The Franchise Affair – 1950 | 95 mins | Thriller | B&W

Plot Synopsis

A stifled adaptation of Josephine Tey’s 1948 mystery novel; itself loosely based on infamous the 18th century Elizabeth Canning abduction case. The story opens promisingly with plenty of mystery and suspense, but all tension gradually dissipates and an attempt to open out the story to reflect local hostility is risible. The tediously long trial sequence is made redundant be the straightforward good and bad characterisations of those in court robs the story of all ambiguity. Husband-and-wife team Michael Denison and Dulcie Gray lead the cast, and Denison is typically wooden.

Robert Blair (Michael Denison), a young country lawyer, is contacted by reclusive Mrs. Sharpe (Marjorie Fielding) and her daughter, Marion (Dulcie Gray), who live in an isolated house to defend them against the charges of teenager Betty Kane (Ann Stephens), who accuses them of kidnapping and beating her in an attempt to make her their servant. Betty is taken to the isolated house to back up her statement, and correctly identifies the car in which she claim she was kidnapped and the attic where she claims to have been held prisoner. When the story is broken by the press, and a witness comes forward to substantiate Betty Kane’s story, the Sharpe’s becoming victims of mounting harassment from small-town hysteria and narrow-mindedness. Soon the case goes to court and it’s left to Blair’s friend and defending counsel Kevin McDermott to discover the truth.