I see that everyone has raved about this film and that it was 15th on a list of great British films. I might have enjoyed it more if I were British. Unfortunately, I'm not.
A great cast makes up "Brighton Rock," a gritty 1947 noir with a screenplay by no less than Graham Greene (from his novel) and Terence Rattigan, and some great cinematography by Harry Waxman.
Pinkie Brown (Richard Attenborough) is a penny-ante mobster who is the head of a protection racket in Brighton. When people owe him money or pose a threat to him, he kills them or slashes their face. In the case of his rival, Fred, he manages to knock him out of a boat during an amusement ride in a brilliant scene.
The police think that Fred had a heart attack but a woman named Ida (Hermoine Baddeley) who was actually outside the tunnel, who Fred latched onto in a bar, I guess thinking he wouldn't be killed, isn't convinced. Then there's the problem of the shy waitress, Rose (Carol Marsh), who never forgets a face - she served Fred in a restaurant. This wrecks Pinkie's alibi, so he marries her in case he's accused. Then she won't have to testify.
Richard Attenborough is scary as hell in this thing, kind of Peter Lorre-like. I kept picturing Dirk Bogarde in the role, though this film was released a bit before his time. Attenborough is excellent, but he's so creepy I can't imagine anyone a) not being terrified of him; and b) dating him, much less marrying him. Attenborough is not unattractive here, but if someone like Bogarde had played the role, I might have bought it at least from the female angle.
My big problem with this movie is that I absolutely could not figure out this Klown Klobber card and didn't have the wherewithal to rewind one more time to figure it out. Anyway, the Klown Klobber card is some sort of contest, and if you send it in, you get a cash reward. It all has to do with someone resembling the card. It was planted in the restaurant where Rose works as some sort of alibi, but when Pinkie goes to recover it, he finds out Rose discovered it. Frankly I became really confused. I might have liked the film better if everyone hadn't gone on and on about it.
Maybe I watched this too late at night and wasn't concentrating.
I can only say excellent acting, wonderfully made film, gritty story, unpleasant people. And don't forget that Klown Klobber card.
The acting is excellent, and with perhaps the exception of Ida, there really isn't anyone very likable in the film.
A great cast makes up "Brighton Rock," a gritty 1947 noir with a screenplay by no less than Graham Greene (from his novel) and Terence Rattigan, and some great cinematography by Harry Waxman.
Pinkie Brown (Richard Attenborough) is a penny-ante mobster who is the head of a protection racket in Brighton. When people owe him money or pose a threat to him, he kills them or slashes their face. In the case of his rival, Fred, he manages to knock him out of a boat during an amusement ride in a brilliant scene.
The police think that Fred had a heart attack but a woman named Ida (Hermoine Baddeley) who was actually outside the tunnel, who Fred latched onto in a bar, I guess thinking he wouldn't be killed, isn't convinced. Then there's the problem of the shy waitress, Rose (Carol Marsh), who never forgets a face - she served Fred in a restaurant. This wrecks Pinkie's alibi, so he marries her in case he's accused. Then she won't have to testify.
Richard Attenborough is scary as hell in this thing, kind of Peter Lorre-like. I kept picturing Dirk Bogarde in the role, though this film was released a bit before his time. Attenborough is excellent, but he's so creepy I can't imagine anyone a) not being terrified of him; and b) dating him, much less marrying him. Attenborough is not unattractive here, but if someone like Bogarde had played the role, I might have bought it at least from the female angle.
My big problem with this movie is that I absolutely could not figure out this Klown Klobber card and didn't have the wherewithal to rewind one more time to figure it out. Anyway, the Klown Klobber card is some sort of contest, and if you send it in, you get a cash reward. It all has to do with someone resembling the card. It was planted in the restaurant where Rose works as some sort of alibi, but when Pinkie goes to recover it, he finds out Rose discovered it. Frankly I became really confused. I might have liked the film better if everyone hadn't gone on and on about it.
Maybe I watched this too late at night and wasn't concentrating.
I can only say excellent acting, wonderfully made film, gritty story, unpleasant people. And don't forget that Klown Klobber card.
The acting is excellent, and with perhaps the exception of Ida, there really isn't anyone very likable in the film.