The Absentee (1951 film)

The Absentee is a 1951 British comedy film directed by John Guillermin and starring Tod Slaughter, Peter Butterworth, and Diane Hart. The film is a remake of the 1915 film of the same name, which was based on the play The Absentee by Richard Brinsley Peake.

The plot revolves around an unscrupulous landlord, Lord Fancourt Babberley (played by Tod Slaughter), who schemes to swindle his tenants. He demands rent from tenants who are already dead or have left the country. When a young woman, Maria (Diane Hart), arrives seeking justice for her family, she enlists the help of a seemingly inept but ultimately clever detective, Bottomley (Peter Butterworth), to expose Babberley's fraudulent activities. The film features elements of slapstick comedy and melodrama.