I See a Dark Stranger (1946)

Director:

Frank Launder

Writers:

Sidney Gilliat (writer) &
Wolfgang Wilhelm (writer) ...

Release Date:

4 July 1946 (UK)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Thriller | War

Plot:

A young Irish woman hates England so much she becomes a Nazi spy.

Plot Keywords:

Spy | Pub | Ireland | Chase | IRA

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Deborah Kerr	...	Bridie Quilty
Trevor Howard	...	Lt. David Baynes
Raymond Huntley	...	J. Miller
Michael Howard	...	Hawkins
Norman Shelley	...	Man in Straw Hat
Liam Redmond	...	Uncle Timothy
Brefni O'Rorke	...	Michael O'Callaghan
James Harcourt	...	Grandfather
George Woodbridge	...	Walter
Garry Marsh	...	Capt. Goodhusband
Olga Lindo	...	Mrs. Edwards
Tom Macaulay	...	Lt. Spanswick
David Ward	...	Oscar Pryce
Harry Hutchinson	...	Chief Mourner
Harry Webster	...	Uncle Joe

Also Known As:

The Adventuress (USA)

Runtime:

112 min | USA:98 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #11954) | Finland:K-16

Filming Locations:

Devon, England, UK

Company:

Individual Pictures

Trivia:

Film debut of Albert Sharpe.

Goofs:

Continuity: When David takes Bridie for a walk on their first date, she is wearing a plain dress in the initial wide shot but a striped dress in the closeups.

Quotes:

Bridie Quilty: Will there be anything else you require, please? It's me half-day.
Lt. David Baynes: No, I don't think so, thank you.
Bridie Quilty: Thank you.
Lt. David Baynes: Oh, I suppose you wouldn't know anyone who could show me around the town this afternoon, by any chance?
Bridie Quilty: I would not.
Lt. David Baynes: No, I... I only wondered.
Bridie Quilty: You're awful quick, aren't you?
Lt. David Baynes: Sorry. I've been working very closely with the American Army.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Enigma (2001)

Soundtrack:

Kelly the Boy from Killane

Deborah Kerr makes a feisty Bridie Quilty in suspenseful spy film...

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.