VividSimon Simply Perfect

Bereamic Awesome Movie

Philippa All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

Bob This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

izonevision The beach getaway town of Brighton, England, during and after WWII had a gangster under-class and Pinkie Brown (Richard Attenborough) epitomizes its sinister decay in John Boulting's hoodlum classic "Brighton Rock". A newspaper man is sent to Brighton as a part of a gimmick to bust his newspaper's circulation. The newspaper man had a history with the gang and their revenge leads to murder. A mess up in the murder develops into the ruin of the gang and sets Pinkie on a self-destructive course. Pinkie is irredeemably bad and the young Attenborough inhabits the part, few film characters are portray as clearly and unremittingly as this. The relationship he has with a young waitress is selfish and cruel. "Brighton Rock" makes all this real and a screen play by Graham Greene is top notch. Considered number one among the British hoodlum movies, this film, smooth and thoughtful, delivers.

bsmith5552 I recently discovered this little gem of a movie and enjoyed it immensely. It is a dark film noir type of film that looks as though it was made on a modest budget by the infamous Boulting Brothers.Pinkie Brown (Richard Attenborough) is head of a "mob" that runs a protection racket out of a Brighton race track. Members of his group, of which he is the youngest include: Dallow (William Hartnell), Pruitt (Harcourt Williams), Spicer (Wylie Watson) and Cubitt (Nigel Stock) who run their operation from a seedy rooming house.Pinkie sets out to eliminate his competition in the person of Fred Hale (Alan Wheatley). During the pursuit of Fred, Fred becomes acquainted with Ida Arnold (Hermoine Baddeley)whom he helps with a gift. Shortly after their meeting, Fred is eliminated by Pinkie. The police report lists Fred's death as suicide but Ida knows better and sets out to prove it Miss Marple style.Ida'a investigation turns up a naïve young waitress Rose (Carol Marsh) who apparently knows more than she seems. Pinkie too becomes interested in Rose for the simple reason that she could implicate him in Fred's murder. Pinkie begins to "court" the young waitress to the point that they get married on the premise that a wife cannot testify against her husband. Ida discovers that Rose and Pinky are together.In the meantime, dissension among the members of the gang results in another murder. Becoming increasingly paranoid, Pinky devises a suicide pact with Rose to escape persecution but has ulterior motives. Ida suspects that Pinkie is up to something and goes to the police. Meanwhile Pinky and Rose go to an isolated spot to carry out their pact when........................................................Attenborough, whose friends called him "Dickie" is outstanding as the baby faced small time hoodlum. He was only in his early 20s at the time.His dead pan expression is positively terrifying. Baddeley on the other hand, also turns in a top notch performance as the boisterous snooping Ida.From the useless trivia department, Alan Wheatley who plays Fred, was The Sheriff of Nottingham in the Richard Greene Robin Hood series of the early 60s.

LeonLouisRicci One of, if not the Best, British Film-Noir, this is an Unforgiving Utilization of the Noir Tropes that in 1947 were being Formatted in Real Time. It is Remarkable that the Brits were Sensing the Power and Presentation of the American Film-Noir and made this one with the Skill and Style Essential for the Genre.Bleak, at times Bewildering, Plot with Layers upon Layers of Intertwining Intrigue. It's Dense and Disturbing with its Story of Gangsterism in a most Visceral and for the Time, Gut-Wrenching, Suspenseful Violence and Immorality.The Religious Theme essential to the Characters was not an Easy Thing to Pull Off. In Fact, looking back it is a Wonder that it Survived the "Censors" that were having None of that Criticism with Christian Commentary. It's Catholic Guilt and the Film does not shy from Presenting Iconic Displays (Rosary, Crucifix, and Nun).There is Talk of Heaven, Hell, and Atheists ("who don't know nothing"). The Church of England somewhat Off the Hook and laid at the feet of the "Pointy Hats" in Rome.This is an Unforgettable Film with Richard Attenborough giving a Soulless, utterly Unsympathetic Portrayal. The Visuals are Sharp and Expressionistic and the whole Cast is Outstanding. Baffling and Overly Complex Plot Details are its Only Drawback. Otherwise this is as Intense as any Film-Noir and a Testament to the British Filmmakers that Crafted this Graham Greene Screenplay from His Novel.

Chase_Witherspoon British film noir announced the arrival of Sir Richard Attenborough as the young, baby-faced (albeit with a large scar) gangland leader (Pinkie Brown) whose tenuous grip on his volatile mob of stand-over men and misfits is tested, forcing him to assert his authority, but pushing him to the brink of psychosis as his minor empire disintegrates amid in-fighting, pressure from the law and competitors seeing an opportunity to muscle-in.William Hartnell significantly elevated his status in British films with his portrayal of the wily, experience-hardened and brutally calm right-hand man, a reassuring presence to the under-siege Pinkie, until he senses the embattled leader's weaknesses. For his part, though much of what his character displays is faux bravado, Attenborough remains chilling as the almost psychotic thug, one of the best performances of his acting career.The scene in which the demented Pinkie callously hurls an innocent victim through second-story balustrades to the ground below is one of those moments in film you never forget, not only the event, but director Boulting's pacing, tightly edited photographic angles, and the stunned reactions of those who witness the abhorrent and opportunistic murder (it has that same callous and sinister tone that Richard Widmark conjured in his infamous scene in "Kiss of Death"). While better known for his production credits, director John Boulting shows a talent for suspense and edgy storytelling (relative to the era) in a landmark British film that's well worth the time.