Pair Of Briefs, A (1963, Michael Craig, Mary Peach)

Michael Craig, newly called to the Bar, is briefed to plead with pathetic Brenda De Banzie who wishes to have her conjugal rights with Ron Moody. Mary Peach, who was also recently called to the Bar and is from the same chambers as Craig, opposes him. De Banzie claims they were married during the war but the witnesses vanished and the registrar’s records were destroyed. She claims, too, that she lost her memory and, with it, Moody. On regaining her memory, she sought out Moody who denies ever being married to De Banzie.

The professional courtroom bickerings of Craig and Peach are firmly frowned upon by choleric judge James Robertson Justice, who threatens to take action against the brawling barristers. And De Banzie loses the case. Peach immediately puts an appeal in motion but Craig discovers De Banzie and Moody never divorced and she now is ‘married’ to a wealthy man – and merely brought the case to ensure the shady Moody could never legally make a claim on her again. And, unsurprisingly, Justice turns out to have a soft heart and acts as cupid to unite Craig and Peach.

production details
UK | Rank | minutes | 1962

Director: Ralph Thomas
Script: Nicholas Phipps, from the play How Say You? by Harold Brooke and Kay Bannerman,

cast
Michael Craig as Tony Stevens
Mary Peach
Brenda De Banzie
James Robertson Justice
Roland Culver
Liz Fraser
Joan Sims as Gale Tornado
Bill Kerr as Victor – Club Owner