Brothers in Law (1957)

★ 7.1 1h 34m IMDb

Comedy

Roger Thursby is an overly keen, newly-qualified barrister who rubs his fellow barristers up the wrong way. When he is thrown in at the deep-end, with a particularly hot-tempered judge and tricky case, Thursby learns how to prove himself not only to the judge and fellow barristers but also to the public gallery.

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Cast

Richard Attenborough as Henry Marshall Died 2014 · Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England, UK Richard Samuel Attenborough, Baron Attenborough, Kt, CBE (August 29, 1923 – August 24, 2014) was an English actor, filmmaker, entrepreneur, and politician. He was the President of the Royal Academy of...

Ian Carmichael as Roger Thursby Died 2010 · Kingston-Upon-Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, England, UK Ian Gillett Carmichael, OBE (18 June 1920 – 5 February 2010) was an English actor best known for his roles in the films of the Boulting brothers such as Private's Progress (1956) and I'm All Right Jac...

Terry-Thomas as Alfred Green Died 1990 · Finchley, London, England, UK Terry-Thomas (14 July 1911 – 8 January 1990) was an English actor. He was famous for his comedic portrayals of disreputable members of the upper classes..

Jill Adams as Sally Smith Died 2008

Leslie Phillips as Shop Assistant Died 2022 · Tottenham, London, England, UK Leslie Samuel Phillips CBE (20 April 1924 – 7 November 2022) was an English actor, director, producer and author. He achieved prominence in the 1950s, playing smooth, upper-class comic roles utilising...

Director Roy Boulting

Cast Richard Attenborough, Ian Carmichael, Terry-Thomas, Jill Adams, Leslie Phillips, Henry B. Longhurst, Edith Sharpe, Eric Barker, Miles Malleson, John Le Mesurier

John Chard 8/10 Nov 23, 2018

Frightfully sorry old boy!

Newly qualified and wet behind the ears barrister Roger Thursby joins his flatmate Henry Marshall as trainee at a London law firm. After a bout of confusion, Thursby finds himself defending a case and is hopelessly out of his depth, where the only thing he wins is the scorn of the judge! Things are further compounded by the fact that both Roger and Henry have designs on pretty Sally Smith who lives on the top floor. But a chance encounter with 17 time offender Alfred Green is going to turn Roger's world upside down.

As British as Fish & Chips is Brothers In Law. Starring Richard Attenborough (Henry), Ian Carmichael (Roger), Terry-Thomas (Alfred Green) and brought to us by the supreme talents of Roy and John Boulting, it's a cheeky and charming satire on the British wig wearing legal eagles.

The film opens with Shakespeare's quote from Henry VI (Part 2), "The first thing we do, let's kill all the lawyers," from there we follow the sprightly Carmichael as he bumbles his way through a series of court encounters and a bad golf day with Judge Ryman (the irrepressible and elegant John Le Mesurier). Aided by a nice sub-plot that sees Attenborough and Carmichael chase the delectable Jill Adams as Sally Smith, Brothers In Arms is really just unfussy film making.

Things further gather a pace once Terry-Thomas arrives on the scene as Alfred Green. With a full head of hair and gap in tooth prominent as usual, the film, and Roger's fortunes, considerably changes. It should be noted, however, that Thomas is only in the film for a very short time, and he doesn't turn up until past the hour mark. So fans of his should not expect a Terry-Thomas vehicle, in fact that the film is included in the Thomas Region 2 Collection Box Set is somewhat perplexing.

Other notable British stars such as Eric Barker, Nicholas Parsons, Irene Handl and Leslie Phillips pop up along the way. While Benjamin Frankel's music has that lovely plink plonk comedy feel to really aid the charm on offer. Based on the novel written by Henry Cecil (himself a judge), Brothers In Arms achieves all it sets out to do. 8/10