Saturday, 23 September 2023

Went the Day Well? (1942 Cavalcanti)

Well covered here. Brilliant, surprisingly brutal film for its year, summarised in the scene normally cheerful Muriel George, a music hall and singing star, despatches a Nazi with an axe (and note her sob at having to do this) only to be brutally shot in the back. Many memorable moments include murder of traitor by woman who fancied him, reaction of girl to have shot a German - slight disgust (but in a wonderful moment of British humour undercutting that, her friend says 'Oh well you're one up on me - we'd better keep score').

Much British pluck in evidence.

Someone, somewhere noted that as the Battle of Britain has been won and the threat of invasion diminished, the audience didn't respond to it as they might had it been released earlier.

The BFI / Lottery have done a lovely job restoring it.

Graham Greene's story was adapted by Angus McPhail, John Dighton & Diana Morgan. Shot by Wilkie Cooper, with D. Slocombe credited as 'reporter cameraman'.

Leslie Banks (traitor), Elizabeth Allan, Basil Sydney (Major), Mervyn Johns, Marie Lohr (lady of the manor), David Farrar, Thora Hird, Frank Lawton (useful sailor), Valerie Taylor, Edward Rigby, C.V. France (vicar), Muriel George, Norman Pierce.




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