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Carrington V.C.
Carrington V.C.
	U.S. theatrical poster
Directed by	Anthony Asquith
Written by	John Hunter
Based on	Carrington V.C. by Campbell Christie and Dorothy Christie
Produced by	John Woolf ; Teddy Baird
Starring	David Niven; Margaret Leighton; Noelle Middleton
Cinematography	Desmond Dickinson
Edited by	Ralph Kemplen
Production; company	Romulus Films
Distributed by	Independent Film Distributors ; Kingsley-International Pictures (US)
Release date	9 December 1954;
Running time	105 minutes
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English
Box office	£141,608 (UK)

Carrington V.C., also known as Court Martial in the United States, is a 1954 British legal drama film directed by Anthony Asquith and starring David Niven, Margaret Leighton and Noelle Middleton. Others in the cast include Allan Cuthbertson, Victor Maddern, Raymond Francis, Michael Bates, Laurence Naismith, Geoffrey Keen and Maurice Denham. Made by Romulus Films it was distributed by the company's Independent Film Distributors and released in the United States by Kingsley-International Pictures. It was adapted for the screen by John Hunter from the play of the same name by Campbell and Dorothy Christie. It was produced by Teddy Baird.^[2]

It was shot at Shepperton Studios near London with sets designed by the art director Wilfred Shingleton. The Victoria Cross worn by Niven in the film was that awarded to Arthur Henry Cross for service in World War I.^[3]

Plot

Major Charles 'Copper' Carrington VC is arrested for embezzling £125 from his unit's safe. Other charges include going absent without leave from the base, and entertaining a woman officer in his room.

Defending himself at his court-martial, Carrington's case is that he had told his superior, Colonel Henniker, that he would take the money to advertise his complaint that he was owed for expenses. He transferred £100 of it to his wife, Valerie, who was suicidal from financial worries, and left the base to compete in a horse race in which he bet the rest of the money on himself, hoping to be able to pay back the cash. When he fell from his horse, his friend Captain Alison Graham tried to replace the money, but was denied access to the safe.

While bed-ridden from the fall, Carrington was visited by Graham to discuss the embezzlement. She was sitting in a chair fully dressed when Colonel Henniker stormed in, saying it was against regulations for males and females to be together in private quarters. He admits to having waited for some time after seeing Graham go to Carrington's room before following.

Henniker resents Carrington. Carrington could be cleared if it is established that he had forewarned Henniker of his intentions. Henniker perjures himself by denying it.

Due to her ill-health, Carrington had not intended to call Valerie as a witness, but does so after Henniker's testimony.

Before Valerie's appearance, Graham admits to her that she had a one-night stand with Carrington, but that Carrington then insisted that a full affair would not be fair to anyone.

Valerie perjures herself by denying Carrington had mentioned telling Colonel Henniker he planned to take the money. Carrington is about to read extracts from a letter she wrote to him in which she refers to his informing Henniker, when the judge insists the entire letter be examined to be accepted into evidence. As the letter also contains personal matters about Valerie's health, Carrington tears it up.

Carrington is found guilty on all counts, which means dismissal from the service subject to the verdict's confirmation.

Carrington decides not to appeal the verdict, and his marriage is also over.

Gossiping about the case, a telephonist reveals that she overheard Carrington's phone call with his wife in which he said what he had told Henniker. Her colleague brings her to the court martial panel to give her evidence.

Cast

David Niven as Major Charles 'Copper' Carrington VC
Margaret Leighton as Valerie Carrington
Noelle Middleton as Captain Alison L. Graham
Allan Cuthbertson as Colonel Henniker
Victor Maddern as Bombardier Owen
Raymond Francis as Major Jim Mitchell
Geoffrey Keen as Brigadier Ayers Meadmore, President
Newton Blick as Judge Advocate A. Tesker Terry
Mark Dignam as Major Morse, Prosecutor
Robert Bishop as Prosecutor's Assistant
Maurice Denham as Lieutenant Colonel B.R. Reeve
Laurence Naismith as Major R.E. Panton
Clive Morton as Lieutenant Colonel T.B. Huxford
Michael Bates as Major A.T.M. Broke-Smith
Stuart Saunders as Sergeant Crane
John Chandos as Adjutant John Rawlinson
Fred Griffiths as Fred, Soldier
Johnnie Schofield as Hallam
Vivienne Martin as Pte. Smith
John Glyn-Jones as Evans, Reporter
Timothy Bateson as Soldier in Naafi
R.S.M. Brittain as Sergeant Major

Awards and nominations

Carrington, V.C. was nominated for the BAFTA Film Award for Best British Film and Best Film from any Source. David Niven was nominated for Best British Actor, and Margaret Leighton and Noelle Middleton were both nominated for Best British Actress.

References

^ Vincent Porter, 'The Robert Clark Account', Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television, Vol 20 No 4, 2000 p 504
^ "Carrington V.C. | BFI | BFI". Explore.bfi.org.uk. Archived from the original on 12 July 2012. Retrieved 12 March 2014.
^ "VC for sale", The Daily Telegraph, London, p. 12, 11 April 2012