Law and Disorder (1958) in Color — Starring Michael Redgrave & Robert Morley

Law and Disorder (1958) — Buy This Classic in Color

Enjoy a sparkling British comedy of errors with Law and Disorder (1958), now available to buy as a professionally colorized version. Starring Michael Redgrave, Robert Morley, and Lionel Jeffries, this classic film follows the son of an incorrigible con artist who has carved out a respectable life as a barrister — only to have his carefully built world threatened when his father is released from prison with no intention of going straight. Originally released in black and white, this restored comedy has been carefully enhanced through frame-by-frame HD colorization. Download your instant, DRM-free copy today for just €15.00 and watch this delightful Ealing-style farce in color.

Plot Summary

Colin Preston has accomplished the nearly impossible: despite being the son of Percy Brand, one of England’s most cheerfully unrepentant confidence tricksters, Colin has built a respectable career as a barrister. His colleagues admire him. His practice thrives. No one suspects that his father has spent more time inside prison than out of it.

But when Percy is released once again, Colin’s carefully constructed world begins to wobble. Percy has no interest in reformation. He considers honest work a form of insanity and regards his criminal enterprises as a perfectly legitimate art form. Within days of his release, Percy is hatching elaborate new schemes, and his irrepressible charm and boundless energy make it impossible for Colin to contain him.

The situation becomes desperate when Colin learns he is being considered for appointment as a judge — a position that would be instantly destroyed if anyone discovered his father’s criminal record. Colin must somehow keep Percy out of trouble, manage his own legal career, and prevent his two worlds from colliding. But Percy Brand is not a man who stays managed for long, and the harder Colin tries to impose order, the more spectacular the resulting chaos becomes. This classic movie delivers perfectly timed British humor with a warmhearted exploration of the bond between a respectable son and his incorrigible father.

Cast & Crew

• Starring: Michael Redgrave, Robert Morley, Lionel Jeffries, Elizabeth Sellars, Joan Hickson, Ronald Squire
• Director: Charles Crichton
• Runtime: 76 minutes
• Year: 1958
• Rated: Not Rated
• Genre: Comedy
• Country: United Kingdom

Why Buy This Classic in Color?

This professionally colorized and restored version adds visual warmth to this perfectly crafted British comedy. The colorization process reveals the wood-paneled courtrooms, the genteel sitting rooms, and the bustling London streets in rich, period-accurate tones that ground the comedy in a tangible, inviting world. Michael Redgrave’s increasingly desperate expressions of barely controlled panic are even more expressive in color, while Robert Morley’s Percy radiates irresistible roguish charm. The contrast between Colin’s immaculate legal world and Percy’s colorful criminal milieu becomes a visual joke in itself, with every perfectly tailored suit and every disreputable overcoat telling its own story. Now also available in colour.

Buy now for an instant, secure digital download with no DRM restrictions. Compatible with all devices that play MP4 files.

Historical Significance

Law and Disorder was directed by Charles Crichton, one of the finest comedy directors in British cinema history. Crichton had already directed the Ealing Studios classics The Lavender Hill Mob and Hue and Cry, and would later cap his career with A Fish Called Wanda (1988) at age seventy-seven. His gift for building comic situations with architectural precision is on full display here. Michael Redgrave, one of the great Shakespearean actors of his generation and a member of the theatrical Redgrave dynasty, brought unexpected comic dexterity to the role of the harried son. Robert Morley, himself one of the most distinctive character actors in British film, was perfectly cast as the magnificently unrepentant Percy. The supporting cast included Joan Hickson — who would decades later become the definitive Miss Marple on television — and Lionel Jeffries, whose own career would encompass both character acting and directing. The film captured the particular humor of 1950s British society, where respectability was the supreme social currency and the gap between public propriety and private chaos was endlessly fertile comic territory.

Technical Details

• Original Format: Black and White (1958)
• Colorized: Frame-by-frame HD colorization
• Resolution: HD 720p
• File Format: MP4 / MKV
• Running Time: 76 minutes
• Delivery: Instant download link on-screen and sent to your email upon purchase.
• Price: €15.00
• License: Personal, non-commercial use

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Movie-Specific Questions

Q: What is Law and Disorder about?
A respectable barrister’s carefully built career is threatened when his irrepressible con artist father is released from prison and immediately returns to his criminal schemes.

Q: Who stars in this film?
Michael Redgrave as the anxious son and Robert Morley as his magnificently unrepentant father, with Lionel Jeffries, Joan Hickson, and Elizabeth Sellars.

Q: Is this an Ealing comedy?
While not technically an Ealing Studios production, it was directed by Ealing veteran Charles Crichton and shares the wit, warmth, and social observation characteristic of that beloved tradition.

Digital Download Questions

Q: Is this the original film with added color?
Yes, this is the original black and white film professionally colorized frame-by-frame for authentic, vibrant visuals.

Q: What devices can I watch this on?
Any device that supports MP4 playback, including Smart TVs, Windows/macOS computers, and iOS/Android devices.

Q: Is the download DRM-free?
Yes, this digital download is DRM-free for your personal use.

Q: How and when will I receive my download?
You will receive a secure download link on the confirmation page immediately after purchase. A copy of the link will also be sent to your email address.

Related Colorized Classics

• Cynthia (1947)
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• Love Is Better Than Ever (1952)
• Cottage to Let (1941)
• Champagne (1928)