200. Odd Man Out (1947)

Directed By Carol Reed

Synopsis

A chief of an Irish independentist Organisation gets shot. Spends the rest of the film trying to find shelter while bleeding. Ends up dead.

Review

This was a really great film with great performances all around particularly by a moribund James Mason who gets shot 10 minutes into the film and spends the remaining 1 hour and 45 minutes slowly dying. But that is really not the best part of the film.

Firstly this film would have been unthinkable some years earlier, in 1947 colonies were no longer seen as a divine right which would last forever, India was lost, most African colonies as well and it didn't seem unthinkable for Northern Ireland to be next. And so making a film with a sympathetic independentist was also a possibility and this is the case here.

So a film which would never be done in America then... and not now as well because this guy is basically a lovable terrorist. And then there is a great cast of supporting characters particularly the three guys who live in this amazing dilapidated building, the drunk bird-fancier, the drunk artist and the drunk medical school drop-out... it is Ireland after all. And look out for a young William Hartnell - the first Doctor Who- as the publican. Amazing Film.

Final Grade

9/10

Trivia

From Wikipedia:

The film's reception was mostly rapturous, with direction and acting receiving high praise. However, its arguably sympathetic stance toward a criminal, attracted some criticism. The film's violent ending also attracted advance criticism from the censors, and had to be toned down in the finished film.

The film received the BAFTA Award for Best British Film in 1948. It was nominated for the Golden Lion award at the Venice Film Festival in 1947, and nominated for a Best Film Editing Oscar in 1948.

Great bit: