Conduct Unbecoming

What do you call a tedious courtroom drama with a shallow bottom but filled with fine acting? "Conduct Unbecoming". A stilted and wordy play stuffed full of fine actors, who do their stuff really well. If you like things "full of sound and fury, signifying nothing", this movie's for you.

1870s. Two young English officers, 2nd Lieutenants Drake and Millington, report for duty at a cavalry regiment in India. Soon hereafter, the widow of a regimental hero is assaulted and she identifies Lt. Millington as her assailant. In order to preserve the honour of the regiment, a clandestine, off-the-books court martial is arranged in order to try Lt. Millington. Lt. Drake acts as his defence attorney. The case seems cut-and-dried but Lt. Drake has other ideas and soon uncovers some alarming evidence.

Not your average courtroom drama as its set in a military camp in British Colonial India in the 19th century. Quite intriguing as it seems like an open-and-shut case but slowly you get to realise that it is anything but that. Some great twists and turns as startling new evidence comes to light.

It's also an interesting character study as the young Lt. Drake (played superbly by Michael York) goes from unsure, stumbling, deferential junior officer to becoming more sure of himself and more willing to challenge his superiors. Quite the character arc.

Far from brilliant though. The plot ultimately isn't entirely watertight and the revelation at the end doesn't completely make sense. Production values are quite cheap and make the film feel like a play.

Can't fault the cast though: Michael York (as mentioned), Trevor Howard, Christopher Plummer, Richard Attenborough, Susannah York, Stacy Keach. Solid performances all round.

If you're familiar with Fametracker and its 'Hey! It's that guy!' feature, you'll understand what I mean by an 'it's-him'. It's when you watch a film and all the way through you're pointing at second banana actors going 'Oh look, it's him'. One of the pleasures of this film is trying to work out exactly why so-and-so's face is familiar and then realising it's Prior Robert from TVs Cadfael, or something similar.

I read the play Conduct Unbecoming at school, and while this film does not go quite as deeply into the themes it throws up, ie moral bankruptcy in the British Raj/army and macho values in general, it remains a well-made, well acted period drama redolent of the distinctive spirit of the period.

Then again, I could be biased because I find Milington so dishy (he played Herod Agrippa in I, Claudius, in case you're stumped!)

Fans of court-martial stories will definitely want to rent Conduct Unbecoming, starring both Michael and Susannah York, Christopher Plummer, Stacy Keach, Trevor Howard, and Richard Attenborough. Set in British-occupied India, this mysterious story will keep you guessing until the end, and all the while you can look at the pretty costumes and beautiful sets.

Michael York arrives at his new post and is immediately befriended by James Faulkner, even though such an association might not be wise. James has a disrespectful attitude that frequently gets him in trouble. At an officer's ball, Susannah York rebuffs James's advances out in the garden. Minutes later, she's found with a torn gown and a rape accusation on her lips. Naturally, James is arrested and subjected to a court martial. It's supposed to be cut and dried, since Susannah is a beloved war hero's widow, and no one would dare question her word. But Michael takes on the position of advocate for the defense and threatens to open a messy can of worms. Stacy, Chris, and Trevor all warn him against it, but he believes in the honor of the army and the law so he tries hard to give James a fair trial.

This was an enjoyable drama with a great cast all giving their best. I didn't love the way it ended, but the rest of the journey was entertaining and full of great twists that kept me on the edge of my seat.

Based on play ,and it shows, a little talky, the movie can boast the creme de la creme of British actors: Attenborough, Howard, Plummer,both York et al and this is the main reason you should watch this overlooked work.

The scene in which the widow of a captain who would have been killed in action is awarded a medal is pivotal : the keywords to the movie are pride and honor.

When this widow is attacked by a rookie (a naive young man who thinks that his only punishment would be to be expelled from the army , a thing he ardently hopes -the very first scene is revealing- ) one attends a travesty of a trial ,where the court martial's purpose is less the search for truth (which might be really unbecoming) than to preserve the military values, to keep up appearances .A rotten microcosm where things better left unsaid happen .