Brothers in Law main backdrop
Brothers in Law main poster

Brothers in Law

Visit website

7.1/10 • 8

1957-03-041h 34m

Comedy

By the same team that made Private's Progress

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.

Directors
Roy Boulting
Editors
Anthony Harvey

Top Billed Cast

View Credits
  1. Richard Attenborough

    Richard Attenborough

    Henry Marshall

  2. Ian Carmichael

    Ian Carmichael

    Roger Thursby

  3. Terry-Thomas

    Terry-Thomas

    Alfred Green

  4. Jill Adams

    Jill Adams

    Sally Smith

  5. Leslie Phillips

    Leslie Phillips

    Shop Assistant

  6. Henry B. Longhurst

    Henry B. Longhurst

    Rev. Arthur Thursby

  7. Edith Sharpe

    Edith Sharpe

    Mrs. Thursby

  8. Eric Barker

    Eric Barker

    Alec Blair

  9. Miles Malleson

    Miles Malleson

    Kendall Grimes Q.C.

Reviews1

View Reviews
John Chard Avatar

John Chard

Nov 23, 2018

8/10

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

Media

  • Brothers in Law poster
  • Brothers in Law poster

Recommendations

  • No Backdrop

    We

    6.8

  • No Backdrop

    Re-Cut

    6.6

  • O Palmenbaum main backdrop

    O Palmenbaum

    5.9

  • Scooby-Doo! and the Beach Beastie main backdrop

    Scooby-Doo! and the Beach Beastie

    8.4

  • Hello main backdrop

    Hello

    6.2

  • Riviera Revenge main backdrop

    Riviera Revenge

    6.2

  • What Comes Around main backdrop

    What Comes Around

    5.7

  • The Painter main backdrop

    The Painter

    6.2

  • White Plastic Sky main backdrop

    White Plastic Sky

    7.0

  • No Backdrop

    Flow

    9.3

  • Coplan Saves His Skin main backdrop

    Coplan Saves His Skin

    4.7

  • Yolo main backdrop

    Yolo

    6.3

  • Maria Montessori main backdrop

    Maria Montessori

    7.0

  • Hello main backdrop

    Hello

    6.3

  • No Backdrop

    Defeat of the German Forces Near Moscow: The Restored Soviet WW2 Documentary

    7.3

  • Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart to Hades main backdrop

    Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart to Hades

    7.1

  • MAD main backdrop

    MAD

    5.6

  • No Backdrop

    Spring

    7.0

  • The Green Perfume main backdrop

    The Green Perfume

    5.4

  • Bangkok Breaking: Heaven and Hell main backdrop

    Bangkok Breaking: Heaven and Hell

    6.6

Status
Released
Original Language
English
Budget
--
Revenue
--
Keywords
judgelawyer