bit limp
malcolmgsw17 February 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Denis on and Grey were a very popular pair at the cinema and theatre.To those who accuse him of being wooden that tended to be the convention of the era.Up to the trial it is quite reasonable.However the trial has no real tension as the case collapses like a pack of cards.From a practical point of view how can a family lawyer hope to be able to deal with a kidnapping case?
Formula stuff with a potboiler premise
Libretio26 January 2000
THE FRANCHISE AFFAIR
Aspect ratio: 1.37:1
Sound format: Mono
(Black and white)
Though based on real events which took place in the 19th century, when a young girl accused two women of kidnapping and abusing her, THE FRANCHISE AFFAIR is ultimately a disappointment. The premise is sound and the film paints a disapproving picture of lynch-mob mentality, but the whole thing is scuttled by Michael Dennison's dreadful performance in the lead. His stiff-necked delivery lacks vitality and passion, and director Lawrence Huntington stages the entire picture like a piece of theatre, lining his characters in front of an apparently immovable camera and allowing dialogue to carry the 'action'. It's all frightfully, frightfully British, of course (Dennison's proposal of marriage to Dulcie Gray is an inadvertent laff riot), and much too stiff and formal. That said, the central narrative is unusual and compelling, though the script makes a dubious attempt to resolve the real-life mystery upon which the film is based.
Aspect ratio: 1.37:1
Sound format: Mono
(Black and white)
Though based on real events which took place in the 19th century, when a young girl accused two women of kidnapping and abusing her, THE FRANCHISE AFFAIR is ultimately a disappointment. The premise is sound and the film paints a disapproving picture of lynch-mob mentality, but the whole thing is scuttled by Michael Dennison's dreadful performance in the lead. His stiff-necked delivery lacks vitality and passion, and director Lawrence Huntington stages the entire picture like a piece of theatre, lining his characters in front of an apparently immovable camera and allowing dialogue to carry the 'action'. It's all frightfully, frightfully British, of course (Dennison's proposal of marriage to Dulcie Gray is an inadvertent laff riot), and much too stiff and formal. That said, the central narrative is unusual and compelling, though the script makes a dubious attempt to resolve the real-life mystery upon which the film is based.
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