Carrington, VC finds career army officer David Niven doing something reckless and a bit stupid besides. He borrows a bit of money from the Officer's Fund of his unit to pay some household bills. He's owed a lot of back pay allowances that the fine military machine of the British army hasn't seen fit to cough up. But he is a winner of the Victoria Cross, the VC of the title and the commander of the regiment Allan Cuthbertson is a most jealous man. He might be the head of the regiment, but the men look to Niven.If you remember the Clint Eastwood film Heartbreak Ridge at one point Gunnery Sergeant Eastwood helps out one of his enlisted men make ends meet the way Niven is having problems with his wife and family. But officers don't have concerned gunnery sergeants.In any event Niven is being court martialed for the offense, charges brought by Cuthbertson. How it goes I will not say, but Niven is given a royal kick in the keester by a jealous wife Margaret Leighton who suspects some hanky panky going on with a female officer and her husband.The great critique by me and others is that David Niven more than any other actor had to carry a lot of mediocre films on the strength of being debonair and charming. Not so in Carrington, VC, this is a fine military courtroom drama that stands on its own merits. Niven does well in the lead and grateful for this being a film he didn't have to carry.Allan Cuthbertson is one of those actors who just does well in everything he's cast in. He's quite the martinet and jealous of Niven's war service and decoration. He spent the war directing a shore battery that was called upon to shoot down Mr. Hitler's Luftwaffe planes, no chance for medals or glory there.The second member of the supporting cast who is outstanding is Victor Maddern playing Niven's sergeant and biggest fan.Carrington, VC has a bit of The Caine Mutiny and some of The Winslow Boy in its plot and presentation. But it's a good courtroom drama and all actors love doing them.

Director: ANTHONY ASQUITH. Screenplay: John Hunter. Based on the stage play by Dorothy Christie, Campbell Christie. Photography: Desmond Dickinson. Film editor: Ralph Kemplen. Art director: Wilfred Shingleton. Make-up: David Aylott. Hair styles: Ida Mills. Miss Leighton's costumes: Rahvis. Wardrobe: Dolly Smith. Camera operator: William Allan. Set continuity: Beryl Booth. Military technical adviser: David Rooke. Court-martial technical adviser: A.G.C. Grant. Production manager and assistant director: Basil Keys. Dubbing editor: Stanley Hawkes. Sound recording: A. G. Ambler, Red Law. Producer: Teddy Baird.A Remus Production for Romulus, released in the U.K. by Independent/British Lion: 10 January 1955; in Australia by 20th Century-Fox: 19 July 1956; in the U.S.A. by Kingsley International: August 1955. Registered: November 1954. "A" certificate. New York opening at the Trans-Lux 52nd Street: 1 August 1955. Sydney opening at The Embassy. 9,532 feet. 106 minutes. U.S. title: Court Martial. (Available on an excellent Network DVD).SYNOPSIS: Major Carrington V.C., is accused of stealing military funds.COMMENT: "Carrington, V.C." holds the interest throughout, though it is not one of Asquith's best films. In fact the direction is quite routine and even at times uninspired. This, along with all the dialogue, the complete lack of on-camera action and the fact that most of the scenes take place in the court, reinforces the impression of a photographed stage play. Still, the characters are engagingly if one-dimensionally drawn, and the players, particularly Allan Cuthbertson, breathe them convincingly into life. The photography has little contrast and is even at times under-lit. And the film was made at a time when a complete absence of background music and an emphasis on sound effects was considered the "in" thing.

As something of a Puffin Asquith completist I naturally made a point of watching this on Talking Pictures yesterday. As a rule I tend to avoid British films that focus on one or more aspects of the military but I was pleasantly surprised at how Puffin put the ensemble cast through its paces. Apart from David Niven and Margaret Leighton, an unlikely married couple, the support was largely Second Eleven, Laurence Naismith, Geoffrey Keen, Noelle Middleton, Victor Maddern and they even wheeled out old Newtie Blick. The old adage that you can't go wrong with a courtroom drama holds up here albeit it's a courts martial rather than a civilian court with Niven in the dock and acting as his own defence lawyer. It all hangs together nicely and makes for solid entertainment.

Carrington V.C. is directed by Anthony Asquith and has a screenplay by John Hunter. The film stars David Niven, Noelle Middleton,Raymond Francis, Geoffrey Keen, Allan Cuthbertson and Margaret Leighton.Major Carrington(David Niven)defends himself at a court martial. He faces three charges. Firstly he's accused of removing £125 from the safe of his army barracks. He did take the money but he claims he did so with the approval of his commanding officer Colonel Hennicker(Allan Cuthbertson). The Colonel (who is not liked by those under his command or by several of the officers on the court martial board) denies this.Carrington is also accused of being absent without leave and entertaining Captain Allison Graham(Noelle Middleton)in his room after hours. Carrington and Graham are friends but not romantically involved, that charge makes it seem otherwise.This is a really good courtroom drama. Niven is good as the decent and beloved officer who is in a bad situation. Geoffrey Keen steals all his scenes as the level headed and shrewd officer in charge of the court martial board. Noelle Middleton is good as the loyal Allison, who feels powerless to help Carrington. Margaret Leighton is memorable as Carrington's troubled wife. Allan Cuthbertson is very good as the commanding officer who is out to get Carrington. Laurence Naismith also has a small role as an officer on the court martial board.I also like that the ending is not sentimental, it's realistic and we see that it was a difficult decision to make. Good performances and a story with a few surprises on offer too.