Saturday, February 9, 2013

BRIGHTON ROCK (1947)



Penned and adapted on screen by Graham Greene and produced-directed by The Boulting Brothers, ‘Brighton Rock’ considered as classic British noir ever made. Like many of Greene’s key works, the undercurrent theme of crime juxtaposed with Catholicism, redemption and hope is reflected here too in form of a ruthless teenage gangster and his romance with an innocent girl.   


Richard Attenborough who seems too underage here gave one of sparkling screen presence as a hoodlum Pinkie Brown, the brute who don’t mind killing anybody anywhere and keeps juggling thread between his fingers. It is pointless to compare the cinematography of Greene’s another work adapted on screen by Carol Reed starring magnetic Welles as Harry Lime. ‘The Third Man’ is just outstanding noir Hollywood has ever made. But Greene’s this adaptation too stamped with commendable camerawork. There are number of memorable scenes including Dante’s Inferno train ride sequence in amusement park where Kolley Kibber is murdered which I consider truly a Hitchcockian moment. The climax part was so sudden and short; the only thing I frown upon.

Recommended to noir fans.

Ratings-7.5/10   


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