My Movie Monday
Odd Man Out ------ 1947
(from my top 21 through 50 favorite films)
An IRA bank robbery in Belfast goes wrong and Johnny McQueen (James Mason) is both badly wounded and left behind by his associates. This is the basic plot of this incredible, fatalistic film. Johnny tries during the rest of the film to get back to his friends, to get to safety, to get medical help.
What he gets instead is a surreal shower of people with their own agenda which in no way includes his! The robbery occurs in daylight but as this film progresses, night falls and out of the darkness and shadows come both menacing and helpful figures. Question? Which will reach Johnny McQueen first? In his weakened condition all Johnny can do is observe this feeding frenzy around his not yet cold body.
Darkness and desperation. Wow! It looks like a job for a superhero. But there is no "superhero"! Just a dying man, alone and hunted. I cannot think of this movie without having James Mason's incredible performance slammed up against my consciousness! This is not a "feel good" movie. It is a gritty, grim, end of the road statement of an anti-hero. Depending on your definition what constitutes a "Film Noir" movie, this could certainly qualify.
This is one of the few films that take place, if not in real time, then at least in a period of time less than one day. Thus the scenes attain a certain intensity. This supplies urgency that lifts "Odd Man Out" from standard drama to sad moment to moment desperation!
I am not a fan of desperation situations. However in this case, Mason provides a humanistic face to this conflict and does it with an understated brilliance that still astounds me. Robert Newton's portrayal of a demented artist who wants the capture Johnny's dying image is one of the many brilliant supporting characters in "Odd Man Out". Many consider this Carol Reed directed film one of the best British postwar movies. I agree wholeheartedly.
Cast:
James Mason ------ Johnny McQueen
Robert Newton ------ Lukey
Cyril Cusack ------ Pat
Fay Compton ------ Rosie
Robert Beatty ------ Dennis
Dan O'Herlihy ------ Nolan
Kathleen Ryan ------ Kathleen Sullivan
Wilfred Brambell ------ Standing passenger on train
Geoffrey Keen ------ Soldier
Noel Purcell ------ Tram Conductor
Guy Rolfe ------- Policeman
Charles Kuenneth MPHS Jan 66
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