Meet Simon Cherry
DirectorGodfrey Grayson
ProducerAnthony Hinds
WriterGodfrey Grayson
A. R. Rawlinson
Gale Pedrick (radio plays)
StarringHugh Moxey
Jeanette Tregarthen
Anthony Forwood
John Bailey
Music
CinematographyCedric Williams
EditingRay Pitt
StudioHammer Films
DistributorExclusive Films (UK)
ReleasedJanuary 1950 (UK)
Runtime67 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish

Meet Simon Cherry is a 1949 British second feature ('B')[1] mystery film directed by Godfrey Grayson and starring Hugh Moxey.[2] The screenplay was by Grayson and A. R. Rawlinson based on the BBC radio series Meet the Rev by Gale Pedrick, featuring the crime solving cleric.[3][4][5] The film was originally to be called Meet the Rev, but when the film was trade shown on 22 November 1949, the title was changed. It was released theatrically in January 1950. Hammer had intended to produce a series of Simon Cherry films, but cancelled the project after this first film failed to become a hit.[6]

Plot

When the Rev. Simon ("The Rev") Cherry sets off for a much needed holiday, his car breaks down in a storm and he is forced to stay overnight in a manor house belonging to Lady Harling. The following morning, the body of Lady Harling's invalid daughter Lisa Colville is discovered, apparently murdered, and the Rev must bring his crime solving skills to the case. Lisa's cousin Henry accuses Lisa's husband Alan of murdering her. Simon later discovers that the young woman actually was not murdered but rather died from a heart attack, which comes as a relief to the Harling family.

Cast

Critical reception

Picturegoer wrote: "The story ... is conventional enough but it is treated without hysterics. Yet it manages to put over quite a reasonable thrill. The acting of the cast as a whole is quite competent."[7]

Picture Show wrote: "It is neatly directed, with the accent on suspense and character rather than noise and speed, and excellently acted."[8]

The Radio Times gave the film one out of five stars, writing: "Hugh Moxey made his screen debut in a feeble story."[9]

Sky Movies gave the film two out of five stars, noting a "a brisk, no-nonsense film version of one of Gale Pedrick's popular stories."[10]

TV Guide called it "competent enough."[11]

Leslie Halliwell said: "Elementary programme filler from a radio story."[12]

In British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959 David Quinlan rated the film as "average", calling it a "servicable, no-frills version of popular radio serial."[13]

References

  1. ^ Chibnall, Steve & McFarlane, Brian (2009). 'The British 'B' Film'. London: BFI/Bloomsbury. p. 76. ISBN 978-1-8445-7319-6.
  2. ^ "Meet Simon Cherry". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 13 October 2024.
  3. ^ "The Rev Simon Cherry (Gale Pedrick)"[dead link]
  4. ^ "Meet Simon Cherry (1949)". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 2 February 2017.
  5. ^ "Meet the Rev". BBC Programme Index. Archived from the original on 25 October 2014. Retrieved 2 April 2025.
  6. ^ Johnson, Tom (1996). Hammer Films: An Exhaustive Filmography. North Carolina: McFarland. p. 43. ISBN 0-7864-0034-X.
  7. ^ "Meet Simon Cherry". Picturegoer. 19: 17. 5 March 1950.
  8. ^ "Meet Simon Cherry". Picture Show. 54 (1411): 12. 15 April 1950.
  9. ^ Eyles, Allen. "Meet Simon Cherry". Radio Times. Retrieved 13 October 2024.
  10. ^ "Meet Simon Cherry". Find and Watch. Archived 2 Feb 2017 at the Wayback Machine.
  11. ^ "Meet Simon Cherry". Archived 2 Feb 2017 at the Wayback Machine.
  12. ^ Halliwell, Leslie (1989). Halliwell's Film Guide. 7th ed. London: Paladin. p. 667. ISBN 0586088946.
  13. ^ Quinlan, David (1984). British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959. London: B.T. Batsford Ltd.. p. 229. ISBN 0-7134-1874-5.