This was tricky in some places, I found, specifically the NW corner. There were some unfamiliar (to me) synonyms, and familiar indicators not used as such, to misdirect. Thanks to Armonie. Definitions are underlined in the clues. [[The pictures at the bottom have unidentified links to the puzzle. Please enclose any comments on them in double brackets. Thank you.]]
Across
1 Reluctant to support charge (8)
BACKWARD : BACK(to support, eg. financially, an enterprise, or musically, a soloist) + WARD(a person who is in the charge of another).
5 Withdraw article in revolt (6)
REPEAL : A(the article in English grammar) contained in(in) REPEL(to revolt;to cause aversion, as in “they were revolted;repelled by the sight).
9 Girl gets punishment in the States for threatening behaviour (8)
UGLINESS : { G(abbrev. for “girl”) plus(gets) LINES(a form of punishment for schoolchildren) } contained in(in) US(abbrev. for the United States, of America).
Answer: Behaviour which could cause trouble is termed “ugly”, as in “the discussion turned ugly”.
10 Wander about to obtain appliance (6)
GADGET : GAD(to wander about, the root word for “gadabout”) + GET(to obtain).
12 Raptor provides interest (5)
HOBBY : Double defn: 1st: A small falcon which is a bird of prey;a raptor; and 2nd: A pastime.
13 Earls can’t circulate in royal house (9)
LANCASTER : Anagram of(circulate) EARLS CAN’T.
Answer: The English royal house that reigned from 1399 to 1461.
14 Insecurity makes director fret (6)
DANGER : D(abbrev. for “director”) + ANGER(if you fret;irritate someone enough, you could anger him/her).
16 Punish favourite dog (7)
WHIPPET : WHIP(to punish by striking with such as a whip) + PET(a favourite).
19 Left soldiers worn out (7)
RETIRED : RE(abbrev. for the Royal Engineers in the British Army) + TIRED(worn out physically or mentally).
Answer: To have left the scene.
21 Upper classes make good with admission (6)
GENTRY : G(abbrev. for “good”) plus(with) ENTRY(admission).
23 Advocate having street confined by blockade (9)
BARRISTER : ST(abbrev. for “street”) contained in(confined by) BARRIER(a blockade, preventing access or progress).
25 His music’s simple harmonies give away composer (5)
LEHAR : Hidden in(… give away) “simple harmonies “.
Answer: Franz, composer famous for “The Merry Widow” operetta.
26 Drink induced trance (6)
NECTAR : Anagram of(induced) TRANCE.
Answer: Drink for bees and Greek and Roman gods.
27 A pass in the French game (8)
LACROSSE : { A + CROSS(a pass of the ball across the pitch to a team mate, in a ball game) } contained in(in) LE(French for “the”). And you would see a pass (or two) in this game of Native American origin, but given a French name.
28 Put both hands round the side of the record book (6)
LEDGER : L,R(abbrevs. for both hand, left and right) containing(Put … round) EDGE(the side;the border).
29 Firm invested in drink? That’s deliberate! (8)
MEASURED : SURE(certain;firm about something) contained in(invested in) MEAD(an alcoholic drink from fermented honey and water).
Down
1 Vitamin had better be paid for (6)
BOUGHT : B(not a single vitamin as first thought, but a group, eg. B1, B2, etc.) + OUGHT(had better, as in “you had better;ought to do this”).
2 Treble can upset priest (9)
CELEBRANT : Anagram of(upset) TREBLE CAN.
Answer: One who officiates at a religious or civil ceremony, who could be a priest.
3 Nervous? Twist and turn over years! (5)
WINDY : WIND(to twist and turn, like an Alpine road) placed above(over, in a down clue) Y(abbrev. for “years”).
Answer: Slang for being nervous;afraid.
4 King holds saint to be lawbreaker (7)
RUSTLER : RULER(who could be a king) containing(holds) ST(abbrev. for “saint”).
Answer: In North America, a cattle or horse thief.
6 Discharge from English graduate society (9)
EMANATION : E(abbrev. for “English”) + MA(abbrev. for “Master of Arts”, a graduate) + NATION(a society under a single government).
Answer: Something that is sent forth from a source.
7 Crew‘s authority beginning to go (5)
EIGHT : “weight”(the authority over;the influence on events, eg. “an expert’s testimony carries much weight”).
Answer: A competitive rowing crew.
8 Erudite student to perform again (8)
LITERATE : L(the plate displayed by a learner driver) + ITERATE(to do again).
11 Was familiar with Kingsley’s first novel (4)
KNEW : The 1st letter of(…’s first) “Kingsley ” + NEW(novel;different from previous).
15 Preparing a regiment to shoot (9)
GERMINATE : Anagram of(Preparing) A REGIMENT.
Answer: As with a plant from a seed.
17 Patron has ship’s officer storing tea (9)
PURCHASER : PURSER(a ship’s officer in charge of money matters, ie. the purse) containing(storing) CHA(British slang for “tea”, the drink, derived from the Chinese language).
Answer: A patron of a commercial establishment would purchase something.
18 Roll into experimental court of justice (8)
TRIBUNAL : BUN(a bread roll) contained in(into) TRIAL(experimental, as in a “trial run”).
20 Penny irritated escort (4)
DATE : D(symbol for a “penny” in the former British £ s d money) + ATE(irritated;annoyed, as in “her unreasonable behaviour ate at him”).
Answer: A person of the opposite sex, usually, who would go with;escort one to an event.
21 Refuse clothing over time (7)
GARBAGE : GARB(clothing) placed above(over, in a down clue) T(abbrev. for “time”).
22 Pal runs into enthusiast (6)
FRIEND : R(abbrev. for “runs”, what are scored in cricket) contained in(into) FIEND(informally, an extreme enthusiast).
24 Competed for best in road (5)
RACED : ACE(the best;number one) contained in(in) RD(abbrev. for “road”).
25 Sports venue is another place for an MP (5)
LORDS : Double defn: 1st: With an apostrophe, the cricket ground in London; and 2nd: Without the apostrophe, short for “House of Lords”, an alternative to the House of Commons where one can be a Member of the British Parliament).
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Felt it was mostly straightforward – though synonym 3d was not familiar. Perhaps too many charades with single letter and then long-ish word..
Thanks to setter and reviewer.
Thanks Armonie for a pleasantly straightforward crossword and scchua for the blog. The straightforward nature of the clues compensates for a grid which almost splits into two halves down the middle.
25ac: I think this clue would read better without the first two words. In my view, redundant words in a “hidden” clue are undesirable and the surface would work just as well without these words. As always, I have no quarrel with those who see these things differently.
25dn: As I understand it, when an MP speaking in the House of Commons wishes to refer to the House of Lords, the MP will use the phrase “another place”. Wikipedia supports this.
[[1: Patrick McGoohan was in DANGER Man
4: The Association had a #1 hit with WINDY
5: Rupert Everett was in My Best FRIEND’s Wedding (and the French TV mini-series DANGERous Liaisons)
6: The painting is Steinlen’s Cat Reclining on a Cushion, but I can’t identify the woman.
Sadly, that’s the best I can do.]]
[[Getting 1 and 4 is better than anyone has done.
2: Johnny Rivers had a hit with the song, Secret Agent Man, the signature tune of DANGER Man, retitled the former in the US.
3: The Tallahatchie Bridge featured in the song “Ode to Billie Joe” by Bobbie GENTRY.
5: Rupert Everett (in addition to the connections you mentioned) was Dr. Claw in Inspector GADGET.
6: Jennifer Jones starred in Ruby GENTRY.]]