I See a Dark Stranger

Bridie Quilty (Deborah Kerr) grew up on her late father's war stories about his battles in the Irish independence. It's 1944 before D-Day and Ireland is a neutral country. On her 21st birthday, she leaves her rural town for Dublin to seek out her father's war comrade Michael O'Callaghan. He's a little confused which confirms the unreliability of her father's tall tales. She wants to join the IRA and he politely dissuades her. She runs into her train mate Miller (Raymond Huntley) whom she assumed to be a haughty Englishman. In reality, he's a spy tasked with breaking Nazi Oscar Pryce out of British prison. He sees an opportunity to turn the naive idealist. Lieutenant David Baynes (Trevor Howard) arrives on leave but Miller suspects him to be a counter-intelligence agent.

Deborah Kerr is a little funny in this espionage film. All her interior monologues and confusions are funny. On top of everything else, it's a solid spy thriller. It does walk the balance between light farce and high drama. I do object to the screwball comedic climax. That scene puts this movie firmly into the farce side of the ledger when the climax should really lead more towards the drama side. The fight should not laughable. It should be thrilling instead. It's probably it's only flaw.

Deborah Kerr is an Irish country lass brought up on her father's romanticised view of his heroic struggle against the English.

She leaves home for Dublin, where she wants to join the IRA, but is recruited by the Germans.

She gets entangled with Trevor Howard, a British officer, and conflicting loyalties ensue for both.

It's a classy piece, finely acted, atmospherically shot. There's suspense, humour, romance, and a strong plot. Kerr lives up to the three-dimensional role, and the rest of the cast give sterling support.

Well worthwhile.

This movie has something for every taste and could fall into several classifications. In addition to the website heading of Drama, Thriller and War it could also be a Comedy, Adventure or even a Film Noir. It is very entertaining and characteristically well done under the Launder-Gilliat banner.

I think, though, that it could have a higher rating if it could have decided exactly which genre it should fall under. It is an absorbing picture until, at a very inopportune moment it decides to inject a bit of humor into a scene, thereby killing the mood as well as the tension. I wished it had taken itself seriously as it could have been and excellent WWII spy picture. As is, it is a good enough as a comedy/drama which goes about its business with tongue firmly planted in cheek.

Deborah Kerr is the central character as Bridie Quilty, an idealistic Irish lass who wants to work for the IRA. She carries the picture and Trevor Howard along with her. There is also a wonderful cast of supporting actors who boost the proceedings immeasurably, and I wonder if some are from Dublin's Abbey Theatre, so capable are they in their roles. No other complaints, and I would recommend it to film fans who enjoy a potpourri of genres in their movies.

I SEE A DARK STRANGER depends heavily on the central performance of DEBORAH KERR to carry its story about a naive young Irish woman who has grown up hating the British, thanks to her father's romanticized view of the Irish rebellion. She travels to Ireland to volunteer her services as a spy for the IRA, is promptly rebuffed and reminded that "things are neutral now", but is spotted by RAYMOND HUNTLEY who wants to use her services for his own espionage purposes.

What's so wonderful about the film, called THE ADVENTURESS in the U.S., is that it combines humor with drama, mystery and suspense, always with Kerr's strong performance as Bridie Quilty as the center of attention. Kerr uses her facial expressions expertly, especially in close-ups where we can actually see what she is thinking. It's a performance on par with her work in BLACK NARCISSUS, where close-ups allowed her to fully reveal a character's intentions and motivations.

TREVOR HOWARD is the Englishman instantly attracted to her who gradually comes to understand that she's involved in something way beyond her scope and is soon just as involved in all the intrigue as she is. There are unexpected twists and turns throughout and some very droll moments of comedy when a funeral procession turns out to be something quite unexpected.

The weaknesses only are apparent during the last fifteen minutes with an extended fight scene that borders on slapstick before Kerr and Howard are allowed a quieter moment of romance. And then the final zinger involving a hotel sign that infuriates Kerr--but I'll let that remain hidden so you can enjoy the moment.

Summing up: Highly satisfactory British film which won Deborah Kerr a N.Y. Film Critics Award as Best Actress in 1947--also for BLACK NARCISSUS.

Trivia note: David TOMLINSON and JOAN HICKSON both have brief roles, but you have to be awfully quick to catch a glimpse of Hickson.

Deborah Kerr (as in star) as the trailer says is usually thought of in almost matronly fashion since she's brought strength and dignity to so many roles as a veteran performer. Here you see her in younger days. She's a wild and bewitching Irish rose, marvelous as the brassy Bridey Kiltie, hater of all things English. Buoyed by Kerr, Trevor Howard and a wonderful British-Irish cast,this film makes you feel like you're right back there in UK during the war. Only you're not flying off to punish the Germans. It's a homefront thing. The movie is more drama than mystery but it's enthralling all the same with humor and style to burn. Among the great characters are a pair of British officers, Captain Goodhusband (Garry Marsh) and Lt. Spanswick(Tom Macaulay)who come along to steal the film in their portrayal as oh-so-very-English middle-aged officers.