I See a Dark Stranger

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.

Though many Irishmen voluntarily joined the British forces in World War II, the country's official neutrality must have aroused a great deal of resentment and anger among the British fighting for their lives at home and abroad. This movie could be seen as an attempt at reconciliation, not by trying to justify the Irish policy as a response to centuries of British oppression but by characterizing Irish super-patriots as eccentric and silly. Nothing succeeds with the English like making them feel superior.

Deborah Kerr was seldom so tender, vulnerable, and utterly lovely as in her role as a girl brought up on her family's semi-mythical stories of rebellion and guerrilla fighting who, with World War II under way for several years, decides to join the IRA. But before she manages to do that, she encounters a German spy who apparently takes about five minutes to convince her that her that she would do just as well serving her enemy's enemy. Since she declares that, although living in a remote rural area, she reads newspapers and is up to date, one cannot consider her a backward eccentric. So--if we think about it--we have to assume that she is indifferent to Nazi terror, murder, and genocide. In other words, she is a monster. Kerr plays her as a romantic, over-enthusiastic young girl who sees herself as a character in a girls' adventure book, but it's not enough to give her a pass. She is, after all, supposed to be 21, not six. Even at sixteen she would be expected to have more morals and sense.

This is an interesting story about a young Irish woman who hates the British, so she's interested in becoming a spy for "the other guys" during WWII. She seems to know nothing about the Germans or what they stand for--she just knows that, as an Irishwoman, she hates the Brits and wants to help anyone they are fighting. Because her logic seems so simplistic, she seems very naive. However, despite this, she does get involved, somewhat by chance, in a German spy ring.

How this all works out and her eventual revelation about what and why she was doing this make this a very interesting film. Also, an improbable but interesting romance that occurs with a British officer is pretty interesting. Overall, it's a very good drama and very original, but I was disappointed with the last 10 minutes of the film. While it had been a straight drama, the fight scene between the Brit and the spies really seemed slapstick inspired and just didn't fit the overall style of the film. Still, it's a relatively minor quibble and this still is a nice film--with a particularly good performance by a young Deborah Kerr.

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.